Shadowing Practice: 2 Desperate Housewives Season 1 Episode 11 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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77 sentences
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1
Mrs. Hoover was missing.
2
The words echoed down Wisteria Lane until every last resident was aware of her disappearance.
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By noon, dozens of neighbors had gathered.
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Some came to volunteer.
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Some came in sympathy.
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And some came to learn exactly what the police knew and what they didn't.
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So I'll need you to pass out flyers, put them in the mall, the park, anywhere you you think Mrs. Huber might have been seen.
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We need to jump on this.
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Time is of the essence.
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Edie, would you like to say something?
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On behalf of Martha and her sister, Felicia, I'd like to thank you all for coming here today.
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You know, my last conversation with Martha was one of anger.
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And I'll never forgive myself for the things that I said.
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I...
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I lay awake at night thinking about it.
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I don't know how she did it, but Edie managed to make this all about her.
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She's a talented girl, our Edie.
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Has anybody talked to Bree?
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How's Rex doing?
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She's bringing him home from the hospital today.
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Boy, I don't know how he had a heart attack.
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He was so young.
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Hey, how creepy is Mrs. Hoover's sister?
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I know.
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The way she was talking about Mrs. Hoover, It was like she was already dead.
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I don't think she's...
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Oh, no, I'm sure she's fine.
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We're talking about Mrs. Hoover.
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She's like a roach.
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I just wanted you to know that everyone in Mysterio Lane is praying for your sister's safe return.
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Oh, I seriously doubt that.
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What do you mean you're not taking care of him?
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Dad's being released today.
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He's got to have a place to recuperate.
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Well, then he can go to a motel because he's not allowed back in my house.
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I thought you two were getting along.
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What happened?
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That's between your father and me.
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You're so selfish.
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No, I'm so looking forward to the day that I get to put you in a nursing home.
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I'm sorry to disappoint you, Andrew, but my plan is to have an embolism and to die young.
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Yeah, well, we're all rooting for you, but you might not be so lucky.
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Andrew.
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You want to see how long I can hold a grudge?
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Go ahead and abandon my father because I promise you you'll be sorry.
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You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what you...
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Knew what?
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Oh, come on, tell me, because I'd love to know what my father did that was so awful.
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Fine, I will see him through this, but after that, your father can rot in hell for all I care.
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We're not like other families, are we?
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No, we're not.
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Gabrielle, it's not my fault that your bank accounts are frozen.
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I'm not saying it's your fault, I'm just saying fix it!
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Well, I wish I could, but the folks at the Justice Department aren't very sympathetic.
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I'm running out of money.
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In a couple of weeks, I'm going to be screwed.
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Why don't you hog some of your jewelry?
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There's a lot of stuff you never wear, and most of it's ugly.
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Don't you have a toilet to scrub?
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God, I'm just so angry with Carlos.
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What was he thinking?
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Exporting goods made from slave labor.
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Why couldn't he have embezzled like other white -collar criminals?
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All the Justice Department wants is to make sure that Carlos doesn't skip the country.
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Now, if he's released on bail, I can argue that he needs money to live on, and they'll probably unfreeze one of the smaller accounts.
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But they won't release him on bail until they get the passport.
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Exactly.
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You haven't found that yet, have you?
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Gabrielle wanted her old lifestyle back, no question.
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But she wanted Carlos to suffer for his betrayal even more.
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I'm still searching.
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Well, in that case, you might want to think about looking for a job.
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So I had a really good time Gotcha Hey, is this about time?
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For you, of course it is It's cute, tax stuff, I need your signature We've been divorced over a year 2003 Well,
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please just come on in Um, Mike I don't think you've officially met my ex, Carl Meyer Oh, hey, Mike Delfino.
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Right.
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Plumber.

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What You'll Practice in This Lesson

Ever wanted to learn English with videos that feel like real life? This lesson uses a scene from *Desperate Housewives* to help you master conversational skills. You'll practice understanding natural dialogue, picking up on tone, and even try the shadowing technique—repeating lines right after the speakers to improve fluency. It's a fun way to learn how people talk in everyday (and sometimes dramatic!) situations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Learn

  • Time is of the essence: A common phrase meaning "we need to act quickly."
  • Recuperate: To recover from an illness or injury (e.g., "He needs a place to recuperate").
  • Hold a grudge: To stay angry at someone for a long time (e.g., "I can hold a grudge forever").
  • Embolism: A medical term for a blockage in a blood vessel (used here in a dramatic way).
  • Rooting for you: To hope someone succeeds (even if sarcastic, like "We're all rooting for you").

Tips for Shadowing This Video

The dialogue in this scene has varied speeds—some lines are quick (like arguments) and others are slower (like emotional confessions). Here's how to practice with the shadowing technique:

  • Start by watching the video once to get the context. Then, pause after short lines (2-3 seconds) and repeat them. Focus on matching the tone—notice how Edie's voice wavers when she talks about her fight with Martha, or how Andrew's words are sharp with anger.
  • Use a shadowing site to loop tricky parts. For example, the line "You wouldn't be saying that if you knew what you..." has a natural pause—try to copy that break to sound more like a native.
  • Don't worry about perfect pronunciation at first. Focus on rhythm and stress (e.g., "Time is of the essence" stresses "essence").

This scene is great for shadow speak because it's full of real emotions—you'll learn how to convey frustration, sarcasm, and even guilt through your voice. Keep practicing, and you'll notice your English sounds more natural in no time!

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does ithave been seen · being released · are frozen
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhave embezzled · haven't found · We've been divorced

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 →