Shadowing Practice: British Accent Shadowing | Pride and Prejudice | Learn RP Pronunciation – Part 1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Welcome to British English Shadowing,
193 sentences
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Welcome to British English Shadowing,
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where you can practice RP pronunciation,
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intonation and the natural rhythm of spoken English through classic literature.
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In this episode, we are beginning a new series using Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen,
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a beloved novel filled with elegant phrasing and expressive dialogue.
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I'll begin by reading the passage in full,
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then we'll go line by line so you can repeat after me and build clarity,
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fluency and confidence in your spoken English.
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There is also a free PDF of today's text linked in the description box below if you would like to follow along.
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OK, let's get started.
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It is a truth, universally acknowledged,
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that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
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However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be,
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on his first entering a neighbourhood,
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the truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families
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that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
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My dear Mr Bennet, said his lady to him one day,
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have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?
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Mr Bennet replied that he had not.
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But it is, returned she,
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for Mrs Long has just been there and she told me all about it.
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Mr Bennet made no answer.
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Do not you want to know who has taken it? cried his wife impatiently.
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You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it.
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This was invitation enough.
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Why, my dear, you must know,
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Mrs Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England,
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that he came down on Monday in his chaise
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and four to see the place and was so much delighted with it
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that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately
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that he is to take possession before Michaelmas
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and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.
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What is his name?
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Bingley.
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Is he married or single?
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Oh, single, my dear, to be sure!
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A single man of large fortune,
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four or five thousand a year!
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What a fine thing for our girls!
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How so?
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How can it affect them?
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My dear Mr Bennet, replied his wife,
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how can you be so tiresome?
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You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.
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Is that his design in settling here?
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Design?
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Nonsense!
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How can you talk so?
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But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them,
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and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.
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I see no occasion for that.
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You and the girls may go.
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Or you may send them by themselves,
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which perhaps will be still better,
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for as you are as handsome as any of them,
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Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.
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My dear, you flatter me.
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I certainly have had my share of beauty,
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but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
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When a woman has five grown-up daughters she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.
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In such cases a woman has not often much beauty to think of.
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But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.
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It is more than I engage for, I assure you.
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But consider your daughters.
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Only think of what an establishment it would be for one of them.
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So let's go line by line.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged,
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that a single man in possession of a good fortune,
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must be want of a wife,
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however little known the feelings or views of such a man may be.
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On his first entering a neighbourhood,
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The truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered as the rightful property
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of some one or other of their daughters.
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My dear Mr Bennet, said his lady to him one day,
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have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?
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Mr Bennet replied that he had not.
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But it is, she returned.
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For Mrs Long has just been here.
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And she told me all about it.
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Mr Bennet made no answer.
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Do not you want to know who has taken it?
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cried his wife impatiently.
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You want to tell me,
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and I have no objection to hearing it.
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This was invitation enough.
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Why, my dear, you must know.
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Mrs Long says
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that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England,
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that he He came down on Monday in a chaise
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and four to see the place and was
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so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately that he is to take possession before Michaelmas
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And some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.
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What is his name?
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Bingley Is he married or single?
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Oh, single, my dear, to be sure.
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A single man of large fortune?
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Four or five thousand a year?
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What a fine thing for our girls!
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How so?
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How can it affect them?
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My dear Mr Bennett, replied his wife.
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How can you be so tiresome?
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You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.
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Is that his design in settling here?
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Design?
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Nonsense!
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How can you talk so?
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But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them.
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And therefore you must visit him,
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as soon as he comes.
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I see no occasion for that.
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You and the girls may go,
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and you may send them by themselves,
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which perhaps will be still better.
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For as you are as handsome as any of them,
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Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.
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My dear, you flatter me.
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I certainly have had my share of beauty.
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But I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
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When a woman has five grown-up daughters,
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she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.
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In such cases a woman has not often much beauty to think of.
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But my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr Bingley,
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when he comes into the neighbourhood.
