Shadowing Practice: 8k - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
When someone mentions the word beginning,
147 sentences
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When someone mentions the word beginning,
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what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
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It is the first step we take when we start something new.
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The first step is often considered the easiest step, right?
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When you start doing something new,
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you do the easiest things, then gradually get harder.
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That's why, I guess, some of you have heard sayings from people around you like,
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The first steps are extremely easy.
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Why can't you do it?
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Or why do you feel discouraged when you just start to do it?
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You may quickly feel sad and disappointed because of those words.
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Then don't want to continue doing it because of the thought.
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If I don't know how to do the first steps,
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it will be difficult to do it later.
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But don't worry too much.
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The truth is that everything is difficult at first.
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Those words from people around you are not right or wrong.
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The right direction for you is to know and accept that it is hard at the beginning.
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Why is it so difficult?
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Because we are entering a new space filled with unknown things.
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When we start something new,
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our brains have to work harder to understand what it's all about.
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It's like when you're going down a road you've never been one before,
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or when you want to pursue an attractive girl or a guy.
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This challenge is very important.
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It helps us grow, learn, and become better.
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When we start something new,
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we often want to be perfect right away.
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But that's not how it works.
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Everything good takes time and patience.
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Think about a plant.
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You plant a seed, water it,
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give it sunlight, and wait.
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It doesn't grow into a big tree overnight So,
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the first thing to do is setting realistic expectations Let's take an example about learning English At first,
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it's just small words and phrases It feels slow,
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so you want to learn more as much as you can But the more you try to learn new words,
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the more difficult it becomes.
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Day after day, this will cause you to lose track and feel tired.
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Now, let's look at some ways to keep going even when it's hard.
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One great way is to set clear goals by writing them down.
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Depending on the amount of work you do each day,
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you will have different small goals.
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Maybe today you want to learn five new words.
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Tomorrow, you want to practice speaking for 10 minutes.
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This shows that you are moving forward,
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even if it feels slow.
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Also, it's important to build good habits.
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Make a study plan and stick to it.
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Maybe you decide to study English for 30 minutes every day.
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Make it a part of your daily routine Just like brushing your teeth or having breakfast
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Approaching something new becomes something you do without thinking too much about it
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Another important thing is finding support
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We often have the common thought of not daring to tell anyone when we start doing something
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Because we are afraid of being judged or questioned too much by others
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Or we simply want to share it when we have done it successfully
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By learning something new can be lonely
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if you do it all by yourself Talk to your family and friends about your goals They can cheer you on,
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join a group of people who are learning the same thing This could be a class,
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a club, or even an online community When you have people to share your journey with,
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it becomes easier They can give you advice,
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share their experiences, and help you stay motivated
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Having people around you who understand and support you can make the hard parts easier.
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What if you have tried everything but still fail?
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Actually, failure is not a bad word.
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That's part of the process.
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When babies learn to walk,
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they fall many times before they can walk properly.
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When you make a mistake,
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don't be too hard on yourself.
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Learn from it.
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Ask yourself, what can I do better next time?
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Use failures as lessons.
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So how can you do it?
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Determine the reason you fail.
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Is that because you don't try your best?
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Or did you try your best,
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but others do better than you?
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Or is it not just lucky enough?
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Or simply because you have not found the right direction for yourself,
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so you will always hang around a failure and sadness?
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Write these things clearly on paper instead of thinking in your mind.
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It will help you know what you are making and what you need to do next.
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Every failure you face is an opportunity to learn and grow.
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It's easy to say, but very difficult to do,
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which is why starting and maintaining a habit for something new is not a piece of cake.
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Staying motivated is very necessary.
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Remember why you started.
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Maybe you wanted to travel and talk to people from different countries.
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Maybe you wanted to understand what your idol says.
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Maybe you want a better job or to understand your favorite songs in English.
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Keep these reasons in your mind.
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They are motivation.
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Those dreams and passions are beautiful, right?
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Keep remembering about it makes you realize the reason why you start something.
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Those are the starting motivations.
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What about the motivation to continue?
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It is to find inspiration.
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Don't try to learn anything to advance in the hope of quickly learning as much as possible.
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It will have opposite effect because those are things that are not interested in.
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Finally, keep a positive attitude.
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It's easy to get discouraged when things are hard,
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but try to stay positive.
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Celebrate your progress, no matter how small.
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Each step forward, even if it seems tiny is important recognizing
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and enjoying your achievements show you are moving in the right
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direction this is also a way for you to share your joy
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and success with your family
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and friends you don't need to make them serious it just needs to be a small meal with the family
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or a picnic with dear friends.
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By appreciating these small victories,
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you stay positive and motivated to keep going.
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Every small effort is important.
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It helps you get nearer to your larger goals.
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and don't forget to be proud of yourself for every step you take.
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Remember, every expert was once a beginner.
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They started just like you,
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facing challenges and learning along the way. For example, J.K.
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Rowling faced many rejections before Harry Potter became famous.
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Despite these challenges, she kept writing and believing in her story.
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As a result, her work is a series of novels named Harry Potter,
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famous around the world.
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It became a familiar book of all ages and all countries.
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This is also a motivation for us to try.
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Right?
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The hard work you put in now will pay off later.
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In conclusion, beginnings are always hard.
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Starting something new can be challenging.
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But it's also the beginning of a beautiful journey.
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Accepting the challenge, setting realistic expectations,
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finding support, learning from failure,
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and staying motivated are all part of the journey.
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It's okay to struggle.
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It's okay to take small steps.
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The important thing is to keep going.
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You are not alone in this.
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We all start somewhere.
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and with time and effort, you will see progress.
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Keep your head up and your heart strong.
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The beginning might be hard,
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but it's also where all great things start.
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If you watch the podcast from the beginning until now,
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this is also an interesting demonstration that you have been very patient from the beginning.
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Good start.
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Try your best from day to day.
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The view from the top will be worth it.
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Thank you.
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will focus on understanding the challenges and rewards of starting something new, specifically in the context of learning English. You will explore the process of growth that comes with learning a new language, recognizing that beginnings can be difficult but are essential for development. This lesson emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations and creating a structured learning plan, which can significantly enhance your English speaking practice. By the end, you will feel more confident in tackling the early stages of language learning and develop strategies to maintain your motivation.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Beginning - the start of something new.
- Step - a movement or action taken to achieve something.
- Expectations - beliefs about what will happen in the future.
- Goals - specific targets you aim to achieve.
- Practice - repeated exercise or performance to improve a skill.
- Habits - regular practices that can enhance your learning process.
- Challenge - a difficult task that encourages effort and growth.
Practice Tips
Utilizing the shadowing technique is an effective way to improve your speaking skills as you learn English. Here are some tailored tips based on the video’s speed and tone:
- Start Slow: Begin by listening to the transcript at a slower pace. This allows you to catch nuances and pronunciation. Repeat phrases immediately after hearing them to imitate the tone and rhythm.
- Focus on Intonation: Pay attention to the speaker’s emotional tone. Learning how to convey feelings through intonation is crucial for your IELTS speaking practice.
- Set clear goals: Just as mentioned in the video, define small, achievable objectives for your practice. Perhaps choose one vocabulary word or phrase to focus on each study session.
- Consistency is Key: Allocate a specific time each day for practice. Consistent, daily practice enhances retention and fluency.
- Embrace Mistakes: Understand that making errors is part of learning. Don’t get discouraged; view each misstep as an opportunity to improve.
By integrating these strategies into your daily practice, you will not only advance in your English language skills but also build the confidence needed to engage in conversation and embrace new experiences.
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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