Shadowing Practice: Animated Story - The Hedgehog Leaves Home - Family Storytime - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
A2
the hedgehog leaves home by Ulf Stark
194 sentences
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the hedgehog leaves home by Ulf Stark
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and Anne Catherine Sigrid Stolberg in this story we watch as
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little hedgehog leaves home his mommy thinks he's big enough to make it in the big world by himself.
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And he's very proud to be so big.
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There's all kinds of fun and danger when you're out there on your own,
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like snakes and pine cones,
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and jackrabbit poop, mushrooms and foxes,
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and there's a lot to learn as well.
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So it's good to have a friend, like a field mouse.
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Come on a journey with the hedgehog and meet the animals and the plants of the forest and do what he does.
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Have fun, and learn as much as you can.
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All of a sudden, fall arrived.
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The leaves on the trees turned yellow and red.
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Mushrooms pushed up out of the ground,
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and it grew colder day by day.
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You're big enough to make your own way in the world now,
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said the hedgehog's mommy, giving him a kiss.
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Just watch out for all the dangers in the big wide world.
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I will, said the hedgehog.
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And learn as much as you can.
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I will, said the hedgehog.
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And off he sat into the forest to find a place to sleep for the winter.
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He was proud to be so grown up,
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and he planned to learn as much as he could.
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The hedgehog is leaving home,
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said the ladybug from her spot on the rowan leaf.
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It's hard to believe that fall's already here,
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saying the mosquitoes in the bushes.
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How strange they sound when they sing, thought the hedgehog.
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Then he remembered what his mommy had told him,
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that he should watch out.
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But suddenly he stumbled and rolled down the hill like a ball.
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Well, I have learned something now,
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he thought, once he had come to a stop.
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He had learned that rolling was fun.
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At the bottom of the hill there was a pond.
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He looked into the water.
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There was another hedgehog in there.
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"'Well, hello,' he said.
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"'Have you seen how grown up I am?' Then the frog,
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who was sitting nearby, laughed.
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"'Ha, ha!
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Are you talking to your own reflection?' she laughed.
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The hedgehog felt silly.
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And I suppose you catch flies with your tongue, he said quickly.
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Do they taste good?
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Oh, it's the most delicious food around, croaked the frog.
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So the hedgehog stuck his tongue out too.
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But he didn't catch any flies.
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Well, goodbye.
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I'm going for a little dip, said the frog.
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and jumped in the pond.
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Oh, I'll join you, said the hedgehog cheerfully.
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But he did not like it.
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So he had learned two things,
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that he could not catch flies with his tongue,
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and he did not like swimming.
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So off he went with wet paws.
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Underneath some pine trees beautiful mushrooms were growing,
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red ones with white dots,
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and they looked absolutely delicious, he thought.
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He had already opened his mouth to take a bite when someone shouted.
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Oh, no, not one of those.
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They're toadstool mushrooms, and they're poisonous.
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A field mouse peeked out from behind a fern.
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She was a kind mouse.
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Even though it had almost grown dark,
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she took the hedgehog to a place that had yellow mushrooms instead.
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These are chanterelle mushrooms.
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You can eat these, she said.
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What a lot I'm learning,
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said the hedgehog, and took a big bite.
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He was lucky as well,
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because there was a worm inside,
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and hedgehogs like eating worms.
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He was just finishing eating when he heard a swooshing sound in the air.
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Swoosh!
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Help! squeaked the mouse.
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Someone wants me for dinner!
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The hedgehog remembered about watching out, so he looked up.
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Oh my, what was that?
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It was a big owl diving down from the sky.
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It looked at the mouse hungrily.
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Oh, hide underneath me, said the hedgehog.
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He lay over the mouse.
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At the last moment the owl turned and flew away.
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It did not want to get spines in its beak.
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Oh, thank you, kind hedgehog.
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You saved my life, said the mouse.
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And you saved mine before, said the hedgehog.
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So he learned that it was always good to help others,
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and sometimes others help you.
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The next day the hedgehog continued his long journey.
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The mouse kept him company for a while.
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Where are you going? asked the mouse.
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"'Somewhere warm,' said the hedgehog.
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"'I am going to sleep for the whole winter.
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"'That's what my mommy said.
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Is that what you're going to do too?" Oh no, not me.
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But the snakes and bears sleep all winter, said the mouse.
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You are so smart, said the hedgehog.
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Can you teach me everything, please?
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Oh, I don't have time, said the mouse.
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But I can teach you some things.
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So she taught the hedgehog what jackrabbit poop looks like.
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It might not be very useful information,
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she said, but it's always fun to know.
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After a while they saw a moose grazing on a shrub.
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Hello, moose, called the mouse.
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This is Hedgehog, and he hardly knows anything.
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I'm showing him around the forest.
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That's very good, said the moose.
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So the hedgehog and the mouse continued on their way and walked up a hill.
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Suddenly a pine cone rolled right in front of them.
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The squirrel has been nibbling on this one, said the mouse.
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He is a cousin of mine,
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and we both have large front teeth.
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She was interrupted by the squirrel calling from the branches above.
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Watch out, watch out, the fox is coming.
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Then they saw the fox.
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She was pointing at them with her tail.
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Oh, what do we have here,
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said the fox to her cubs.
