Shadowing Practice: British Accent Shadowing | Vanity Fair by William Thackeray – Part 1 | RP Pronunciation Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hello and welcome to British Accent Shadowing,
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guided practice in received pronunciation to help you speak British English with clarity, control and natural rhythm.
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I'm Ashley Howard, voice coach and accent trainer.
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Today we're beginning Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, one of the great works of Victorian English literature.
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First, I'll read the passage at natural RP speed, then we'll go line by line so you can repeat after me, and finally we'll read it together for fluency.
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Today's pronunciation focus is the NG sound, made with the back of the tongue touching the soft palate.
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At the ends of words, the G is soft and not pronounced,
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so words like sing or mourning finish cleanly without a hard G.
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I have a full tutorial on NG in RP English linked in the description below.
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There's also a free PDF for this passage and vocabulary notes to help you follow along.
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Before we begin, if you'd like to see more videos more regularly, you can now support the channel by joining as a member.
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The link is in the description.
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Let's begin.
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While the present century was in its teens and on one sunshiny morning in June, they drove up to the great iron gate of Miss Pinkerton's
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Academy for Young Ladies on Chiswick Mall a large family coach with two fat horses in blazing harness,
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driven by a fat coachman in a three-cornered hat and wig at the rate of four miles an hour.
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A black servant, who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman,
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uncurled his bandy legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss Pinkerton's shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell,
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at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the stately old brick house.
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Nay, the acute observer might have recognized the little red nose of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself,
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rising over some geranium pots in the window of that lady's own drawing-room.
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It is Miss Sedley's coach, sister, said Miss Jemima.
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Sambo, the black servant, has just rung the bell, and the coachman has a new red waistcoat.
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Have you completed all the necessary preparations incident to Miss Sedley's departure, Miss Jemima? asked Miss Pinkerton herself,
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that majestic lady, the Samerius of Hammersmith.
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the friend of Dr. Johnson, the correspondent of Miss Chapone herself.
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The girls were up at four this morning, packing her trunks, sister, replied Miss Jemima.
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We have made her a beau pot.
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Say a bouquet, sister Jemima, tis more genteel.
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Well, a bouquet as big almost as a haystack.
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I have put up two bottles of gillyflower water for Miss Sedley, and the receipt for making it in Amelia's box.
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And I trust, Miss Jemima, you have made a copy of Miss Sedley's account?
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This is it, is it?
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Very good.
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£93.04.
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Be kind enough to address it to John Sedley Esquire, and to seal this billet which I have written to his lady.
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In Miss Jemima's eyes, an autograph letter of her sister,
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Miss Pinkerton, was an object of as deep veneration as would have been a letter from a sovereign.
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when her pupils quitted the establishment, or when they were about to be married, and once, when poor Miss Birch died of scarlet fever,
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was Miss Pinkerton known to write personally to the parents of her pupils,
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and it was Jemima's opinion that if anything could console Mrs. Birch for her daughter's loss,
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it would be that pious and eloquent composition in which Miss Pinkerton announced the event.
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Now copy after me!
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By the way, if you would like to see more videos more regularly, you can now support the channel by joining as a member.
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The link is in the description below.
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And thanks to all the members who help make these lessons possible.
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While the present century was in its teens,
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and on one sunshiny morning in June,
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There drove up to the great iron gate of Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies
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on Chiswick Mall a large family coach with two fat horses in blazing harness,
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driven by a fat coachman, in a three-cornered hat and wig,
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at the rate of four miles an hour.
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A black servant who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman,
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uncurled his bandy legs, and as soon as the equipage drew up,
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opposite Miss Pinkerton's shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell,
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at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows
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of the stately old brick house.
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Nay, the acute observer might have recognized the little red nose
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of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself,
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rising over some geranium pots in the window of that lady's own drawing room.
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"'It is Miss Sedley's coach, sister,' said Miss Jemima.
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Sambo, the black servant, has just rung the bell and the coachman has a new red waistcoat.
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Have you completed all the necessary preparations?
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Incident to Miss Sedley's departure, Miss Jemima?
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Asked Miss Pinkerton herself, that majestic lady,
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the Semiramis of Hammersmith, the friend of Dr Johnson,
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The correspondent of Miss Shapone herself.
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The girls were up at four this morning.
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Packing her trunk, sister, replied Miss Jemima.
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We have made her a beau pot.
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Say bouquet, Sister Jemima.
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Tis more genteel.
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Well, a bouquet as big almost as a haystack.
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I have put up two bottles of gillyflower water for Mrs Sedley and the receipt for making it in Amelia's box.
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And I trust, Miss Jemima, You have made a copy of Miss Sedley's account.
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This is it, is it?
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Very good.
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£93.04.
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Be kind enough to address it to John Sedley Esquire,
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and to seal this billet, which I have written to his lady.
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In Miss Jemima's eyes, an autograph letter from her sister,
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Miss Pinkerton, was an object of as deep veneration as would have been a letter from a sovereign.
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Only when her pupils quitted the establishment or when they were about to be married And once,
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when poor Miss Birch died of scarlet fever,
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was Miss Pinkerton known to write personally to the parents of her pupils,
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And it was Jemima's opinion that if anything could console Mrs Birch for her daughter's loss,
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It would be that pious and eloquent composition in which Miss Pinkerton announced the event.
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Now speak with me at the same time.
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While the present century was in its teens, and on one sunshiny morning in June,
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there drove up to the great iron gate of Miss Pinkerton's Academy for Young Ladies on Chiswick Mall a large family coach,
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with two fat horses in blazing harness, driven by a fat coachman in a three-cornered hat and wig,
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at the rate of four miles an hour.
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A black servant, who reposed on the box beside the fat coachman,
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uncurled his bandy legs as soon as the equipage drew up opposite Miss Pinkerton's shining brass plate, and as he pulled the bell,
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at least a score of young heads were seen peering out of the narrow windows of the stately old brick house.
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Nay, the acute observer might have recognized the little red nose of good-natured Miss Jemima Pinkerton herself,
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rising over some geranium pots in the window of that lady's own drawing-room.
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It is Miss Sedley's coach, sister, said Miss Jemima.
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Sambo, the black servant, has just rung the bell, and the coachman has a new red waistcoat.
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Have you completed all the necessary preparations incident to Miss Sedley's departure, Miss Jemima?
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Asked Miss Pinkerton herself, that majestic lady, the Cimmerius of Hammersmith, the friend of Dr Johnson,
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the correspondent of Miss Shapone herself.
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The girls were up at four this morning, packing her trunks, sister, replied Miss Jemima.
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We have made her a beau pot.
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Say a bouquet, sister Jemima, tis more genteel.
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Well, a bouquet as big almost as a haystack.
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I have put up two bottles of gillyflower water for Miss Sedley and the receipt for making it in Amelia's box.
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And I trust, Miss Jemima, you have made a copy of Miss Sedley's account?
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This is it, is it?
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Very good.
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£93.04.
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Be kind enough to address it to John Sedley Esquire and to seal this billet which I have written to his lady.
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In Miss Jemima's eyes, an autograph letter of her sister,
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Miss Pinkerton, was an object of as deep veneration as would have been a letter from a sovereign.
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Only when her pupils quitted the establishment, or when they were about to be married, and once, when poor Miss Birch died of scarlet fever,
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was Miss Pinkerton known to write personally to the parents of her pupils,
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and it was Jemima's opinion that if anything could console Mrs Birch for her daughter's loss,
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it would be that pious and eloquent composition in which Miss Pinkerton announced the event.
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Great work today.
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Shadowing classic prose like Thackeray's Vanity Fair is a proven way to improve RP pronunciation,
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intonation and connected speech while also expanding your understanding of British English literature.
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For deeper practice, watch my NG Pronunciation tutorial and download the free PDF to keep practicing.
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If this lesson helped, please like, comment and subscribe.
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It really supports the channel and helps others discover these videos.
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And if you'd like me to release more videos more often, consider joining as a channel member.
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It's a great way to support this work and the link is in the description below.
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You'll also find my free British Accent course and British Accent Training ebook if you want more structured practice.
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See you soon!

