Shadowing Practice: An old mans advice. - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Good morning.
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71 sentences
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Good morning.
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Whoops!
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It's raining.
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Hold on a minute.
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There.
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I thought I'd talk to you a little bit this morning about, oh by the way, this is a new computer and it does all kinds of things so I have to be careful.
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I'm not the sharpest tack in the box when it comes to this new equipment.
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You're talking to a guy or a guy speaking to you now that started driving a Model A car.
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I remember the first jet airplane and many first things.
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The Iceman delivering ice to an icebox, taking it off of a mule-drawn wagon.
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But I'd like to speak to you a little bit this morning about young people in particular.
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about accomplishing things.
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When I was young, as you know, I had a difficult childhood, but there's no excuse for people not being able to do what they want to do.
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You can do anything that you want to do.
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For example, as I've told you before, I lived in the back of an old car.
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I taught myself to read and write.
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So if you're young, don't give up.
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Don't say the world is just against me.
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That's not true.
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I taught myself to read and write.
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I've had five books published.
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I went to college, got a little bit of college.
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I've studied scripture for many, many years.
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I've raised five children.
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I've buried a mother, father, sister, brother, wife, and daughter.
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so a person can accomplish anything that they want.
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One time, to prove to myself that I was not an ignorant person, I bought a blackboard.
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And I purchased a correspondence course for computer programming, and I completed it with the blackboard.
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So, forge ahead.
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Don't stop.
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Never stop learning.
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Always reach out to better yourself.
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Because when you do that, things expand.
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You understand more.
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You're happier.
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You're healthier.
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This old saying that if you don't use it, you lose it, is absolutely true.
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If you don't use that brain that God put in your head,
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one of these days you'll be sitting on a front porch somewhere and you won't hardly know what's going on.
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So don't give up.
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If times are hard, good things nor bad things last forever.
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But most generally, we are in control of our own destiny.
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And when I say that, I mean this.
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If you're not getting ahead, you need to do something to allow yourself to get ahead.
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But for an example, if you want a good job, if you want a secure future, you have to have something to offer a prospective employer.
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Now I'm not saying you need a PhD or a master's degree, but you do have to have something to offer.
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There's going to be a time in this country that people that know how to work with their hands,
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plumbers, electricians, carpenters, cement layers, machine operators, mechanics,
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people that know how to work with their hands are going to be in great demand.
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Yes, it's true, you have to have education and training to be an engineer or a doctor or a lawyer, but I'll tell you the truth.
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I spent 60 years working.
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I was successful.
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I started a couple of businesses.
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I'm not a wealthy man, but I'm a guy that came from living in the back of an old car to having a nice retirement and to be able to talk to you on this thing.
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So I'm going to close, but I just wanted to share that with you this morning.
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Young people, I love you.
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I do.
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I love young people.
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My grandmother always said, you know, when a baby smiles, the angels sing.
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And that's true.
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I believe.
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But young people, you're the backbone of this country.
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You're the backbone of the world.
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I don't care if you're in Asia, Africa, Korea, Japan.
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I don't care where you are, the United States.
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You are the leaders, the future leaders of this world.
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So reach out.
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Be yourself.
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Don't be afraid to go after what you need.
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So I love you.
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Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.
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About This Lesson

In today’s lesson, you will focus on improving your English speaking skills through the insightful advice shared by an elder in the video "An Old Man's Advice." This transcript emphasizes resilience, lifelong learning, and the importance of skills development. As you practice, you will enhance your vocabulary, understand nuanced expressions, and improve your overall pronunciation. The motivational themes will also provide context for using English in daily conversations, enabling you to connect better with others.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Accomplish: To succeed in doing something, especially after effort.
  • Forge ahead: To move forward in a strong or determined way.
  • Don't give up: An encouragement to persist despite difficulties.
  • Training: The process of learning skills for a job or a particular activity.
  • Correlate: To have a mutual relationship or connection.
  • Secure future: A state of being safe from financial or personal troubles.
  • Know how to work with your hands: Being skilled in practical or manual tasks.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning from this video, consider utilizing the shadowing technique while listening. Since the speaker's tone is passionate and steady, you should aim to mimic not only the words but also the emotion behind them. As you repeat phrases like "Don't give up" or "Forge ahead", pay attention to how he emphasizes certain words. This will help improve your English pronunciation and make your speech more dynamic.

Begin by listening to small sections of the video and repeating them immediately after. This shadow speech practice will not only enhance your vocabulary but also develop your fluency. Focus on the rhythm and intonation of the speaker’s voice. If the pace feels fast, it’s perfectly fine to slow down at first; the goal is to gradually match the speed while ensuring clarity in your pronunciation.

Incorporating this shadowspeak strategy into your English speaking practice will elevate your skills over time. Remember, the key to success is consistent practice and a positive attitude towards learning!

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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