Shadowing Practice: 57 Years Apart - A Boy And a Man Talk About Life - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
I don't know where the question is.
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103 sentences
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I don't know where the question is.
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I don't know where the song is.
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Can I ask you a question?
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The first one?
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Right.
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What is the worst thing about being young?
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Well, you get lots of homework.
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It's also pretty.. they're like in the middle,
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like in school, like in the middle of bad and good.
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Oh.
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What is the worst thing about being old?
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Not being able to do things that you could do when you were young.
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Like, you can't bend down and get stuff on the floor.
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Well, I can still do that,
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but the problem is your body gets a bit stiff.
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I know it hurts a lot when you're like, are old.
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That's right, yes.
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You might get sick more often.
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Hopefully I don't, but that's the problem.
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Yeah, that's pretty bad.
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It is pretty bad.
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The only time I went to hospital is my mum to like get me born.
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Oh yeah.
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Do you wish you were old?
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Maybe.
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Like so I was old and I,
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so I can like buy stuff for my own and have been married but that would be eww.
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Do you wish you were young?
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Why?
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Well the problem about, the great thing about being young is you have more time.
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You have more time to do things.
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I could play games, which I did.
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I used to play cowboys and Indians.
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Yeah, that's what I play.
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Do you?
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Yeah.
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That's what I like about being young.
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I could use my imagination more.
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That's a sad story.
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You can't do that anymore.
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Well, I could be an older cowboy.
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I might do it, yes.
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Will you fall in love?
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And what will it be like?
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I don't know.
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Like, we'll have babies, it'll be like fun,
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and all I had to change.
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Even though I had to change his diaper, it'll be fun.
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Ah.
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But what about if he cries?
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Ah, well.
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I just think like, edge here into him, like...
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Hmm?
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And who do you love now?
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Who do you love now?
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Um...
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Hmm?
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My mum.
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Your mum?
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Your dad?
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I like my dad.
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I like my family.
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Did you fall in love?
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What was it like?
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Yes, uh...
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It was different for me.
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I've had a love late.
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And did you get married?
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No, unfortunately.
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My partner, she passed away.
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She died, unfortunately.
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That was the same thing.
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Yeah, she got sick.
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I'm going to cry.
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No, no, no, don't.
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No, no, no. No, no,
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no. These things happen, Sean.
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That's life.
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But I have very good memories.
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very good memories
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and you live a lot of the time you live in
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your head with memories you can remember all the good things and that's the important thing
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well the advice I would give to you Sean is you don't have to be rich to be happy.
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Do the things you like doing that make you feel good.
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Because when you're happy yourself, everybody else is happy.
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Sean, do you have advice for Des?
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To like act normal, don't be silly,
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don't bully lots of people.
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The people I know in school,
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like my friend Alex in school,
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whenever he gets hurt I hug him.
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I might not be able to work with him.
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That's a good advice.
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And be yourself.
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Don't let other people tell you what you should be.
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Just be as you are.
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Isn't that true?
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Yeah.
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I'm sure your life is going to be very successful.
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You have all the right things to do.
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All your good friends.
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and keep those friends going and keep life going.
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Oops, there you go.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

The engaging conversation between a boy and a man in this video offers a rich context for learners looking to improve their English pronunciation and conversational skills. The discussion covers various aspects of life, from childhood to adulthood, touching on personal experiences and feelings. By practicing with this video, you will not only develop your speaking abilities but also enhance your listening skills and comprehension.

Using a shadowing app alongside this video can amplify your learning experience. Shadowing, where you repeat what you hear almost simultaneously, allows you to mimic the natural intonation and rhythm of native speakers. This technique is especially useful for those preparing for the IELTS speaking practice, as it helps you sound more fluent and confident.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several key grammatical structures and expressions provide useful patterns for English learners:

  • “I could…” – This modal verb construction indicates possibilities. The boy uses it when discussing what he would do if he were older, demonstrating hypothetical thinking.
  • “I like…” – A simple present structure that expresses personal preferences. The use of this phrase offers great practice for learners to express their likes and dislikes.
  • “It was different for me.” – This phrase emphasizes personal experience and introduces a narrative about love and loss. It offers a valuable way to discuss events in the past.
  • “You don’t have to…” – This expression conveys advice and recommendations. It’s a useful structure when helping others or sharing insights.

By integrating these expressions into your speaking practice, you will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in various situations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice with this conversation, pay attention to some pronunciation challenges that might arise:

  • Bend – The sound can easily lead to confusion with similar words. Focus on the /ɛ/ vowel sound.
  • Hurt – The 'u' can be tricky, as many learners pronounce it as /ʌ/. Aim for the short /ɜː/ sound.
  • Diaper – This word may be mispronounced; practice saying it with the correct emphasis on the first syllable: DIaper.
  • Passed away – This phrase is often used but can be mispronounced. Ensure you connect the sounds smoothly to sound more fluent.

Utilizing a shadowing app, learners can focus on these specific terms repeatedly, which can significantly assist in improving English pronunciation.

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.

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