Shadowing Practice: Author's Live 2020 - Michael Rosen - No Breathing in Class - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Now, I was at school a long, long time ago, in the Stone Age, actually, is when I was at school.
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Now, I was at school a long, long time ago, in the Stone Age, actually, is when I was at school.
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I'm 3,073 years old.
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And in the Stone Age, we had a teacher who was so strict, so strict, you weren't allowed to breathe in her lessons.
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It's incredible, isn't it?
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She used to stand out the front and say, No breathing!
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And you came in first thing in the morning.
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You had to get through the morning without breathing like this.
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And the weak ones just used to keel over.
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You'd hear them going down at the back of the class.
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And there was always a whiny kid going, Me, can I go out and do some breathing?
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And she'd say, no, you've got all playtime to do it in.
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And the kid would go, go on, Me, go on.
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No. At the beginning of the week, there were 48 children in my class.
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At the end of the week, there was only five of us left.
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At the end of the day, you'd be stepping over kids just to get out the room.
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Oh, no!
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There's Melanie.
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That's a shame.
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She's really nice.
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I used to like Melanie.
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There's Dave.
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Hard luck, Dave.
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Always knew you were a bit weak, Dave.
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People say to me, that can't be true.
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If that was true, you wouldn't be alive now to tell the tale the tail but I say, ah yes, but at the very end of the stone age they took out the stone desks,
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brought in wooden desks with lids, can you do that?
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With lids, that's it.
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And some of us figured out you could snatch a quick breath under the desk without misnoticing.
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Once more, from the beginning, we know how it goes.
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Miss says, what does she say?
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No breathing.
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One, two, three.
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No breathing.
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I was quite good at it.
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The weak ones with me.
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Here we go.
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Kaboom!
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Kaboom!
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Kaboom!
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The whiny kid.
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Me, can we go and do some breathing?
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No, you've got all playtime to do it in.
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Extra whingy bit.
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Oh, God, me, I'm going off.
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No, that's what we have desk lids.
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Are you ready?
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Hold that breath.
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Make sure nobody's looking.
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Boom.
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No, don't slam your desk lid down.
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If you slammed your desk lid down, that meant out.
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School prison.
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There was a school prison underneath the school hall where they used to string us up from the wall bars, like this.
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Can you do that?
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Me's been up here for three weeks. And there's rats.
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And they're nibbling my toenails, miss.
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So I figured it out.
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If I wanted to survive...
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Can you do that?
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If I wanted to survive...
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The way to do it was to let the desk lid down really, really quietly, Once more, from the beginning, we know how it goes.
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Miss says...
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No breathing.
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Here we go with the breath.
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The weak ones with me.
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Kaboom, kaboom, kaboom.
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The whiny kid.
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Me, could I go and do some breathing?
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No, you've got all playtime to do it in.
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Extra whingy bit.
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I've gone, me, I've gone.
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No. The other lot, hold that breath.
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Make sure nobody's looking.
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Bum!
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Out, school prison, wall bars.
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Pfft!
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Mees!
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I've been up here for...
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Three weeks! And there's...
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Rats!
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And the nibble in my...
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Two years!
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Me.
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Thumbs round the edge of the desk lid. Do that.
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Okay, hold that breath.
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Woo!
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Make sure nobody's looking.
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And here we go.
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And then let that desk lid down really, really quietly.
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And no noise at all.
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And that was the way to...
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Survive!
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That was the way to...
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Survive!
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That was the way to... So bye.
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And it's why I'm here today.
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In the entertaining narrative of "No Breathing in Class," author Michael Rosen shares vivid and humorous memories of his school days, likening them to the "Stone Age." Through his recounting of a strict teacher who allegedly forbade breathing during lessons, Rosen creates a whimsical, exaggerated scenario that reflects the rigidity of some educational experiences. This storytelling style not only captivates audiences but also provides an excellent context for English language learners to engage with spoken English through humor and narrative structure.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • No breathing! - A humorous phrase that emphasizes strictness or discipline in a playful context.
  • Can I go out and do some breathing? - A light-hearted way to ask for permission, useful in various everyday situations.
  • At the end of the week, there were only five of us left. - A dramatic expression that can be used to describe survival in challenging circumstances.
  • Make sure nobody's looking. - A phrase that can convey caution or secrecy, applicable in many social interactions.
  • Hold that breath! - A playful command that can be used in various contexts, especially in games or challenges.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To improve your English speaking skills using Michael Rosen's "No Breathing in Class," consider the following shadowing steps:

  1. Listen Actively: Begin by listening to the video carefully, focusing on Rosen's intonation and rhythm.
  2. Phrase Extraction: Identify key phrases from the transcript that resonate with you, such as the top phrases listed above.
  3. Repeat and Mimic: Use a shadowing app or simply a recording device to mimic Rosen's delivery. Pay attention to the emotions he conveys, as this adds depth to your learning.
  4. Practice in Context: Use the extracted phrases in your daily conversations to familiarize yourself with their practical applications. For example, try using "No breathing!" in a humorous context with friends.
  5. Feedback Loop: Record your own voice while shadow speaking and compare it with the original. This will help you identify areas for improvement and build confidence.

By integrating these techniques into your language practice routine, you'll not only enhance your English speaking skills but also learn to appreciate humor and storytelling in the language—making the learning process enjoyable and effective.

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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