Shadowing Practice: Barack Obama takes on 'woke' call-out culture: 'That's not activism' - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
The President of the United States, this idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly.
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The President of the United States, this idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly.
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The world is messy.
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There are ambiguities.
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People who do really good stuff have flaws.
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People who you are fighting may love their kids and,
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you know, share certain things with you.
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And I think that one danger I see among young people, particularly on college camps, is Malia and I talk about this.
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Yara goes to school with my daughter.
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But I do get a sense sometimes now, among certain young people, and this is accelerated by social media,
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There is this sense sometimes of the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people. And that's enough.
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Like if I tweet or hashtag about how you didn't do something right or used the word wrong verb,
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or then I can sit back and feel pretty good about myself.
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Cause man, you see how woke I was, I called you out.
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I'm gonna get on TV, watch my show, watch Grown-ish.
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You know, that's not activism.
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That's not bringing about change.
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If all you're doing is casting stones, you're probably not gonna get that far.
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That's easy to do.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills by analyzing a thought-provoking excerpt from a speech by President Barack Obama. This video tackles the complexities of social activism and how judgmental attitudes can impede genuine progress. Through this content, you will not only improve your English pronunciation using the shadowing technique but also engage with important themes relevant to today's society. By immersing yourself in the subject matter, you'll enhance your vocabulary and better understand the nuances of American English, making this an ideal exercise for IELTS speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Purity - the quality or condition of being free from anything that debases or contaminates; in this context, it refers to an idealistic view of activism.
  • Compromised - made a concession to someone or something that may lower standards; used here to describe a nuanced view of political beliefs.
  • Woke - being socially aware, especially regarding social justice issues; can also refer to a form of activism.
  • Judgmental - having or displaying an excessively critical point of view; the speaker warns against this approach in activism.
  • Change - significant or transformative action; in the context of activism, it represents the goal of effective advocacy.
  • Social media - platforms that allow users to create and share content or participate in social networking; discussed as an influence on young people's perceptions of activism.
  • Activism - the action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.
  • Cast Stones - to criticize or ridicule others harshly; signifies a counterproductive approach to activism.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing technique with this video, start by listening to President Obama’s speech segment several times. Focus on his tone, pacing, and intonations, which are key elements in understanding spoken English. Since the content involves important social themes, responding to his points can deepen your engagement.

Begin slowly—repeat phrases after he says them. This not only helps you improve English pronunciation but also allows you to get comfortable with complex vocabulary and expressions. For instance, try to shadow the phrase “the world is messy” by saying it in a similar tone and inflection as he does. Gradually increase your speed as you become more familiar with the content.

As you practice, record yourself. Listen back to identify areas for improvement, ensuring that you not only mimic his words but also embody the emotional weight behind them. This exercise will make your learning experience richer and more impactful while honing your speaking skills, essential for effective communication in English.

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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