Shadowing Practice: American English Connected Reading 美式英语连读 ｜ Jackie Chan - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, welcome back.
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Today I'm going to be helping you with the connected reading for a biography of someone you probably know pretty well.
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Cheng Long.
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Jackie Chan began studying martial arts.
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Martial arts.
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The le and the ah connect together.
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Martial arts.
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Anacrobatics.
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This D disappears.
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Anacrobatics.
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At age seven. At age.
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So this at becomes a and the T becomes very light.
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At age seven.
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People thought he would be.
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People thought he would be.
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Thought he.
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This T and this H kind of connect together and the H disappears.
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Thought he would be.
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Thought he would be.
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The next Bruce Lee.
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This T disappears before next Bruce Lee in Hong Kong.
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But he instead, buddy, buddy, this t becomes very light.
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But he instead developed, instead d, instead developed.
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This d and this d connect together.
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Instead developed his own style.
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This h disappears.
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Developed his own style of martial arts mixed with comedy.
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He became a huge star throughout Asia.
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This T becomes very light.
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Throughout Asia.
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Throughout Asia.
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And went on to have.
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And so this D disappears.
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And went on.
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And this T disappears.
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And went on to have.
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This whole two becomes very short.
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Went on to have.
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Went on to have.
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Hits in the United States as well. In the.
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The N and the TH connect together.
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And both of these words become very short.
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Hits in the United States.
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Hits in the United States as well.
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His first Kung Fu comedy came out in 1978.
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Any, any, this H disappears.
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Any, and so it connects together, and it sounds like just one word.
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Any became, any became increasingly, any becameen, becameen.
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This I becomes extremely small, and these two words connect together.
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Became increasingly successful, became increasingly successful in the, again connect those two words,
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in the 1980s and beyond.
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this d disappears and beyond his first english film
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so here the t kind of connects to the e
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and it becomes light
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so it's first english first english film his first english film called rush hour was released in the United States.
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In the, in the United States, United, this T should become very light,
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in the United States in 1998.
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When we speak quickly, this S connects to the in United Statesen, Statesen, Statesen, 1998.
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Jackie Chan began studying martial arts and acrobatics at age seven.
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People thought he would be the next Bruce Lee in Hong Kong, but he instead developed his own style of martial arts mixed with comedy.
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He became a huge star throughout Asia and went on to have hits in the United States as well.
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His first kung fu comedy came out in 1978, and he became increasingly successful in the 1980s and beyond.
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His first English film, called Rush Hour, was released in the United States in 1998.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in connected reading through a biography of the iconic martial artist and actor, Jackie Chan. This practice will enhance your understanding of how native speakers link words together in natural speech, a vital skill for improving your English pronunciation and overall fluency. By focusing on connected speech, you'll learn how to simplify and blend sounds, making your speaking more fluid and natural. This technique, often referred to as shadowspeak, will help you sound more like a native speaker, an essential goal for anyone interested in English speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Martial arts - A variety of fighting techniques.
  • Acrobatics - Physical feats involving agility and coordination.
  • Thought he would be - Expressing an expectation or belief.
  • Developed his own style - Created a unique approach.
  • Kong Fu comedy - A genre combining martial arts with humor.
  • In the United States - Referring to the location where significant achievements occurred.
  • Increasingly successful - A term indicating growing achievements over time.
  • Throughout Asia - Encompassing the entire Asian continent.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson, adopt a shadow speech approach while watching the video. Start by listening to small segments of the transcript, focusing on how words connect and how sounds change. For instance, pay attention to how "at age" sounds like "a age" and how "thought he" blends into "thou’t he." Practicing these nuances will significantly improve your English pronunciation.

Try shadowing while adjusting your speed to match Jackie Chan's tone. Begin slowly, then gradually speed up to mirror his natural rhythm. This will help you internalize the flow of speech patterns. You can also pause after key phrases to repeat them aloud, ensuring that you’re accurately mimicking the reductions in sounds. This repetition is crucial for mastering connected speech.

For better structure, use a shadowing site where you can manage playback speed or repeat sections easily. By practicing these techniques, you’ll stand a better chance of mastering spoken English, making your interactions more confident and fluid.

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.