Shadowing Practice: A Father and Son Short Story In English | Know Your Worth - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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One day, a son asked his father,
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One day, a son asked his father,
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Father, what is my life worth?
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His father gave him a stone and said,
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My son, if you want to know the value of your life,
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take this stone and go to the market.
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If someone asks you for the price,
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stay quiet and hold up two fingers.
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The boy followed his father's instructions and went to the market.
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After some time, an old woman approached him and asked,
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How much is this stone worth?
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The boy remained silent and raised two fingers.
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The woman said, $2 and tried to pay.
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Startled, the boy ran to his father and shared the incident,
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expressing that an old woman in the market offered $2 for the stone.
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The father replied, son, now I want you to go to the museum.
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If someone asks for the price,
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stay quiet and hold up two fingers.
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The son took the stone to the museum.
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After about 20 minutes, a middle-aged man in a suit and tie approached the boy and asked,
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Sir, how much is this stone worth?
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Once again, the boy remained silent and held up two fingers.
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The man said, $200.
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I will pay for it.
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Fearful, the boy rushed home to his father,
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informing him that the man at the museum wanted to buy the stone for $200.
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The father then instructed his son to go to a stone market.
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Excitedly, the son ran to the market,
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found a stone shop, and walked in.
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An old man stood behind the counter.
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When he saw the stone,
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he jumped up and exclaimed, My God!
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I have been looking for this stone all my life!
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What do you want for it?
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How much does it cost?
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The boy wordlessly held up two fingers.
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The old man offered $20,000 for the stone,
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leaving the boy in disbelief.
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He hurriedly returned to his father,
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exclaiming, Dad, the old man offered me $20,000 for the stone.
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With a smile, the father replied,
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Look, son, someone who knows the value of a stone has offered you the highest amount because he recognizes its true worth.
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The same applies to your life.
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You determine its value.
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You can choose to be a $2 rock or a $20,000 rock.
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You hold the power to decide the worth of your own life.
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Remember, there are loved ones for whom you mean everything,
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and there are others who may treat you as a commodity,
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not realizing your true value.
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And that's the powerful story of the stone's value and the lesson it teaches about the worth of our lives.
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Remember, it is up to us to determine our own value and surround ourselves with those who recognize and appreciate it.
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Don't let others define your worth.
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Take charge and embrace the true potential within you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice English listening and speaking skills by engaging with a captivating short story titled "A Father and Son Short Story In English | Know Your Worth." This narrative conveys powerful life lessons about self-worth and perception through simple dialogue and engaging scenarios. As you watch, you'll learn to identify key phrases and expressions that emphasize the importance of understanding your value, both in life and in social contexts. By practicing with the video, you will also enhance your pronunciation and fluency, essential components of effective communication in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Worth - The value of something; its significance.
  • Market - A place where goods are bought and sold.
  • Museum - An institution that holds and exhibits collections of historical or artistic significance.
  • Commodity - Something that is bought and sold; an item of economic value.
  • Recognize - To identify or acknowledge something's value or importance.
  • Power - The ability or capacity to do something or act in a certain way.
  • Surround - To be in the vicinity or at the periphery of something.
  • Appreciate - To recognize the full worth of; to value highly.

Practice Tips

To make the most of your practice, consider using the shadowing technique while watching the video. Pay close attention to the speed and tone of the narrative, mimicking the pauses and intonations as closely as possible. This will enhance your listening skills as well as your speaking abilities. Start by listening to short segments of the video and repeat them after the speaker. Make use of a shadowing app to record your attempts so you can evaluate your progress. Aim to match not only the words but also the emotional nuance conveyed in the story, as this is vital in mastering spoken English. Remember to focus on clarity and confidence in your speech; the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become. Happy learning as you enhance your English with YouTube and your shadow speech skills!

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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