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A mouse and a hedgehog.
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Let's hunt them.
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Just do what mommy does.
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And she took a great big leap.
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Her cubs copied her, but they bumped into each other and rolled around laughing.
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And they got their tails all tangled up.
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Oh, hurry up so they don't get away, said the fox.
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Oh, hurry up so they don't catch us, said the mouse.
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I can't run very fast,
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said the hedgehog, but I can roll.
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The hedgehog rolled down the hill.
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Then he and the mouse crept into a hole.
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When the fox tried to get in,
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she hurt her nose on the hedgehog's spines.
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Come on, let's go, said the fox to her cubs.
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Hedgehogs don't taste very good anyway.
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Now I've learned two more things, said the hedgehog.
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What, asked the mouse, that holes are good and to watch out for foxes.
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You're right about that," said the mouse.
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I have to go home now.
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See you in the spring.
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So the hedgehog and the mouse went their separate ways.
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The hedgehog was getting more and more tired.
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He ate and drank and watched out for foxes.
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But try as he might,
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he could not find a good place to sleep.
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An ant was hurrying along the path as fast as it could go.
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Hello, said the hedgehog.
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Where are you going to live this winter?
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Under my anthill, far below the ground, puffed the ant.
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Oh, can I stay there too?
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No, you're too big, said the ant, and hurried on.
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Soon the hedgehog heard somebody yawn.
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It was Bear stomping around the blueberry bushes, picking berries.
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She wanted to fill her tummy before she went to sleep for the winter.
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Oh, I'm so tired, she yawned.
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Watch out, called the hedgehog.
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The bear was just about to step on a poisonous snake.
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Sssssssss, hissed the snake.
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I'm going to bite this paw.
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But before the snake could bite, the hedgehog was there.
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He held the snake by the neck.
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The snake whisked its tail around wildly, trying to get free.
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"'Gosh, aren't I brave!' thought the hedgehog.
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I did not know that before.
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He was so surprised that his mouth gaped open.
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The snake slipped away and was gone, nowhere to be found.
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"'You saved me,' said the bear.
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"'What can I do for you?' I don't know, said the hedgehog.
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I am looking for somewhere to sleep so that I can keep warm during the winter.
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You can sleep in my cave, said the bear.
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The bear made a huge pile of leaves and twigs in her cave.
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There you go, my prickly friend, she said.
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Oh, thank you, bear, said the hedgehog, and crawled in.
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It was nice and warm and cozy in there.
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The hedgehog felt very happy.
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He had a nice place to sleep and a nice friend to talk to.
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He talked about the frog and the owl and the fox.
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He talked about the mosquitoes and the ant,
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and about all the things he would do in the spring.
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But the bear was already asleep,
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and soon the hedgehog would be too.
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But first he thought, it is easier to be out on your own when there are others there to help you.
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And then he fell asleep.
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What a fun little story.
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I hope you enjoyed it.
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I have more like this on my playlist if you're interested.
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Thanks so much for coming along on this little adventure with Hedgehog.
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And until next time, and as always,
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remember, you are amazing and you are loved.
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Sweet dreams.
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills through the engaging story of "The Hedgehog Leaves Home." As you follow the journey of a little hedgehog venturing into the big world, you will enhance your vocabulary and improve your speaking fluency. This animated story provides an excellent opportunity to learn English with YouTube by immersing yourself in a narrative filled with adventure and important lessons. As the hedgehog encounters various animals and learns to navigate his environment, you will also pick up essential phrases and improve your pronunciation through shadowing techniques.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Hedgehog - A small spiny mammal that is the main character in the story.
- Danger - A situation that poses a risk; understanding this vocabulary helps in discussing safety in one's travels.
- Reflection - An image seen in a mirror or water; an important concept as the hedgehog learns about self-awareness.
- Rolling - The action of turning over and over; an enjoyable experience for the hedgehog that teaches him about fun.
- Friend - Someone you share a bond with; emphasizes the importance of companionship during adventures.
- Autumn/Fall - The season when leaves change color and temperatures drop; understanding seasonal changes can enrich your vocabulary.
- Learn - To gain knowledge or skills; a central theme in the journey of the hedgehog.
- Forest - A large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth; the setting of the story adds context to the adventure.
Practice Tips
To make the most of this story for shadowing practice, follow these tips:
- Watch and Listen: First, watch the video without trying to imitate. Pay attention to the hedgehog's tone and pacing. Notice how the narrator conveys emotions through speech.
- Repeat After: Play the video again and pause after each sentence or phrase. Try to replicate the intonation and rhythm of the narrator. This will help you practice shadow speech effectively.
- Sentence Structure: Focus on replicating the sentence structures used in the story. Engaging with the content in this way will help you remember and utilize these phrases in your own conversations.
- Practice Speaking Aloud: Use the key vocabulary words in your own sentences. For instance, discuss some dangers one might encounter while exploring. This will aid in expanding your vocabulary and improving your confidence.
- Use IELTS Speaking Practice Techniques: Take notes of interesting phrases or expressions and practice incorporating them into your speech. Record yourself to monitor your progress in terms of clarity and fluency.
By integrating these methods, you will enhance your English speaking abilities. Engaging with the story of the hedgehog not only offers fun but also promotes essential language skills in a captivating context.
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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