Shadowing Practice: BBC 6 MInute English - Dealing With Boredom (2014 AUG 21) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This is 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello, I'm Rob.
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This is 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello, I'm Rob.
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Welcome to 6 Minute English.
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I'm joined today by Finn.
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Hello, Finn.
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Hi, Rob.
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You know, I'm happy you called me to present this programme with you
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because I was there by my desk feeling a bit bored.
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Great yawn, Finn.
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Yeah.
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Now, yawn, of course, is a typical reaction of someone who is bored.
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Yeah, it's when you open your mouth wide and take some air in and slowly out.
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OK, well, let's make this programme all about boredom, shall we?
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And I'll start by stimulating your imagination.
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Thank you, but how are you going to make me excited and interested in something, Rob?
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OK, well, how about I challenge you to a question that you might not know the answer to?
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OK, well, you can try.
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OK, well I know you like the theatre.
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I do, but it has to be an exciting play or I get restless.
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Restless, you mean unable to sit still because you get bored or worried even.
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OK, well I wonder how you'd feel watching the longest continuous play recorded?
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Well that's quite an offer.
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What do you mean?
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Well, according to the Guinness Book of Records,
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the longest continuous dramatic performance was held in New Jersey in the US in 2010.
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But do you know how long the cast for the Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco was on stage four?
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Was it for about...
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A. Eight hours?
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B. Seventeen hours?
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Or C.
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Twenty-three hours?
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Wow, they're all pretty long.
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I'll say B.
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Seventeen hours, Rob.
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Goodness, right.
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OK, well, I'll let you know the answer at the end of the programme.
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Now let's talk more about boredom.
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I think this is a feeling we have to learn how to cope with.
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Yes, we have to learn to deal with this situation successfully,
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to cope with it.
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But people often feel they want to change their life,
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to change their job.
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They might feel stuck in a rut.
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That's a good phrase, stuck in a rut.
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So you mean you have become too fixed in one kind of job.
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Yes, you know, Rob, even I sometimes dream of something a bit more exciting,
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like being a professional diver or maybe even a pilot of a really fast plane.
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Well, guess what?
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Even pilots get bored, you know.
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Not when they're flying anyway.
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Wrong.
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When they're up in the air.
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No way, really.
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I don't believe you.
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Well, Missy Cummings, an American, was a fighter pilot.
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Listen to the phrasal verb she uses,
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meaning to stop being bored at least for a while.
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Is there ever time for a fighter pilot to get bored?
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Oh, my gosh, sure.
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For the same reasons that commercial pilots get bored.
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These fighter jets are very automated when it comes to just holding altitude and heading.
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So you'd turn everything on autopilot.
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And I probably listened to more Oprah Winfrey TV shows on the high-frequency radios
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and so you get good about using the technology to figure out how to stave off that boredom.
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Ah, so she listened to a show hosted by the American presenter Oprah Winfrey on the radio to stave off her boredom.
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Now to stave off means to stop or to keep an unpleasant feeling away.
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In this case she means boredom.
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Yes indeed.
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But some experts think there's something good about feeling bored.
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Really?
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Let's hear what Tiffany Watt-Smith has to say.
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She works for the Centre for the History of Emotions at the Queen Mary University of London.
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Pay attention to the word she uses to describe what boredom does to people.
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On the one hand people are worried about being under-occupied and bored.
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On the other, there is a set of anxieties about us not having any more downtime.
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You know, we can constantly check our phones at the bus stop.
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Everything is to be filled and what does that do to our minds?
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I think boredom is a very useful emotion.
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It's an emotion which spurs people on to change something about their environment.
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If you're bored, it gives rise to creativity.
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So boredom spurs people on to change something.
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Now, to spur on means to stimulate or to encourage someone to do something.
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So what are you going to do, Finn?
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How will you change your life?
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Change my life?
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OK, two things.
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The first one is...
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I want to know if I got that question right.
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Well, I said at the beginning of the programme
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that the longest continuous dramatic performance was held in New Jersey US in 2010.
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And I asked you, how long was the cast on stage for to play the bald soprano by Eugene Ionesco?
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Yes, the options were 8 hours,
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17 hours and 23 hours, I think.
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And I said 17.
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Was I right?
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You were not.
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Oh no. It was even longer.
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Oh wow.
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OK, according to the Guinness Book of Records,
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yes, the play lasted 23 hours,
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33 minutes and 54 seconds.
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It was achieved by the 27 o'clock players who performed The Bald Soprano at Belmar,
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New Jersey, USA on the 27th of July 2010.
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Anyway, Finn, what's the second thing you're going to do to stave off your boredom?
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You know what, Rob?
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I'm going to book myself a fantastic holiday.
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Maybe I could start with a visit to Patagonia in Argentina to see the penguins.
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Sounds very exciting.
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But before you head off to Patagonia,
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could you remind us of some of the English words we've heard today?
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We heard yawn, stimulating, restless,
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to cope with, stuck in a rut,
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to stave off, to spur on.
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Thanks, Finn.
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That's it for this programme.
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I hope you didn't find it boring.
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Not at all.
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I loved it!
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Please join us again soon for another 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
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Bye-bye!
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Bye!

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the BBC 6 Minute English video on dealing with boredom is an excellent way to enhance your English speaking skills. The informal dialogue between Rob and Finn addresses a common emotion—boredom—which resonates with many people. This relatability makes it easier for learners to connect and practice. By listening and repeating the phrases, you not only improve your pronunciation but also gain confidence in discussing everyday topics.

Additionally, shadowing the speakers in this video using the shadowing technique allows you to mimic their tones and rhythms. This technique involves imitating the speech right after you hear it, thereby enhancing your fluency and intonation in natural conversations. Using a shadowing app can further assist in tracking your progress and refining your skills, making learning engaging and effective.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the dialogue, various phrases and grammar structures exemplify everyday conversation patterns. Here are a few key examples:

  • Coping with boredom: The term “cope with” is frequently used, highlighting how we manage difficult feelings. For instance, “we have to learn to cope with this situation successfully” emphasizes resilience.
  • Stuck in a rut: This idiom paints a vivid picture of stagnation in one’s job or life. For example, “people often feel they want to change their life, to change their job. They might feel stuck in a rut.” This phrase encourages learners to think about their circumstances critically.
  • Asking questions: Rob’s challenge to Finn illustrates how to inquire effectively: “Do you know how long the cast for the Bald Soprano was on stage?” This structure not only conveys curiosity but also prompts open-ended conversation.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice with this video, be aware of certain words that may present pronunciation challenges:

  • Bored: The word “bored” is often pronounced with a softer 'o' sound, which can be tricky. Ensure you articulate clearly to convey the feeling accurately.
  • Restless: Pay attention to the syllable stress; it’s pronounced as rest-less, not rest-lis which can be a common mistake.
  • Yawn: This word represents a physical action often associated with boredom. When saying it, exaggerate the 'y' sound to get the right effect; this is essential for emotional expression in your speaking.

Practicing these words and phrases using the shadow speak approach will not only improve your pronunciation but will make conversations flowing and natural. Dive deeper into the context of this dialogue by utilizing a shadowing site for additional resources on similar topics!

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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