Shadowing Practice: Beyoncé Commencement Speech | Dear Class Of 2020 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Thank you President Obama and Mrs. Obama for including me in this very special day.
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And congratulations to the Class of 2020.
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You have arrived here in the middle of a global crisis,
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a racial pandemic, and worldwide expression of outrage at the senseless killing of yet another unarmed Black human being.
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And you still made it.
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We're so proud of you.
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Thank you for using your collective voice and letting the world know that Black lives matter.
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The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others have left us all broken.
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It has left the entire country searching for answers.
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We've seen that our collective hearts, when put to positive action, could start the wheels of change.
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Real change has started with you, this new generation of high school and college graduates who we celebrate today.
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I did not get to experience college like some of you, or the campus parties that left you struggling the next day in class, although that could have been fun.
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But my parents did teach me the value of education, how to be authentic in my actions,
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and how to celebrate individuality and the importance of investing in myself.
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Dear graduates, please remember to take a little bit of time to give thanks to your family members
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and the community who's been such a big support system for you.
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You are achieving things your parents and grandparents never could imagine for themselves.
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You are the answer to a generation of prayers.
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Now some of you might be the first in your family to graduate from college.
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Maybe you did not follow the path that was expected of you and you probably You probably questioned everything about your decision,
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but know that stepping out is the best thing you can do for self -discovery.
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I know how hard it is to step out and bet on yourself.
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There was a pivotal turning point in my life when I chose to build my own company many years ago.
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I had to trust that I was ready
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and that my parents and mentors provided me with the tools I needed to be successful. But that was terrifying.
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The entertainment business is still very sexist.
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It's still very male -dominated.
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And as a woman, I did not see enough female role models given the opportunity to do what I knew I had to do, to run my label and management company,
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to direct my films and produce my tours.
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That meant ownership, owning my masters, owning my art, owning my future, and writing my own story.
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Not enough Black women had a seat at the table, so I had to go and chop down that wood and build my own table.
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Then I had to invite the best there was to have a seat.
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That meant hiring women, men, outsiders, underdogs, people that were overlooked and waiting to be seen.
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Many of the best creatives and business people, who although supremely qualified and talented,
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were turned down over and over as executives at major corporations because they were female or because of racial disparity.
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And I've been very proud to provide them with a place at my table.
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One of the main purposes of my art for many years
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has been dedicated to showing the beauty of Black people to the world, our history, our profundity, and the value of Black lives.
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I've tried my best to pull down the veil of appeasement to those who may feel uncomfortable with our excellence.
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To the young women, our future leaders, know that you're about to make the world turn.
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I see you.
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You are everything the world needs.
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Make those power moves. Be excellent.
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And to the young kings, lean into your vulnerability and redefine masculinity.
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Lead with heart.
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There's so many different ways to be brilliant.
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I believe you and every human being is born with a masterful gift.
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Don't make the world make you feel that you have to look a certain way to be brilliant.
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And no, you don't have to speak a certain way to be brilliant.
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But you do have to spread your gift around the planet in a way that is authentically you.
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To all those who feel different, if you're part of a group that's called Other, a group that does not get the chance to be center stage,
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build your own stage and make them see you, Your queerness is beautiful.
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Your blackness is beautiful.
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Your compassion, your understanding, your fight for people who may be different from you is beautiful.
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I hope you continue to go into the world and show them that you will never stop being yourself, that it's your time now.
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Make them see you.
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Now, if you've ever been called dumb, unattractive, overweight, unworthy, untalented, well, so have I.
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Whatever you do, don't let negativity of people projecting their own self -doubts on you deter you from your focus.
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I know those moments are painful, and you're human, and it hurts like hell,
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but now is the time to turn those criticisms into fuel and motivation to become a beautiful beast.
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Respect is everything.
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There's no successful relationship without respect nor a successful movement if the basic principle is not respect.
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The world will respect you as much as you respect yourself.
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I'm often asked, what's your secret to success?
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The shorter answer, put in that work.
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There may be more failures than victories.
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Yes, I've been blessed to have 24 Grammys, but I've lost 46 times.
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That meant rejection 46 times.
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Please don't ever feel entitled to win.
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Just keep working harder.
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Surrender to the cards you are dealt.
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It's from that surrender that you get your power.
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Losing can be the best motivator to get you even bigger wins.
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So never compare yourself to anyone else.
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There will be wins and losses.
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There will be tears and laughter.
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You'll feel the shades of life deeply.
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Now with success comes challenges.
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With your wins, you may start to notice people spending a lot of energy trying to tear you down.
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Try not to take it personally.
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Unfortunately, it's something that comes along with success.
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Whenever you feel like you're not in control or the world is against you, let that vulnerability motivate you into greatness.
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That's how I found my true self.
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I remain a work in progress and that's the beauty of growth.
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I've been happiest when I let go and allow life to show me the next move.
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When you bet on yourself, you're making an investment into your own future.
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When you choose to spend your valuable time thinking,
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speaking, typing, negative thoughts, you're investing in something that will give you absolutely no return in your investment.
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Class of 2020, every thought in your mind is powerful.
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Every word you speak is powerful.
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Every action you take has consequences for yourself and your community.
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Look what you've been able to do in the last 14 days.
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We've seen the power of the collective.
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We've seen what happens when we join for the same cause.
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Please continue to be the voice for the voiceless.
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Never forget, we can disagree in a way that is productive to arrive at decisions that foster real change.
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And if you make a mistake, that's okay too.
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But we all have a responsibility to hold ourselves accountable and change.
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Whatever the world looks like in 10 years, in 20 years, part of that is up to you.
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I urge you to let this current moment push you to improve yourself in all areas of your life, at work, at home, activism, spirituality.
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Wherever you can find hope, follow it.
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And remember, you are never alone.
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Lean on that strength of togetherness.
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Keep the collective strong.
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Stay focused.
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Don't talk about what you're gonna do.
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Don't just dream about what you're gonna do.
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Don't criticize somebody else for what they're not doing.
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You be it, be about it, be about that action, and go do it.
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Keep your eye on your intention.
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Don't let any outside distraction or your own insecurity stop you from your goals.
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Embrace that struggle.
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Surviving that struggle will strengthen you.
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This is a crucial time in our history and in your life.
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The earth is ripping that band -aid off so we can really see our wounds, so we can acknowledge and nurture them.
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That's when true healing begins.
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You can be that leader we all need.
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You can lead the movement that celebrates humanity.
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My prayer for you is that you invest in yourself
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and see the value of giving back and building your community the best way you can.
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I pray that you continue to celebrate and value lives that appear different than your own.
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I know you are ready to start one of the most important journeys of your life.
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You are at the brink of a huge world shift.
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Look how far you've come and how much you contributed.
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Keep pushing.
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Forget the fear.
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Forget the doubt.
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Keep investing and keep betting on yourself. And congratulations.
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Practicing English speaking with Beyoncé's commencement speech is a fantastic way to learn natural, confident communication. The video blends heartfelt storytelling with powerful messages, giving you real-world context for expressing emotions, sharing personal stories, and inspiring others. Whether you're working on "english speaking practice" or "shadow speech," this dialogue helps you mimic a smooth, engaging tone—perfect for sounding more natural in conversations. Plus, the mix of personal anecdotes and motivational advice makes it easy to stay motivated while practicing!
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The speech is packed with useful structures to add to your toolkit. Here are a few key ones: 1. **"I did not get to experience... although that could have been fun"**: This combines past negation with a hypothetical "could have" to contrast reality and possibility—great for sharing personal stories. 2. **"Not enough Black women had a seat at the table, so I had to go and chop down that wood and build my own table"**: Metaphors like "seat at the table" (opportunity) and "build my own table" (create opportunities) are common in English to make ideas vivid. Practice using these to add depth to your speech. 3. **"Don't make the world make you feel that you have to look a certain way to be brilliant"**: The structure "make + [someone] + feel + [clause]" is essential for talking about emotions and influence. Mastering this helps you express how others affect your feelings.Common Pronunciation Traps
Pay attention to these tricky words and sounds to "improve english pronunciation" while shadowing: - **"Profundity"**: Pronounced /prəˈfʌndəti/, not /proʊˈfʌndəti/. The first syllable is short and unstressed. - **"Appeasement"**: Emphasize the second syllable: /əˈpiːzmənt/. Avoid rushing the "ea" sound. - **"Disparity"**: The stress is on the second syllable: /dɪˈspærəti/. Don't say /dɪˈspɑːrəti/ (common for non-natives). Shadowing this video—repeating lines aloud as you watch—helps you nail these sounds and match Beyoncé's natural rhythm. Try "shadow speak" exercises by pausing after each sentence and repeating it, focusing on intonation and stress. You'll be surprised how quickly your fluency improves! Practicing with this speech isn't just about learning English—it's about finding your voice. So hit play, start shadowing, and let your confidence grow!Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have arrived · have left · has left |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was expected · were overlooked · were turned |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who may · those who feel · people who may |
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.