Shadowing Practice: Character: Stakes - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
In the last few videos, we thought about obstacles a character can face, leading to choices they have to make,
2
and the arc they follow.
3
Each choice a character makes has potential risks, impacts and rewards involved with it and those can be called The stakes.
4
- The stakes of a story are summed up in one question: Why do we care?
5
Why do I care if Nemo and his dad aren't reunited?
6
- You have what's at risk if the characters fail.
7
And if the stakes are low, usually it's not a very entertaining film.
8
But the higher the stakes are, the more attention you get, the more enjoyable it is.
9
My favorite film of all time is Jurassic Park, and the stakes are pretty high.
10
If you fail, the dinosaurs will eat you.
11
That's pretty clear.
12
You have to be, as the audience, gripped by those stakes.
13
I don't know what's going to happen.
14
Early on in the arc, I'd say that the stakes would be wouldn't seem as extreme maybe.
15
And then as the story progresses the stakes raise.
16
We have a lot of conversations about how big our stakes need to be.
17
Does it need to be life and death?
18
Or is it better if it's just, you know, for a comedy sometimes you want it just to be about the character's reputation or something smaller so that,
19
you know, you're not bringing too much gravity to a situation.
20
But the important thing is, to the character, it should feel like the world to them.
21
Even if it's just a talent show, you want to show to the audience that that talent show is everything to this character.
22
I think by the end of Napoleon Dynamite, we all want Napoleon Dynamite.
23
to win that talent show and to be accepted by everybody.
24
Anything that is happening with your character, I think it's really important to feel the emotional connection of that.
25
If I don't feel it, They're not there.
26
Stakes add drama and weight to any choice.
27
and can be divided into three categories.
28
internal stakes, external stakes, and philosophical stakes.
29
Let's hear more about this from our story artists.
30
The external stakes are literally what's going on in the world.
31
Are they lost?
32
Are they being chased by burglars?
33
Physically, what will happen to them or to the world if they fail?
34
a great example of external stakes is from Brave.
35
by giving her mom the cake, that the witch maid, Merida, turns her mother into a bear.
36
That is an immediate physical consequence of her choice that impacts both them, as well as the story itself.
37
Then, if Merida doesn't decipher and solve the witch's riddle, Her mom will become a full bear and be lost forever.
38
So internal stakes usually are psychological.
39
What's going on for the character emotionally or mentally?
40
are they potentially going to lose?
41
What will they potentially gain?
42
Why is it important that they gain that thing?
43
Why is it sad or difficult if they lose that thing?
44
Asking those questions will help you figure out what those stakes really are.
45
A good example of internal stakes is from the original Toy Story.
46
Throughout the film, Woody is forced to confront his own insecurity and pride, embrace Buzz as a friend, and learn to share Andy's attention.
47
what's at stake for him, internally, is all of his relationships with the other toys and his very sense of self.
48
- So philosophical stakes are what is impacting the world what is making the values or the belief system of this world, change.
49
or not change?
50
And what does it mean if it does or doesn't change?
51
For philosophical stakes, I think Lord of the Rings is a great example.
52
If Frodo doesn't throw the ring into the fire, then Middle Earth is gonna be ruled under evil forever.
53
- When you watch movies that have this pitch battle between ideas, concepts.
54
good versus evil.
55
Those kinds of things are philosophical.
56
Okay, let's summarize.
57
External stakes.
58
the possible physical impacts of a choice or action.
59
internal stakes, the mental or emotional consequences of a choice.
60
and philosophical stakes.
61
What are the underlying ideas or values in your story?
62
The distinction between internal, external, and philosophical stakes is tricky.
63
So, in this last exercise, let's get some practice thinking about this using the films you love.