Context & Background

In this engaging session on British Accent Shadowing, Ashley Howard introduces learners to the intricacies of Received Pronunciation (RP), a formal accent often associated with British English. The session begins with an excerpt from the classic Victorian novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, setting a literary context that enriches the learning experience. Focusing on clarity, control, and natural rhythm, this practice provides a unique opportunity for English learners to immerse themselves in sophisticated language usage while enhancing their pronunciation skills.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “On one sunshiny morning in June”: This phrase sets a vivid scene, perfect for descriptive storytelling.
  • “A large family coach with two fat horses”: A colorful description that adds character and imagery.
  • “Have you completed all the necessary preparations?”: A polite inquiry ideal for everyday situations.
  • “A bouquet as big almost as a haystack”: An exaggeration that demonstrates creativity in communication.
  • “Be kind enough to address it”: This formal request is useful in professional or polite exchanges.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

The shadowing technique is highly effective for those aiming to improve English pronunciation through active listening and repetition. Here's a tailored approach to tackle this video’s content effectively:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by listening to the passage read at natural RP speed. Pay close attention to the intonation and rhythm of the speech.
  2. Repeat Line by Line: After hearing each line, repeat it. This repetition is crucial for mastering the shadow speech. Focus on articulating the sounds clearly, particularly the NG sound emphasized in the session.
  3. Practice Together: Join in as you read along with Ashley. Matching your pace with the speaker builds fluency and confidence in your pronunciation.
  4. Utilize Resources: Take advantage of supplementary materials, such as the free PDF linked in the video description, which includes vocabulary notes that can enhance your comprehension as you practice.
  5. Daily Practice: Make this a regular part of your language learning routine. Consistent practice will not only help you learn English with YouTube but will also refine your accent over time.

By following this guide, learners can effectively leverage this shadowing site approach to enhance their speaking skills, bringing a rich layer of vocabulary and pronunciation to their English language journey.

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.