Shadowing Practice: American English Connected Reading 美式英语连读（下）｜Describe a Journey（part two) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today we're going to look at the sentence rhythm and intonation in my sample answer for the IELTS question, Describe a Journey You Remember Well.
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Let's take a look.
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When I was 15, when I was 15, 15, I went with my family,
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I went with my family.
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kind of go down on family, but keep went with my at a higher tone.
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I went with my family on a long trip.
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Long trip.
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So we don't go all the way down on trip.
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It's not long trip.
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Long trip.
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Just a little bit down.
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Long trip around a.. long trip around a bunch of national parks in the western United States.
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A bunch of National Parks in the Western United States.
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Western U.
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Western United States.
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We have to go low on U in United so that we can make a rhythm for the sentence.
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Western United States.
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I can't really remember.
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I can't really remember.
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Can't really.
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We keep that at an even tone.
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I can't really remember how much time we spent at each one.
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We spent.. we spent at each one.
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How much time we spent at each one?
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We.
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We goes lower, again to break up the rhythm of the high tone sentence.
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How much time we spent at each one?
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But the whole trip took about three weeks in total.
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But the whole trip took about three weeks in total.
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So three weeks.
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We go down a little bit on three weeks, but we don't go all the way down.
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It's not three weeks in total.
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Three weeks in total.
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Three weeks in total.
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At that time, at that time, at that time, I was just beginning.
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I was.
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So I was goes lower here, even though we rose on time.
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At that time I was just beginning.
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So just is quite high.
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I was just beginning to take pictures as a hobby.
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Take pictures, take pictures as a hobby.
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Take pictures as a hobby.
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So I love seeing all the different landscapes.
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So I, so I goes very low at the beginning of this sentence.
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So I love seeing all the different landscapes.
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Landscapes.
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We go much lower to finish that sentence.
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Landscapes.
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All the different landscapes.
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That was also, that was also when I first got to practice,
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first got to practice, got to, got to practice, got to practice,
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first got to practice driving a car.
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That was also when I first got to practice driving a car.
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My parents let me try driving, My parents let me try driving for a few minutes.
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My parents let me try driving for a few minutes.
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My.
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Let me.
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Furrah.
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All of those are low to break up the rhythm of the sentence.
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My parents let me try driving.
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Driving for a few minutes.
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For a few minutes.
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Out on a really lonely road in a desert.
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Out on a really lonely road in a desert.
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Really lonely road in a desert.
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In a desert.
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So we have three kind of high tones, but we don't go all the way low yet.
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Until in a.
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Really lonely road in a desert.
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Really lonely road in a desert.
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Where it was safe.
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Where it was.
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Now those three words are connected together, and they're spoken in a low tone, where it was safe.
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Where it was safe.
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It's been a long time.
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It's been a long time since I've been to parks like that, and I'd definitely like to see them again.
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It's...
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We start that sentence with a low tone.
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It's been a long time.
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It's been a long time since I've been to parks like that.
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Been to parks.
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T is unstressed, and so it goes with a low tone.
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Since I've been to parks like that, and I'd definitely like to see them again.
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That takes a falling then rising tone.
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Parks like that, that, parks like that, and I definitely like to see them again.
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And I, and it takes a low tone, and I definitely like to see them again.
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So I'm stressing definitely in my answer, definitely like to see them again.
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Like to, like to.
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It's not like to, definitely like to.
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It's not like that, it's definitely like to.
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Definitely like to see them again.
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So we kind of go up and down very quickly in this sentence. When I was 15,
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I went with my family on a long trip around a bunch of national parks in the western United States.
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I can't really remember how much time we spent at each one, but the whole trip took about three weeks in total.
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At that time, I was just beginning to take pictures as a hobby, so I loved seeing all the different landscapes.
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That was also when I first got to practice driving a car.
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My parents let me try driving for a few minutes out
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on a really lonely road in a desert where it was safe.
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It's been a long time since I've been to parks like that, and I'd definitely like to see them again.

Context & Background

In the video titled "American English Connected Reading," the speaker, Alex, provides viewers with an in-depth analysis of sentence rhythm and intonation using a specific IELTS speaking question: "Describe a Journey You Remember Well." As he recounts his experience of a family trip across national parks in the western United States, viewers are encouraged to focus not just on the content of his narrative but also on the way he articulates his thoughts. This approach serves as an effective method for learners aiming to improve their English speaking practice, particularly in relation to natural speech rhythms and emotional expression.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • I went with my family – A straightforward way to express companionship during experiences.
  • Long trip – A succinct way to describe an extended journey.
  • I can't really remember – A casual phrase to express uncertainty about details.
  • How much time we spent – A practical query for discussing duration.
  • I love seeing all the different landscapes – A positive expression of appreciation for nature.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this video for your IELTS speaking practice and enhance your shadowspeak skills, follow these steps:

  1. Listen attentively: Play the video and focus on how Alex constructs his sentences, paying close attention to his rhythm and intonation.
  2. Repeat audibly: Once you have listened, pause at various points and try to repeat Alex's phrases. Ensure that you mimic not only the words but also the tone and emphasis he uses.
  3. Isolate phrases: Choose a few key phrases from the "Top 5 Phrases" section and practice them repeatedly. This will reinforce your ability to use these expressions in everyday conversations.
  4. Record yourself: After practicing, record your own voice while delivering the same lines. Listen back to evaluate your pronunciation and rhythm. This will aid in refining your English speaking practice.
  5. Engage in conversation: Finally, incorporate these phrases into discussions with friends or language partners. Use the themes of travel and exploration to spark engaging dialogue while practicing your skills.

By integrating this method into your routine, you will not only enhance your command of English but also enrich your understanding of expressive speech patterns. Use learn English with Youtube as a resource to further your journey in mastering the language!

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.