Shadowing Practice: BTS speech at the United Nations | UNICEF - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Thank you, Mr.
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60 sentences
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Thank you, Mr.
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Secretary General, UNICEF Executive Director, and all the excellencies and distinguished guests from across the world.
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My name is Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, the leader of the group BTS.
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It is an incredible honor to be invited to an occasion with such significance for today's young generation.
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Last November, BTS launched the Love Myself campaign with UNICEF, building on our belief that true love first begins with loving myself.
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We've been partnering with UNICEF's End Violence program to protect children and young people all over the world from violence.
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And our fans have become a major part of this campaign with their action and with their enthusiasm.
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We truly have the best fans in the world.
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And I'd like to begin by talking about myself.
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I was born in Ilsan, a city near Seoul, South Korea.
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It is a really beautiful place with a lake, hills, and even an annual flower festival.
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I spent a very happy childhood there, and I was just an ordinary boy.
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I used to look up at the night sky wonder, and I used to dream the dreams of a boy.
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I used to imagine that I was a superhero who could save the world.
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And in an intro to one of our early albums, there's a line that says, my heart stopped when I was maybe nine or 10.
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Looking back, I think that's when I began to worry about what other people thought of me and starting seeing myself through their eyes.
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I stopped looking up at the night skies, the stars.
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I stopped daydreaming.
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Instead, I just tried to jam myself into the malls that other people made.
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Soon, I began to shut out my own voice and started to listen to the voices of others.
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No one called out my name and neither did I.
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My heart stopped and my eyes closed shut.
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So like this, I, we all lost our names.
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became like ghosts.
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But I had one century and that was music.
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There was a small voice inside of me that said, wake up man and listen to yourself.
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But it took me quite a long time to hear music calling my real name.
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Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were a lot of hurdles.
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Some people might not believe but most people thought we were hopeless.
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And sometimes I just wanted to quit.
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But I think I was very lucky that I didn't give it all up.
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And I'm sure that I and we will keep stumbling and falling like this.
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BTS has become artists performing in those huge stadiums and selling millions of albums right now, but I am still an ordinary 24-year-old guy.
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If there's anything that I've achieved, it was only possible that I have my other BTS members right by my side, and because of the love and the support
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that our Army fans all over the world made for us.
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And maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday's me is still me.
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Today, I am who I am with all of my faults and my mistakes.
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Tomorrow, I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that'd be me too.
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These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life.
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I have come to love myself for who I am, for who I was, and for who I hope to become.
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I'd like to say the one last thing.
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After releasing our Love Yourself albums and launching the Love Myself campaign, we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all over the world, how our message helped them overcome their hardships in life and start loving themselves.
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Those stories constantly remind us of our responsibility.
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So let's take all one more step.
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We have learned to love ourselves.
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So now I urge you to speak yourself.
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I like to ask all of you, what is your name?
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What excites you and makes your heart beat?
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Tell me your story.
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I want to hear your voice.
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I want to hear your conviction.
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No matter who you are, where you're from, your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself.
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Find your name and find your voice by speaking yourself.
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I'm Kim Namjoon and also RMOBTS.
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I am an idol and I'm an artist from a small town in Korea.
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Like most people, I've made many and plenty mistakes in my life.
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I have many faults and I have many more fears, but I'm going to embrace myself as hard as I can and I'm starting to love myself gradually, just little by little.
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What is your name?
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Speak yourself.
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Thank you very much.
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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills through the powerful speech delivered by BTS leader RM at the United Nations. By focusing on key themes such as self-love, personal stories, and the importance of sharing one's voice, you will not only improve your pronunciation but also gain insights into expressing your thoughts and feelings in English. This opportunity to learn English with YouTube will enhance your ability to communicate effectively and confidently.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Love Myself - A campaign promoting self-acceptance and compassion.
  • True love - Genuine affection that starts with oneself.
  • Voice - The unique expression of thoughts and feelings.
  • Ordinary - Average or typical; not special.
  • Hurdles - Obstacles or challenges to overcome.
  • Share your story - Encouragement to express personal experiences.
  • Constitution of my life - The collection of experiences that shape a person.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning, apply the shadowing technique while watching the video. This involves listening closely to the speech and repeating RM's words immediately after he says them, mimicking his pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. The speed of his speech is balanced, allowing you to follow along without becoming overwhelmed. Focus on one sentence at a time, pausing the video as needed to perfect your shadow speech. 

After mastering individual sentences, practice shadowspeak by recording your voice while speaking along with the video. This not only helps you identify areas for improvement but also enhances your fluency. Don’t hesitate to revisit the video multiple times; repetition is key in language learning. Remember, sharing your feelings and thoughts, just like RM, is an essential part of effective communication in English. Engage with the content, and enjoy the process of learning!

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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