Shadowing Practice: A Few Good Men - You can't handle the truth! - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
A moment ago, you said that you ordered Lieutenant Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
⏸ Paused
100 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
A moment ago, you said that you ordered Lieutenant Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
2
That's right.
3
And Lieutenant Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?
4
Crystal.
5
Any chance Lieutenant Kendrick ignored the order?
6
Ignored the order?
7
Any chance he forgot about it?
8
No. Any chance Lieutenant Kendrick left your office and said,
9
the old man is wrong?
10
No. Well, Lieutenant Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago.
11
Any chance they ignored him?
12
You ever served in an infantry unit, son?
13
No, sir.
14
Ever served in a forward area?
15
No, sir.
16
Ever put your life in another man's hands?
17
Asked him to put his life in yours?
18
No, sir.
19
We follow orders, son.
20
We follow orders or people die.
21
It's that simple.
22
Are we clear?
23
Yes, sir.
24
Are we clear?
25
Crystal.
26
Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez.
27
If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched,
28
and your orders are always followed,
29
then why would Santiago be in danger?
30
Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
31
Santiago was a substandard Marine.
32
He was being transferred.
33
That's not what you said.
34
You said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
35
That's correct.
36
You said he was in danger.
37
I said grave danger.
38
You said is there any other...
39
I recall what I said.
40
I can have the court reporter read back to you.
41
I know what I said.
42
I don't have to have it read back to me like I'm...
43
Why two orders?
44
Colonel?
45
Colonel?
46
Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
47
No, sir, you made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands.
48
Your men follow orders or people die.
49
So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all,
50
should he have, Colonel?
51
You snotty little bastard.
52
Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess.
53
I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
54
The court will wait for an answer.
55
If Lieutenant Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched,
56
then why did he have to be transferred?
57
Colonel, Lieutenant Kendrick ordered the code red, didn't he?
58
Because that's what you told Lieutenant Kendrick to do.
59
Object!
60
And when it went bad,
61
you cut these guys loose!
62
Your Honor, you have mortgages inside a phony transfer.
63
Your Honor, you doctored the logbook.
64
Damn it, Captain!
65
You coerced the doctrine.
66
Consider yourself in contempt.
67
Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Ray?
68
You don't have to answer that question.
69
I'll answer the question.
70
You want answers?
71
I think I'm entitled to you.
72
You want answers?
73
I want the truth!
74
You can't handle the truth!
75
Son, we live in a world that has walls,
76
and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns.
77
Who's gonna do it?
78
You?
79
You, Lieutenant Weinberg?
80
I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.
81
You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines.
82
You have that luxury.
83
You have the luxury of not knowing what I know,
84
that Santiago's death while tragic probably saved lives,
85
and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives.
86
You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties.
87
You want me on that wall.
88
You need me on that wall.
89
We use words like honor, code, loyalty.
90
We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something.
91
You use them as a punchline.
92
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises
93
and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
94
I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way.
95
Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.
96
Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
97
Did you order the code red?
98
I did the job.
99
Did you order the code red?
100
You're goddamn right I did!

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Context & Background

The excerpt from "A Few Good Men" showcases a tense courtroom scene that revolves around the theme of leadership and accountability within the military. The dialogue emphasizes the rigid adherence to orders, which is pivotal in high-stakes situations like those depicted in combat scenarios. Understanding the nuances of this conversation can enrich your vocabulary and comprehension skills, particularly in formal contexts like legal settings. For English learners, analyzing such dialogues presents an opportunity to practice IELTS speaking practice and enhance critical thinking about authority and responsibility within conversations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Are we clear?” - A phrase used to confirm understanding and compliance, often in commands or instructions.
  • “You can't handle the truth!” - A powerful assertion that challenges someone's ability to deal with reality; useful for expressing strong emotions.
  • “Follow orders or people die.” - A stark reminder of the consequences of not adhering to directives; applicable in discussions about safety and discipline.
  • “Any chance...?” - A conversational way to pose a hypothetical question, ideal for casual dialogue.
  • “Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.” - A statement about initiative and the consequences of ignoring rules, suitable for debates about ethics and decision-making.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To tackle the difficult dialogue in this video using the shadowing technique, follow these steps:

  1. Listen attentively: Start by watching the scene closely, focusing on the tone, inflection, and pace of the characters. Understanding these elements is crucial as you prepare to practice.
  2. Choose a short segment: Select a few lines from the transcript, such as the exchanges between the Colonel and the lawyer. Breaking it down into smaller parts makes it less overwhelming.
  3. Imitate the speaker: Play the clip, pause it after each phrase, and repeat what was said. Pay attention to the emotion and stress placed on particular words. This is effective in learning to learn English with YouTube.
  4. Record yourself: Use a recording device to capture your attempts. This will allow you to compare your speech to that of the actors, helping you identify areas for improvement.
  5. Reflect and improve: Listen to your recording and note the differences. Focus on pronunciation, intonation, and cadence to enhance your speaking skills.

Utilizing these techniques will not only help you grasp advanced communication skills but also prepare you for high-level English exams like the IELTS. Remember to practice regularly for the best results!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee