Shadowing Practice: Brain Science for Kids - Thinking and Feeling - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
You know, the brain isn't just a simple thinking machine.
⏸ Paused
62 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
You know, the brain isn't just a simple thinking machine.
2
The brain can think in different ways at different times.
3
Let's have a look at two parts of the brain.
4
The job of the bottom bit down here is to keep you safe.
5
Some people like to call it the downstairs brain.
6
When you are feeling threatened or scared,
7
it wakes up and sends you into action to help you keep safe.
8
This is the part of the brain where fear lives and worry and sometimes even anger.
9
And it's not just a human thing.
10
Almost every creature on earth has a brain part just like this.
11
Now this top part of the brain is a little bit more complicated and it's particularly busy in humans.
12
It's the part of the brain that helps us solve some really tricky problems.
13
This is where our sensible thinking works best.
14
It helps us solve problems using facts and clear reason.
15
It can also come up with some amazingly clever and creative ideas.
16
This is the part of the brain that has helped humans throughout history to build houses,
17
plan roads, write stories, invent electricity and create some amazing artwork, music and technology.
18
Another great talent of the upstairs brain is that it helps us plan and organize the things we need to do.
19
It can help us to get started on our schoolwork,
20
work out tricky maths problems,
21
get projects done, stay persistent,
22
finish our work and even give it in to the teacher on time.
23
The brain is incredibly clever but it can't do all of these jobs at once.
24
So how does the brain decide what is important and what to focus on?
25
When we feel scared or threatened,
26
the downstairs brain automatically gets all of the attention.
27
This is great because it can keep us safe from danger when there is no time to wait.
28
Imagine that a soccer ball is flying towards your head while you are chatting with your friends in the playground.
29
This is not a time to be thinking up a creative idea for your science project,
30
so the upstairs brain is not really needed in that moment.
31
Instead it shuts down and gives all the energy to the downstairs brain.
32
This is a great plan because it's the downstairs brain
33
that has the power to move you out of the way of that soccer ball really quickly.
34
The brain is really clever and useful like that.
35
What about all those times when you feel really scared
36
but there's no actual danger to your body like
37
when you are worried about giving a speech
38
or getting in trouble the upstairs brain doesn't realize
39
that your body is safe from harm
40
but it still gives its energy to the downstairs brain
41
so the worry part gets louder
42
and the sensible part of the brain gets all covered up
43
and mushed over and harder to connect with life can get pretty difficult when we can't connect with our sensible brain.
44
It can be really hard to make good decisions.
45
This is why it's harder to think straight when you are really worried or angry.
46
It can make our worries exaggerate or make our anger grow.
47
It can make us want to do things our way and only our way because our ways and ideas feel much safer.
48
The problem is it can cause fights with our friends especially if they want to do it their way.
49
When we can't connect with our sensible brain it also means
50
that when our parents try to explain stuff to us we might not be able to listen properly
51
and then arguments can grow bigger.
52
It's really really hard making good decisions when the sensible brain is hidden.
53
The The good thing is,
54
once the downstairs brain calms down,
55
we can find our sensible brain again and can apologise for our actions or problem solve for next time.
56
Often humans don't even realise which part of the brain is being loudest,
57
but if you get better at noticing which part of the brain is working in different situations,
58
you will find it easier to connect with the sensible part of the brain more often.
59
Sometimes we can do this even though we are scared at the same time.
60
Some kids can even notice that it's happening and ask their parents for help.
61
I'm not saying it's easy, but it is possible.
62
And the better we get at it, the easier life gets.

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

Why practice speaking with this video?

This engaging video titled "Brain Science for Kids - Thinking and Feeling" offers a fantastic opportunity for english speaking practice. By utilizing simple yet intriguing concepts about the brain, viewers can enhance their speaking skills while learning vocabulary related to emotions and neuroscience. As you watch, try to mimic the tone and pace of the speaker. This exercise not only boosts fluency but also helps you understand how to express complex ideas in straightforward English. The use of relatable scenarios, like the example of a soccer ball flying towards your head, makes it easier to connect with the content and practice speaking naturally.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The speaker employs several important grammatical structures that can enrich your English speaking skills:

  • Conditional sentences: Phrases like "Imagine that a soccer ball is flying towards your head" illustrate how to form conditional scenarios. This structure is essential for discussing hypothetical situations.
  • Present tense verbs: The video frequently uses present tense to explain processes, such as "The brain can think in different ways." This helps you practice speaking in the present, which is often crucial for clear communication.
  • Descriptive language: Words like "clever," "complicated," and "threatened" highlight how descriptive adjectives can enhance your speech. Using such language allows you to convey your thoughts more vividly.
  • Question forms: The speaker occasionally prompts the audience with questions, encouraging interactive thinking. Practice forming your own questions about the content to promote fluid conversational skills.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching the video, pay attention to certain words or phrases that may pose challenges for pronunciation:

  • Complicated: This word may trip up learners. Focus on breaking it down: com-pli-cat-ed, with emphasis on the second syllable.
  • Threatened: Pronouncing this word requires careful attention to the 'th' sound, which can be difficult for many non-native speakers. Make sure to practice the soft 'th' followed by the 'ren' sound.
  • Anger: The ‘ng’ sound in this word can be tricky. Practice by prolonging the sound at the back of your throat.

By practicing these sounds and structures, you’ll improve your english speaking practice skills significantly. Consider shadowing the speaker or engaging in exercises after watching, such as discussing the brain's functions using your own words. This method transforms passive listening into active learning, making you more fluent and confident in your English speaking abilities. Utilize platforms like YouTube to learn English with YouTube and incorporate the concept of shadowspeak for effective language acquisition.

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