Shadowing Practice: Chapter 5 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Chapter 5 A Letter for Raoul That Wednesday,
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a letter also arrived for the young Vicombe de Chani.
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He opened the letter, saw the name at the bottom, and smiled for the first time that day.
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Dear Raoul, of course I remember you.
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How could I forget you?
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Meet me on Thursday at three o'clock in the Tuileries Gardens.
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Don't be angry with me, Raoul, please.
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Christine Dye Raoul put the letter carefully into his pocket.
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Angry?
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How could he be angry with an angel?
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On Thursday, he was in the Tuileries Gardens by two o'clock.
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At ten past three, he began to feel unhappy.
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At half past three, he wanted to die or to kill somebody.
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And then she came.
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She ran through the gardens to him.
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And in a second, she was in his arms.
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Oh, Christine, he said again and again.
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Oh, Christine!
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They walked through the gardens together and talked for a long time.
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They remembered their happy weeks in Brittany, four years ago.
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But why did you go away, Christine?
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Raoul asked.
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Why didn't you write to me?
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For a minute or two, Christine said nothing.
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she said slowly.
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We were so young, you and I.
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I was just a poor singer from Norway.
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And you, you were the Vicombe de Chani.
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I knew I could never be your wife.
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But I love you, Christine.
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No, shh.
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Listen to me, Raoul, please.
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I went home to Norway, and a year later, my father died.
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I was very unhappy.
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But I came back to France, to Paris.
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I worked and worked at my singing, because I wanted to be an opera singer.
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Not just a good singer, but the best opera singer in Paris.' "'And now you are,' Raoul said.
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He smiled.
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"'All Paris is at your feet.' Christine turned her face away and said nothing.
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Christine, Raoul said quietly, I want to ask you a question.
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Who was the man in your dressing room on Tuesday night?
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Tell me, please.
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Christine stopped and stared at him.
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Her face went white.
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What man? she whispered.
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There was no man in my dressing room on Tuesday night.
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Raoul put his hand on her arm.
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I heard him, he said.
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I listened outside the door and heard a man's voice. Who was he?
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Don't ask me, Raoul.
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There was a man's voice, yes.
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But there was no man in my room.
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It's true.
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Oh, Raoul, I'm so afraid.
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Sometimes I want to die. Who is he?
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Tell me, Christine, please.
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I'm your friend.
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I can help you.
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Tell me his name.
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I cannot tell you his name.
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It's a secret, whispered Christine.
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I never see him.
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I only hear his voice.
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But he is everywhere.
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He sees everything.
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He hears everything.
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That's why I didn't speak to you on Tuesday night.
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He is my music teacher, Raoul.
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He's a wonderful singer.
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I sang so well on Tuesday night because of him.
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I am famous because of him.
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He is my angel of music.
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And he says he loves me.
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How can I leave him?
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Raoul, Christine, singer, gardens, Tuesday. This video has 76 sentences and 519 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:57. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| litter noun | /ˈlɪt.ɚ/ | Straw, grass, and similar loose material used as bedding for people or animals. |
| angel noun | /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ | An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes. |
| opera noun | /ˈɒp.ə.ɹə/ | A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance. |
| unhappy adjective | /ʌnˈhæpi/ | Not happy; sad. |
| whisper verb | /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/ | To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the… |
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| quietly adverb | /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ | Producing little or no noise. |
| stare verb | /stɛɚ/ | To look fixedly (at something). |
| singer noun | /ˈsɪŋ.ɚ/ | A person who sings, often professionally. |
| angry adjective | /ˈæŋ.ɡɹi/ | Displaying or feeling anger. |
| smile verb | /ˈsmaɪl/ | To have (a smile) on one's face. |
| sing verb | /ˈsɪŋ/ | To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice. |
| everywhere adverb | /ˈɛv.ɹi.(h)wɛɹ/ | In or to all locations under discussion. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go away verb | To depart or leave a place. |
| run through verb | To summarise briefly. |
| walk through verb | To explain (something) to (someone), step by step. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How could I forget you?
- Why didn't you write to me?
- How can I leave him?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like litter, angel, opera.
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.