📺 Same Channel
B22
Motion
University StudentsBusiness English
B14
Video 2: Shape
University StudentsBusiness English
B110
Pixar in a Box: Character Development
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B210
Story Structure: Advice
University StudentsBusiness English+1
B29
Story spine
University StudentsBusiness English+1
B226
Video 5: Advice for storytellers
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B29
Character: Advice
University StudentsBusiness English+1
B218
VIdeo 4: World & Character
University StudentsCambridge Exam Prep
B28
Story Structure: Act 2
University StudentsBusiness English
B253
Characters: Internal vs. external features
University StudentsBusiness English+1
B253
Pixar in a Box: Story Structure
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B28
Story Structure: Act 1
University StudentsBusiness English
B213
Pixar in a Box: The Art of Lighting
University StudentsBusiness English+1
C112
Video 1: We are all storytellers
University StudentsBusiness English+1
B211
Story Structure: Act 3
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B238
Character: Wants vs. needs
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
C19
Video 2: Your favourite stories
University StudentsWorking Adults+1
B17
Pixar in a Box: Visual Language
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B225
Character: Obstacles
University StudentsCambridge Exam Prep
B27
Character arc
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
✨ Recommend Video
B24
48 sentences
UNIT 7 26 COMPLETE FIRST
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B234
54 sentences
shadowing
High School StudentsUniversity Students+2
C133
29 sentences
Shakespeare: Hamlet
British Accent, en-GBIELTS Prep+4
B21
57 sentences
"It's Hard Getting Good Grades" - Study Motivation
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B21
389 sentences
The Hidden Fears in Coraline That Haunt Us Still
American Accent, en-USHigh School Students+2
B21
43 sentences
Video
High School StudentsUniversity Students+2
C111
107 sentences
Sheldocracy Is the Only Ethical Solution | Young Sheldon
American Accent, en-USIELTS Prep+5
B23
114 sentences
Every kid needs a champion_ Rita Pierson (TED TALKS)
High School StudentsUniversity Students+1
B21
92 sentences
The Day He Finally Controlled His Mind | Deep Moral Story
High School StudentsUniversity Students+3
B21
97 sentences
Michael B. Jordan Best Actor Press Room Speech | 98th Oscars (2026)
University StudentsBusiness English+2
Context & Background
In this video, the speaker delves into the significant concept of "stakes" within character development in storytelling. Understanding stakes is crucial for both writers and audiences, as they provide motivation for characters and sustain viewer engagement. The speaker discusses how stakes can influence the emotional connection between the audience and the characters, distinguishing different types of stakes such as external, internal, and philosophical. By exploring these facets, learners can appreciate the depth of storytelling and improve their own communication skills.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Why do we care?” - A great phrase to express curiosity about the relevance of a situation or story.
- “The stakes are high.” - Use this to describe situations where the risk or consequence of failure is significant.
- “It feels like the world to them.” - This phrase emphasizes how crucial a situation can be to an individual.
- “It impacts both them and the story.” - A useful way to articulate how actions have broader consequences.
- “What will they potentially gain?” - Use this question to explore possibilities in conversations or negotiations.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively improve your English speaking skills through the shadowing technique while focusing on the video's content about stakes, follow this step-by-step guide:
- Listen Actively: Start by watching the video and paying close attention to how the speaker emphasizes different points regarding stakes in storytelling.
- Repeat After the Speaker: Utilize the shadowspeak method by mimicking the speaker’s voice and intonation. Focus on the key phrases identified above, such as “The stakes are high.”
- Reflect on Context: As you shadow, consider the emotional implications of the stakes discussed. Ask yourself how you would convey similar stakes in a situation relevant to you.
- Record and Review: Record your shadowing attempts and listen to the playback. This will help you identify areas for improvement, such as pronunciation or fluidity.
- Engage in Dialogue: Discuss the concepts of stakes with a partner, using the phrases identified. This practice will enhance your ability to incorporate these ideas into everyday conversations, making your IELTS speaking practice more dynamic.
By incorporating these strategies into your learning routine, not only will you enhance your English speaking abilities, but you'll also gain a deeper understanding of storytelling dynamics, which can be beneficial in various contexts, including academic environments and professional discussions.
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.