Shadowing Practice: 715 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
In all honesty, there are far too many accounts of politicians faking it until they eventually make it into office for anyone to ignore.
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In all honesty, there are far too many accounts of politicians faking it until they eventually make it into office for anyone to ignore.
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And I now look to Ben Murphy, St Anne's College to continue the case for the proposition.
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Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. President and our lovely committee for putting together an amazing term.
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It's really been a privilege to be part of it.
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Fake it till you make it.
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I wasn't the biggest fan of this motion when it was decided, yet here I am.
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Barney said he was like the third choice for speaking.
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Mr. President texted me, paper speech tomorrow, question mark, at 5pm yesterday, and didn't respond for the next two hours.
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Not much of an attempt to fake anything there.
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Clearly not his first choice.
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Of course, he is prone to faking a few things himself.
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I mean, you've heard it all before.
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After all, he might not be the most democratically elected candidate.
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After just pipping reopen nominations for librarian, he mysteriously assumed the presidency in wake of turmoil and chaos.
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All things considered, though, he has been an amazing president, who it has been an honour to serve in such a brilliant term.
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But it's an interesting phrase.
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My first thought would be to ask, who hasn't faked it at one point in order to make something?
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You know, yapping in a tutorial, the fake laugh when you're on a date, or in OJ's case, the little white lie of, if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit.
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Faking it is simply crucial to actually making it.
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There are so few scenarios in life where a small lie or embellishment doesn't elevate your chances rather than damn them.
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I know Shamar's idol over here is Lin-Manuel Miranda's Aaron Burr,
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the politician with no apparent views or morals that simply faked his position and switched it when it served him best.
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We all can't be our idols, unfortunately, Shamar.
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Beer is a great example of a wannabe politician.
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According to Hamilton, his entire catchphrase is, talk less, smile more, don't let them know what you're against or what you're for.
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This advice was instrumental for his rise to US politics, and ultimately served him well up until his failed presidential run.
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It's a shame Shamar only ran for treasurer. In all honesty,
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there are far too many accounts of politicians faking it until they eventually make it into office for anyone to ignore.
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Especially in this chamber.
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With the amount of wannabe politicians, yes, including myself and Count Binface, who doesn't actually have a bin for a face,
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I would even go as far as to say that faking it is crucial to making it.
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One thing you have to give Count Binface is that he doesn't fake his policies.
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You've got to give him credit.
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It's not a common trait in the current political climate.
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It's unsurprising, therefore, to see him on the opposition, as he was famously forced to relinquish the mantle of the almighty Lord Buckethead due to a copyright claim.
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Not so great at faking it then.
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Count Bin...
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Go on then.
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I renounced my period voluntarily after a battle on the planet's copyright and upgraded myself into my true form.
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So, into the technical term, fuck you.
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Well, apologies come in, please.
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Won't go back there again.
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We'll not go back there.
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But, come pin-faces fierce rivals for the coming election, on the other hand, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer would surely be sat in the proposition with myself.
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Starmer has reversed so many of his policies and kept them
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so vague that he gaslights and gatekeeps better than your manipulative ex.
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Sunak, similarly, just can't seem to stand for anything properly.
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Aaron Burr would be proud.
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I leave most of the political satires to count bin face in the opposition.
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But the success of the two men who are currently, and will most probably be, running our country is a testament to faking it till you make it.
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What role models they are.
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Indeed, far too many jobs explicitly require faking something to make their money.
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Take the big three Ps of our society, for example.
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Politics, poker and porn.
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Politicians fake compassion, poker players fake to be impassioned and porn stars fake a different kind of passion.
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Where would we be in our current society without these three pillars?
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Mr President certainly wouldn't be sitting in that chair.
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Because of the politics, obviously.
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Our chief of staff is an up and coming poker shark
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and the last Trinity term president would have had a significantly worse term if not for a different P.
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I am not here to defraud presidents however, probably going to focus on myself instead.
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Like all aforementioned wannabe politicians, I am more than guilty of faking it till I make it.
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Just getting into this university was a stretch.
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On my personal statement, I claim
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that I started a podcast discussing various aspect of history yet still yet to be picked up by a studio.
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The infamous Duke of Edinburgh award wasn't much better.
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I wrote completing my silver D of E shows some evidence of strength of character.
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I guess I'm still a pussy then.
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For the record I'm still waiting on my post lockdown expedition
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if you are watching Miss Peel
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but coming back to the political side of things my manifesto
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when running for elections in this society isn't much better as you've already heard from Barney.
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I wonder how many people in this chamber can claim to be an award-winning performer.
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He was graced the heights of the prestigious Emmys or Oscars.
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My manifesto proudly passed the undeniable evidence that I am exactly that.
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I won a poetry recital competition when I was 10.
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Or do we have any proper regular sports captains with a badge to show it?
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I captained the entirety of St. Agnes Primary School.
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My claim of being a published poet
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shush my claim of being a published poet undoubtedly caused me
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the greatest trouble however my former love interest an English student
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who loves poetry responded eagerly to my story of my manifesto seeing
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that I was indeed a published poet with what I thought
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could have been real strong tones of regret for dumping me
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after all she could have fumbled the next wordsworth I I
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don't think my 12-year-old self's work in Busta Rhymes quite cut the mustard, however.
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I'm still waiting for a text back.
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No. Whilst it may look illustrious on the surface, my claim of Northerner might shock many of you again.
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In fact, myself and Joel are probably on opposite ends of the Northerner spectrum.
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I really was born in London, whilst he still needs subtitles for people to understand him.
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I mean, on the subject of height as well, few men are guilty of being honest.
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Don't worry though, Louis.
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It's no secret that the six foot barrier affects us all.
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Perhaps one of my personally most devastating moments in Oxford was kissing my six foot shoes goodbye
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that have helped me out so many times.
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In these beautiful shoes...
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Yes.
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This is nothing you do with the debate, but you mentioned the false captioning, and I did this last time.
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But, will you do a handstand at the chamber?
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Unfortunately, I was not the gymnastics captain, so I cannot do that.
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But in those beautiful shoes, those six-foot shoes, I have photographic evidence of breaching the barrier that is envied by so many.
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They were my dearest footwear, and I simply haven't been able to replace them since.
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Possibly the worst loss for me since my aforementioned tortoise, another part of my manifesto.
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Thank you, Barney.
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The claim for my tortoise, by the way, was simply, had tortoise, succinct and to the point.
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The village of Wrighton did not know what hit them when these posters were put up.
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On the poster it literally says, does not respond to name when called.
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Don't laugh, by the way, my mum made them in tears.
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But as you can see, I am no stranger to faking it till I make it.
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And look where it's got me, not very far.
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I'm not the best example, but I still think I make a good point.
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If you want to be Sunak, Starmer, Mia Khalifa or a union president, fake it till you make it.
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Shit, they're not very good examples.
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Maybe I am on the wrong side.
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But yeah, one thing is, I've basically faked this entire speech.
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I wrote this in about eight hours, so hopefully you can help me make it tonight and vote proposition.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills by exploring a debate on the concept of "fake it till you make it." This engaging discussion features various vocabulary and expressions related to political satire and personal experiences. By actively engaging with the material, you will enhance your understanding of everyday English phrases and improve your pronunciation. This method, known as shadowspeak, invites you to repeat phrases after the speaker, allowing for better retention and natural speech patterns. Join us as we learn English with YouTube and delve into how language shapes our perceptions of confidence and authenticity.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Fake it till you make it: A popular expression implying that one can reach a goal by pretending to be successful until they genuinely are.
- Democratically elected: Refers to a candidate chosen through a democratic voting process, highlighting legitimacy.
- Little white lie: A harmless or trivial lie often told to avoid hurting someone's feelings.
- Ambiguous policies: Policies that are vague or unclear, often leading to confusion over a person’s true stance.
- Political satire: A genre of humorous commentary that critiques politics and politicians.
- Gaslighting: A psychological manipulation that causes someone to doubt their reality, often prevalent in political discourse.
- Gatekeeping: Controlling access to something or a community, often creating barriers for others.
- Catchphrase: A well-known phrase or slogan, often used to convey a particular message succinctly.
Practice Tips
As you practice improving your English pronunciation through shadowspeaks, focus on the tone and speed of the speaker in this video. Here are some targeted tips:
- Listen attentively: Pay close attention to how the speaker emphasizes certain words and phrases. This reflects the emotions behind the statements.
- Repeat after the speaker: Use the shadowspeak technique to mimic not just the words but also the intonation and rhythm of the speech.
- Break it down: If a certain section seems challenging due to speed, pause the video and replay it multiple times until you feel comfortable.
- Record yourself: After practicing, record your voice and compare it to the original. This will help you pinpoint areas for improvement.
- Discuss with others: If possible, engage friends or fellow learners in conversation about the video’s content. This method helps solidify vocabulary and enhances conversational skills.
By combining these practices with the content discussed in the video, you will effectively enhance your fluency and gain confidence in speaking English.
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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