Shadowing Practice: BARACK OBAMA and MICHELLE OBAMA announce that the Obama Presidential Center Opens June 19 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
It's easy to look around right now and feel like the challenges we face are simply too big.
⏸ Paused
21 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
It's easy to look around right now and feel like the challenges we face are simply too big.
2
But hope is not about ignoring the hard stuff.
3
It is that thing inside us that insists something better awaits,
4
if we're willing to work for it.
5
Here on the South Side of Chicago,
6
hope is getting a permanent home.
7
Starting on June 19th, you can visit the Obama Presidential Center,
8
a campus with a world-class Museum,
9
a new branch of the Chicago Public Library,
10
sweeping green spaces filled with public art,
11
the SA basketball court, and more.
12
This is a place where a child from next door
13
or across the globe can sit behind the Resolute Desk and imagine how they could help create a better world.
14
All week long, we'll honor all the people who've been with us on this journey from those who helped launch our campaign,
15
served in my administrations, and helped build the center to all of you who want to turn hope into action.
16
This is not a monument to the past.
17
It's a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo.
18
If you feel that way,
19
this is your invitation to join us.
20
Sign up to be the first to know about updates,
21
events, and tickets at Obama.org.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video featuring Barack and Michelle Obama provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your speaking skills in English. The context of the announcement regarding the Obama Presidential Center encourages listeners to engage with inspiring language and themes of hope and community. By practicing speaking along with the video, learners can not only imitate the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers but also understand how to convey emotions effectively. Such practice will boost your confidence in public speaking and improve English pronunciation through the immersive shadowing technique. Moreover, engaging with real-world content like this allows you to learn English with YouTube, bringing relevance and practicality to your language journey.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

1. “It is that thing inside us that insists something better awaits”: This construction emphasizes the subjunctive mood, which expresses hopes and desires. Learners should note how to formulate similar sentences to share aspirations or expectations.

2. “You can visit the Obama Presidential Center”: The modal verb “can” shows ability or possibility. Practicing this structure helps learners articulate their capabilities and plans clearly.

3. “This is not a monument to the past”: The use of “is” in a negative form highlights the importance of current actions over historical context. Understanding this phrase can help learners express opinions about change and progression.

4. “It’s a living destination for people who refuse to accept the status quo”: Here, the definition of terms like "living destination" can enrich vocabulary and understanding of figurative language. Exploring synonyms can help learners expand their lexical range.

Common Pronunciation Traps

In this video, certain phrases may pose challenges in pronunciation due to the natural flow of speech. For instance, the word “challenges” might be pronounced quickly, leading to a blend with other surrounding sounds. It's essential to practice enunciating each syllable crisply. Additionally, “public art” could be challenging due to the shift from the “b” to the “a” sound. Applying techniques to improve English pronunciation will make these phrases easier to articulate. Engaging in shadowspeaks exercises with this video can help you identify and work through these tricky pronunciations effectively.

By incorporating these elements into your learning experience, you can significantly enhance your English speaking abilities while staying motivated by the positive message delivered in the video. Remember, practice makes perfect, so take full advantage of this valuable resource!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee