Shadowing Practice: Are chores good for kids? | Parental As Anything | ABC Australia - Learn English Speaking with Video

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chores.
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It's something I get asked a lot.
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So I want to give you some good news to start with.
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The research is really strong
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that the children who tend to do chores regularly during their
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childhood turn out to be better human beings who are much easier to live with.
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Wow, that's great news.
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So how do we get them started on it?
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How do we do it without endless shouting and nagging?
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And how do we do it in a way that is a positive experience for our families?
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First tip is start young
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and age appropriately will gradually encourage our kids to take on more things
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but when they're little often toddlers want to help
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so the notion of helping us be grown -ups is where we start
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and that notion of again helping each other because we're part of
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things secretly underneath is chores are not so much about controlling your children's behaviors
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and their choices it's about teaching
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that cooperation is actually what makes lives happier for everybody
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so start early you see what they can do
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and then every now
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and then we have to step back it doesn't have to be completed perfectly
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when they're little as we're heading into our primary school years
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obviously we've got to fit chores in around other sorts of commitments and that can be a meeting, have a big piece of paper,
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work out which chores need to be done by the children
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and work out which of the children are able to do
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which ones and then have a look at rotating where do we fit them, how often do we do them because it's got to be fair.
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We don't want anyone doing more chores than anybody else.
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That's a really big part of having children cooperate around chores.
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So the next one is make sure when you've got that worked out, you have a very clear list on the fridge, because seriously, that will stop a lot of the fighting.
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Very clear list.
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And if a child needs to negotiate a different time or a different one, a different chore, they can either go to one of their siblings or they can come to you.
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But seriously, the idea is everybody does chores because that's how our family works.
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And no, you're not being paid to do chores, as this is what we do because we live together.
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that aren't always as much fun to do.
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Now I do love the idea of tying in some fun with them, so you could do dress -ups to do clean -ups.
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Sometimes in our home it might be a Saturday morning blitz
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which was seriously had to clean absolutely everything was vacuum was going
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and everything cleaned up room cleaned up everything cleaned up
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and then I take them out for breakfast because hunger was driving that really good idea that one.
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We need them as they get older to be
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So sometimes if it's not really suiting them first thing in the morning, who does?
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Can they make sure that they have, do you want to do the dishes now when you got home from school?
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Or do you want to do that just before dinner?
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So a little bit of autonomy can help teens around chores.
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Remember the most important thing is this what we do because we're a family.
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If they would like to earn some money from doing some extra chores, that's a fabulous idea.
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Make sure it's a really good hour -long task.
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sweeping the driveway cleaning windows because we want them to know that you can earn money for special things
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You just have to put some effort in so that you don't just get handed it.
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Chores are a part of living together in families and our kids need to know we're all part of a team, we've all got a role to pay and we all matter.
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We are all in this together as a family.
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I hope that gives you a few clues on getting those chores working in your home.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage with the concepts surrounding household chores and their benefits for children. By listening to a discussion about how chores contribute to personal development and cooperation within families, students will practice their English speaking skills. The lesson encourages shadowing techniques to improve English pronunciation and enhance fluency in everyday conversations. Participants will practice key vocabulary and phrases related to family life and responsibilities, fostering a better understanding of how to express ideas concerning teamwork and household tasks.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Chores: Routine tasks or duties, usually around the house.
  • Cooperation: Working together toward a common goal.
  • Negotiate: To discuss something in order to reach an agreement.
  • Autonomy: Independence or the ability to make one's own decisions.
  • Family meeting: A gathering of family members to discuss important matters.
  • Sharing: The act of dividing and giving part of something to others.
  • Rotate: To change places or tasks among members.
  • Teamwork: Collaborative effort to achieve a common goal.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson and to effectively improve English pronunciation, consider using shadowspeak techniques. Here are some practical tips:

  • Listen carefully to the speed and tone of the speaker in the video. Try to match your intonation and stress patterns when you shadow the speech.
  • Pause the video after each key phrase or sentence. Repeat what you've heard out loud, focusing on clarity and rhythm.
  • Record yourself while shadowing the speech. Listening to your own voice will help you identify areas for improvement in your English speaking practice.
  • Practice in a comfortable space where you can genuinely engage with the content. This will enhance your confidence as you work on your shadow speech.
  • Invite a friend or family member to join you during practice. They can provide feedback and help with the shadowing technique.

By combining these strategies, learners can effectively develop their English language skills, making it easier to discuss responsibilities and teamwork in everyday life.

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.