Shadowing Practice: Chandler Is Jealous and Gets Pity Laughs | Friends - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hello.
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Hello.
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I love my new job!
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Honey, you're screaming.
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You bet your ass I am!
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I just had the best first day ever.
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The kitchen?
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Twice as big as Alessandro's.
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Oh, that's great.
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Yeah, and clean?
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Not just health department clean.
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Monica clean.
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Awesome.
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Oh, and the people are so nice.
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There's this one guy, Jeffrey.
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He's the maitre d'.
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Chandler, you will love him.
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He is without a doubt the funniest guy I have ever met.
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Hey, did you tell Chandler that some guy from work is the funniest guy you ever met?
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Yeah, so?
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Wow.
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Really, do you not know Chandler?
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Is that why he's acting so weird?
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He's jealous?
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Oh, my God, that is crazy.
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It's not like I'm attracted to Jeffrey. So what?
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Being funny is Chandler's thing.
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You know, like, Ross's thing is...
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Science?
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Academia?
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Being a good father?
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No. I can't believe he's that upset about this.
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Monica, you're gonna have to do some damage control here, okay?
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Because he's feeling like...
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Hey.
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Hey.
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Hey.
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Hey.
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Hey.
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What are you guys talking about?
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Uh, Rachel and I, uh, hired a male nanny.
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You got a man who's a nanny?
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You got a manny?
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You know, I don't mind a male nanny, but I do draw the line at male wet nurse.
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Oh, oh, you're on a roll, mister!
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If I'd known you guys were coming over, I would've brought more pizza.
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Oh!
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Okay, okay, stop it, you!
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You stop it!
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Oh! it.
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What is so funny about that?
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I don't know.
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It's just the way you say it.
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I mean, you're funny.
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You got that funny thing.
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You're a funny guy.
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Did you tell her what we talked about?
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Yeah.
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So those were pity laughs?
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Pity laughs!
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Honey, listen.
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You have nothing to worry about with Jeffrey.
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Oh, yeah?
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Is he funnier than me?
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Well, you're different funny.
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I mean, you're more sarcastic and, well, he does bits and impressions and limericks.
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I do limericks.
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There once was a man named Chandler whose wife made him die inside.
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Honey, you know I think you're hilarious.
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Come on, you know that joke you told me last week?
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The one about Jerry Lewis and the girl with the lazy eye?
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That slayed me.
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Hey, I made up that joke and told it to you.
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Not knowing when to shut up.
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Yep, that's my thing.
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Yep.
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Well, I'm off to Tulsa, so if your maitre d' friend has any funny Oklahoma jokes, tell him to email me at www.hahanotsomuch.com.
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Honey, you can relax.
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Last night at work, Jeffrey told this really sexist joke.
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After that, not so funny anymore.
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Really?
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See, that's the thing.
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You gotta keep it smart, people.
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Okay.
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Was that polite?
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You know I love you.
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I love you, too.
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And I like you as friends.
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All right.
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See you later.
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See ya.
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Did the guy really make that joke?
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Nah, he still kills me.
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Last night he had me laughing so hard, I swear, a little pee came out.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice speaking English through the lively and humorous interactions found in the Friends episode transcript featuring Chandler's jealousy and the dynamics between friends. You'll enhance your pronunciation, intonation, and overall fluency by using the shadowing technique, which involves mimicking the original speakers. This engaging dialogue not only provides context for the vocabulary but also helps you develop a knack for conversational English—ideal for IELTS speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Maître d' - the head waiter or manager in a restaurant who oversees the dining experience.
  • Pity laughs - laughter that is elicited out of sympathy rather than genuine amusement.
  • Damage control - actions taken to minimize negative effects or fallout from a situation.
  • On a roll - experiencing a series of successes or good luck.
  • Wet nurse - a woman who breastfeeds another's child.
  • Manny - a male nanny, a caretaker for children.
  • Crazy - behaving in a way that seems irrational or out of control; can also refer to something being unexpected.

Practice Tips

To enhance your shadowspeak skills effectively, follow these specific tips for shadowing this dialogue:

  • Start Slowly: Initially, slow down the playback of the video to grasp the pronunciation and rhythm of the phrases. As you grow comfortable, gradually increase the speed to match the original dialogue.
  • Focus on Emotion: Pay close attention to the tone and emotion conveyed by the characters. The humor in this scene is vital for capturing the nuances of spoken English which are especially important on the IELTS speaking test.
  • Repetition is Key: Repeat segments several times before moving on. This helps solidify your memorization of phrases and improves pronunciation accuracy.
  • Variation Practice: Experiment with different pitch and intonation while shadowing. This approach not only makes your speech more dynamic but also prepares you for various speaking scenarios.
  • Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadow speech. Listening back will help you identify areas for improvement, including pronunciation and rhythm.

By implementing these techniques, you can markedly enhance your conversational skills and boost your confidence in speaking English. Whether you're preparing for the IELTS or simply looking to improve your English, these practices will prove invaluable.

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.