Shadowing Practice: BBC 6 Minute English November 12, 2015 - What makes us laugh - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English.
⏸ Paused
121 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English.
2
I'm Alice.
3
And I'm Neil.
4
OK, Alice, I've got something for you here.
5
Question?
6
Yeah?
7
You ready?
8
What is the Mexican version of Juan Direction?
9
Oh, erm...
10
No idea.
11
Juan Direction.
12
Oh...
13
Get it?
14
Very good.
15
Juan Direction, you know?
16
Yes, yes, I get it.
17
Never mind.
18
Can you guess what the subject of today's show is instead?
19
Is it bad jokes?
20
Oh come on, that was a good little gag!
21
Yes, the subject of today's show is what makes us laugh.
22
And in this context, to get something,
23
for example a gag or joke, means to understand it.
24
We all like to laugh – well,
25
not you Alice apparently, but most of us do.
26
It's good for our health.
27
It reduces stress and releases feel-good hormones in the body.
28
OK.
29
Thank you, Neil.
30
But how about answering today's quiz question?
31
Which Greek word means the study of laughter and its effects on the body? Is it...
32
A. Rhizology B.
33
Gelatology Or C.
34
Comology Hmm.
35
That's difficult.
36
and I'm going to say C,
37
comology, because it's got the word comedy in it, you see.
38
Oh, very good.
39
OK, well, we'll find out later if you're right.
40
Now, did you know we rarely laugh when we're on our own?
41
Laughter is a social thing that we generally like to share with other people.
42
Really?
43
I laugh when I'm watching cartoons on my own, don't you, Alice?
44
No, Neil, I don't.
45
Anyway, some researchers believe that the purpose of laughter is related to the way we bond with each other.
46
And the more we laugh,
47
the more we bond as a group.
48
Hmm, interesting idea.
49
It could explain why stand-up comedy,
50
where a comedian performs in front of and talks directly to their audience,
51
is very popular entertainment.
52
But what does it take to keep your audience laughing?
53
Let's listen to Steve Byrne,
54
a successful US comedian, talking about this.
55
The one single thing an aspiring comedian should do is to write,
56
write, write, and talk about the things that make them laugh,
57
It's time to be selfish.
58
It's time to be a little narcissistic.
59
What is it that makes you laugh?
60
Because that will get you closer to finding your voice,
61
because ultimately that's why people will come see you.
62
So, comedians need to be selfish and narcissistic.
63
That sounds pretty negative.
64
Yes, it does.
65
Narcissistic means being too interested in yourself,
66
for example, your appearance or other personal qualities.
67
And aspiring means wanting to be successful in your chosen career.
68
And what does Steve mean when he says comedians need to find their voice?
69
Well, he means they need to talk about what they think in a way that's unique,
70
meaning unusual or special to them.
71
OK, let's listen to Steve again,
72
talking about turning 40 and what he finds funny about that.
73
When you turn 40, you will hear this in your life and hopefully you'll hear it the rest of your life.
74
You look good for 40.
75
You look good for 52.
76
You look great for 63.
77
You never hear that when you're young.
78
You look good for 19.
79
You think there's going to be some secret potion or some magic shortcut to it all.
80
It's writing and getting up on stage.
81
It takes a lot of perseverance and it's such a competitive occupation,
82
you know, you just got to outwork everybody.
83
Well, we heard Steve making his audience laugh there and,
84
by the way Alice, you look fantastic for 40.
85
That's not funny, Neil.
86
I'm only 39 and you know it.
87
Anyway, moving on.
88
Steve says there's no magic potion or shortcut to success.
89
You have to work hard.
90
It doesn't happen by itself.
91
And perseverance means to keep on trying to achieve something even when it's difficult.
92
He says you have to outwork everybody,
93
which means to work harder than everybody else.
94
Steve certainly doesn't make comedy sound much fun, does he?
95
No. In fact, some people say there's a connection between depression and comedy,
96
that comedians can be introverted and depressive.
97
Is that right?
98
Introverts are generally quiet people who are more interested in their own thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people.
99
Yes, you'd think that most comedians would be extroverts – people who are lively and enjoy the company of others.
100
OK, I think it's time for the answer to our quiz question, Neil.
101
I asked, which Greek word means the study of laughter and its effects on the body?
102
Is it a rhizology, b gelatology or c comology?
103
Yes, I said c comology which I think I'm beginning to regret now.
104
Yes, well indeed, sorry I'm afraid that's the wrong answer.
105
It's actually b gelatology which comes from the Greek word gelos meaning laughter.
106
You can stop sniggering now,
107
Alice, and just tell us today's words once again.
108
Alright then, here they are.
109
Get something.
110
For example, a joke.
111
Gag.
112
Stand-up comedy.
113
Narcissistic.
114
Aspiring.
115
Unique.
116
Perseverance.
117
Outwork.
118
introverts, extroverts.
119
Well, that just about brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English.
120
See you next time.
121
Goodbye.

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

Context & Background

In this engaging episode of 6 Minute English, hosts Alice and Neil explore the intriguing topic of laughter. The conversation opens with a light-hearted joke that sets the tone for their discussion. They highlight that laughter is not just about humor; it serves a significant role in social bonding and personal well-being. The dialogue illustrates how laughter helps reduce stress and can even produce feel-good hormones in our bodies. This friendly banter also provides a rich context for English learners to understand the nuances of humor in everyday conversation, making it a perfect example for practice.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "What makes us laugh?" - This question prompts discussion about humor preferences and experiences.
  • "To get something" (a joke or gag) - Understanding this phrase is crucial for grasping humor and wit in English.
  • "It's good for our health." - A phrase that highlights the benefits of laughter, useful in discussions about well-being.
  • "Laughter is a social thing." - This expression emphasizes the communal aspect of laughter, sparking conversations about relationships.
  • "The more we laugh, the more we bond." - An insightful reflection on the importance of shared experiences in friendships.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Using the shadowing technique is an excellent way for learners aiming to improve English pronunciation while delving into engaging topics like laughter. Here’s how to effectively practice with this video:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by listening to the episode without any distractions. Pay close attention to the intonation and rhythm of the speakers.
  2. Follow Along: Open the transcript while listening. Familiarize yourself with the phrases and their meanings. This will help you understand context better.
  3. First Shadow: As you listen for the second time, begin to repeat what you hear. Try to match the speakers' accents and speed to grasp the subtleties of English pronunciation.
  4. Focus on Difficult Phrases: Identify challenging phrases from the transcript. For instance, practice saying “the more we laugh, the more we bond” several times to improve flow and clarity.
  5. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone or any recording device to capture your speech. Compare your pronunciation with that of the hosts to understand where you can adjust.
  6. Practice Regularly: Incorporate this episode into your IELTS speaking practice by summarizing key points or discussing them with a study partner.

Incorporating daily shadow speak with themes that interest you will elevate your English skills, particularly in pronunciation and conversational fluency. The more you engage with material that inspires you, like humor, the more naturally English will flow in your speaking.

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