Shadowing Practice: Benedict Cumberbatch reads Sol LeWitt's letter to Eva Hesse - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Deirdre Ever, April 14th.
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94 sentences
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Deirdre Ever, April 14th.
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Almost a month since you wrote to me and you have possibly forgotten your state of mind.
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I doubt it, though.
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It seems the same as always.
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And being you, hate every minute of it.
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Don't.
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Learn to say fuck you to the world every once in a while.
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You have every right to just stop thinking,
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worrying, looking over your shoulder,
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wondering, doubting, fearing, hurting, hoping for some easy way out,
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struggling, grasping, confusing, itching, scratching,
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mumbling, bumbling, grumbling, humbling, stumbling,
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numbling, rambling, scrambling, tumbling, scumbling,
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scrambling, hitching, hatching, bitching, moaning,
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groaning, honing, boning, horse shitting,
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hair splitting, nitpicking, piss trickling,
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nose sticking, ass gouging, eyeball poking,
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finger pointing, alleyway sneaking, long waiting,
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small stepping, evil eyeing, back scratching,
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searching, perching, besmirching, grinding, grinding,
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grinding away at yourself, stop it and just do!
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From your description, from what I know of your previous work and your ability,
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the work you were doing sounds very good.
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Drawing, clean, clear, but crazy like machines,
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larger and bolder, real nonsense.
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That sounds fine, wonderful.
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Real nonsense.
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Do more.
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nonsensical, more crazy, more machines,
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more breasts, penises, cunts, whatever.
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Make them abound with nonsense.
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Try and tickle something inside you, your weird humor.
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You belong in the most secret part of you.
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Don't worry about cool.
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Make your own uncool.
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Make your own.
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Make your own world.
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If you fear, make it work for you.
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Draw and paint your fear and anxiety
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and stop worrying about big deep things such as to decide on a purpose
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and way of life a consistent approach to even some impossible end
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or even an unimagined end you must practice being stupid dumb unthinking empty then you will be able to do
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and much confidence in you
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and even though you are tormenting yourself the work you do is very good Try to do something bad.
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Try to do some bad work.
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The worst thing you could think of is see what happens.
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But mainly, relax and let everything go to hell.
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You are not responsible for the world.
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You're only responsible for your work, so just do it.
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Don't think that your work has to conform to any preconceived idea, form, or flavor.
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It can be anything you want it to be.
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But if life would be easier for you if you stopped working, then stop.
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Don't punish yourself.
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However, I think that this is so deeply ingrained in you that it would be better for you to do.
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It seems I do understand your attitude somewhat anyway,
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because I go through a similar process every now and again myself.
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I have an agonizing reappraisal of my work
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and change everything as much as possible and hate everything I've done and try to do something entirely different and better.
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And maybe that kind of process is necessary to me,
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pushing me on and on.
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And well, the feeling that I could do better than that shit just did.
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Maybe you need your agony to accomplish what you do
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and maybe it goads you on to do better but it's very painful I know.
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It would be better if you had the confidence just to do this stuff and not even think about it.
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Can't you leave the world and art alone?
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Also quit fondling your ego.
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I know that you or anyone can only work so much
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and the rest of the time you are left with your thoughts
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but when you work or before you work you have to empty your mind
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and concentrate on what you were doing after you do something it is done
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and that's that after a while you can see some better than others,
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but also you can see what direction you're going.
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I'm sure you know all that.
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You also must know that you don't have to justify your work,
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not even to yourself.
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Well, you know I admire your work greatly and can't understand why you are so bothered by it,
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but you can see the next ones, and I can't.
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You also must believe in your ability.
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I think you do.
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So try the most outrageous things you can.
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Shock yourself.
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You have at your power the ability to do anything.
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I'd like to see your work and we'll have to be content to wait until August set.
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I've seen photos of some of Tom's new things at Lucy's.
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They're very impressive, especially the ones with more rigorous form, the simpler ones.
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I guess he'll send some more later on.
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Let me know how the shows are going and that kind of stuff.
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My work has changed since you left and it's much better.
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I will be having a show May 4th to 29th at Daniel's Gallery,
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70th East and 64th Street where Emmerich was.
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I wish you could be there.
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Much love to you both.
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Saul.
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Thank you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in an immersive IELTS speaking practice session through the dynamic reading of Sol LeWitt's letter to Eva Hesse by Benedict Cumberbatch. This transcript offers a rich tapestry of expressive language and unique phrases that challenge you to grasp both the meaning and the rhythm of the spoken word. You will practice how to convey emotions, explore creative thinking, and embrace the concept of 'nonsense' in art, which can greatly enhance your English speaking practice. By the end of this lesson, you'll not only improve your vocabulary but also gain confidence in your pronunciation and expressive skills.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Hate every minute of it - A strong expression of discontent.
  • Real nonsense - A phrase indicating the value of creativity without strict rules.
  • Try to do something bad - Encouragement to break free from perfectionism.
  • Make your own world - A suggestion to foster your individual creativity.
  • Tickle something inside you - To evoke personal inspiration or joy.
  • Stop worrying about big deep things - A reminder to avoid overthinking.
  • Practice being stupid - An ironic way to encourage playful exploration.
  • You are not responsible for the world - Liberation from external pressures while focusing on personal work.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing site and maximize your learning from this video, consider the following tips:

  • Shadowing Technique: Listen to the video carefully and try to repeat Benedict Cumberbatch's phrases almost simultaneously. Focus on his intonation and pacing; this enhances your improve English pronunciation skills.
  • Pause and Play: Don’t hesitate to pause the video after difficult phrases to mimic them more accurately. This will aid in better retention of tricky vocabulary and expressions.
  • Emotional Engagement: Allow yourself to feel the emotions conveyed in the reading. This can help with expressive pronunciation, making your english speaking practice more impactful and realistic.
  • Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your voice and compare it to the original audio. This will help identify areas for improvement and increase your confidence in speaking.
  • Regular Practice: Revisit the transcript multiple times over several days. Consistent practice is key to mastering challenging phrases and improving your fluency.

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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