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It is more than I engage for, I assure you.
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consider your daughters.
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Only think of what an establishment it would be for one of them.
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And now speak along with me at the same time.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged
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that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
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However little well known the feelings or views of such a man may be,
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on his first entering a neighbourhood,
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the truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families
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that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
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My dear Mr Bennet, said his lady to him one day,
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have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?
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Mr Bennet replied that he had not.
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But it is, returned she,
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for Mrs Long has just been there and she told me all about it.
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Mr Bennet made no answer.
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Do not you want to know who has taken it? cried his wife impatiently.
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You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it.
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This was invitation enough.
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Why, my dear, you must know,
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Mrs Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England,
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that he came down on Monday in his chaise
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and four to see the place and was so much delighted with it
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that he agreed with Mr Morris immediately
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that he is to take possession before Michaelmas
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and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.
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What is his name?
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Bingley.
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Is he married or single?
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Oh, single, my dear, to be sure!
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A single man of large fortune,
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four or five thousand a year!
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What a fine thing for our girls!
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How so?
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How can it affect them?
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My dear Mr Bennet, replied his wife,
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how can you be so tiresome?
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You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.
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Is that his design in settling here?
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Design?
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Nonsense!
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How can you talk so?
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But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them,
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and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.
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I see no occasion for that.
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You and the girls may go.
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Or you may send them by themselves,
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which perhaps will be still better,
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for as you are as handsome as any of them,
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Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.
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My dear, you flatter me.
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I certainly have had my share of beauty,
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but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
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When a woman has five grown-up daughters she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.
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In such cases a woman has not often much beauty to think of.
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But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.
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It is more than I engage for, I assure you.
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But consider your daughters.
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Only think of what an establishment it would be for one of them.
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Before you go, if you'd like to go further with this work,
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there's a link in the description to my free course,
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How to do a British Accent,
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and also to my ebook on British Accent Training,
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which has 12 hours of audio.
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They're both great next steps if you've been enjoying these shadowing sessions.
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Good work today!
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You can replay this episode or use the PDF download to practice at your own pace.
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If you found this helpful,
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please like, comment and subscribe and I'll see you hopefully in part 2.
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Context & Background
In this enlightening video segment, the speaker guides English learners through a passage from Jane Austen's classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. This timeless text offers not only a glimpse into English literature but also serves as an excellent resource for practicing RP pronunciation, intonation, and the natural rhythm of spoken English. The dialogue captures the societal norms of the time, particularly regarding marriage and class, making it an intriguing choice for learners aiming to deepen their understanding of the language and culture intertwined in classic works.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “It is a truth, universally acknowledged…” - A famous phrase that demonstrates formal English structure.
- “Have you heard that…” - A common way to initiate conversation, showing interest in others' knowledge.
- “I have no objection to hearing it.” - A polite way to express willingness to listen.
- “What a fine thing for our girls!” - An example of expressing excitement or approval regarding prospects.
- “How can you be so tiresome?” - A phrase that illustrates frustration in a lighthearted manner, useful for everyday dialogues.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this video and enhance your English speaking skills through the shadowing technique, follow these steps:
- Watch the Entire Video First: Familiarize yourself with the passage and get a sense of the flow and intonation. Pay attention to the pronunciation of key words.
- Listen and Repeat: Play the video again, this time pausing after each line. Repeat exactly what the speaker says. Focus on mirroring the accent and rhythm to improve English pronunciation.
- Use the Free PDF: Access the linked PDF of the text to follow along. Reading while listening can significantly aid in understanding the material.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your own voice as you read the passage. Compare your pronunciation and rhythm with the original to identify areas for improvement.
- Practice Regularly: Make shadow speech a daily ritual. Consistent practice will help solidify your skills, allowing you to communicate more naturally.
By engaging with classic literature like Pride and Prejudice, you can enjoyably improve your English speaking practice. Let these elegant phrases resonate in your daily communication, and watch as your confidence builds with each session!
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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