Shadowing Practice: 09. The Silly Sheepdog | Usborne Farmyard Tales - Learn English Speaking with Video

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51 sentences
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the silly sheepdog.
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This is Apple Tree Farm.
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This is Mrs Boot, the farmer.
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She has two children, called Poppy and Sam and a dog called Rusty.
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Ted works on Appletree Farm.
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He has just bought a sheepdog to help him with the sheep.
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The sheepdog is called Patch.
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Poppy, Sam and Rusty, say hello to Batch.
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'Come on, Patch,' says Sam.
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We'll show you all the animals on our farm.
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First they look at the hens.
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Patch jumps into the hen run and chases the hens.
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They are frightened and fly up onto their house.
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Now we'll go and see the cows.
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Patch runs into the field and barks at the cows.
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But they just stand and stare at him.
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Then they look at the pigs.
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Patch jumps into the pig pen and chases all the pigs into their little house.
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Oh!
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Sam shouts at Patch.
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Come here, you silly thing.
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You're meant to be a sheepdog.
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Ted will have to send you back.
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They go to the sheep field.
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"Look," says Sam, "one sheep is missing." 'Yes, it's that naughty woolly again,' says Ted.
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"Where's Patch going?" says Sam.
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Patch runs away across the field.
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Ted, Sam, Poppy and Rusty run after him.
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you Patch dives through the hedge.
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Patch barks and barks.
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"What has he found?" says Sam.
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They all go to look.
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Patch has found a boy.
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The boy pats Patch.
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"Hello," he says.
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I wondered who bought you when my dad sold his farm.
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MAAAAA!
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The boy has found a sheep.
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"There's Woolie !" says Sam.
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"I found her on the road !" says the boy.
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I was bringing her back.
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The boy whistles to Patch.
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Patch chases Woolly back through the gate.
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She runs into the field with the other sheep.
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Thank you.
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Ted stares in surprise.
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Patch doesn't do anything I tell him, says Ted.
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"You don't know how to whistle," says the boy.
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Patch runs back to them.
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You must teach me how to whistle to Patch, says Ted.
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He's not a silly dog after all, says Sam.

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Context & Background

The charming story of "The Silly Sheepdog" takes place on Apple Tree Farm, where we are introduced to the delightful characters of Mrs. Boot, her two children Poppy and Sam, and their playful dog Rusty. The narrative also introduces Ted, who has just acquired a sheepdog named Patch, intended to help manage the sheep on the farm. The adventure unfolds as Patch displays a humorous lack of skill in herding, leading to a series of comical misadventures with the farm animals. This storyline serves not only to entertain but also offers an engaging way for learners to gain insight into everyday English conversations in a countryside setting.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Come on, Patch," – A friendly call that can be used when summoning pets or friends.
  • "Let's go and see the..." – A phrase perfect for inviting someone to explore or show interest in a particular subject.
  • "What has he found?" – A common expression to inquire about something unexpected or interesting that someone has discovered.
  • "You silly thing!" – A light-hearted way to address someone or something that has acted in a comical manner.
  • "Thank you!" – A universal phrase of gratitude that is essential in all interactions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique while watching "The Silly Sheepdog," follow this step-by-step guide to enhance your English pronunciation and conversational skills:

  1. Watch and Listen: Start by watching the video without any distractions. Focus on the intonation, accent, and rhythm of the characters as they speak.
  2. First Shadow: Play the video again and try to repeat the phrases after the characters. This is your first attempt at shadowspeak. Concentrate on mimicking their emotions and pronunciations.
  3. Practice with Pauses: Pause the video after each key phrase to practice your own pronunciation. This will help you gain confidence and clarity in your speech.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone or a computer to record yourself repeating the phrases. Compare your version with the original dialogue to pinpoint areas for improvement.
  5. Final Shadow: Watch the video one last time and try to speak along with the characters without pausing. This final iteration will enhance your shadow speech, allowing you to improve your fluency and confidence in speaking.

By consistently implementing this shadowing technique, you'll not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your overall English conversation skills in a fun and engaging manner!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas just bought · has he found · has found
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionWe'll show · we'll go · will have
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryhave to send · must teach

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →