Shadowing Practice: Charlie Chaplin - Final Speech from The Great Dictator - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business.
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41 sentences
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I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business.
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I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man – white. We all want to help one another.
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Human beings are like that.
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We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery.
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We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone.
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And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.
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The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
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Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.
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We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in.
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Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
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Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind.
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We think too much and feel too little.
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More than machinery we need humanity.
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More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.
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Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
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The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together.
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The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all.
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Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
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To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair.
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The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress.
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The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people.
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And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
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Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel!
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Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder.
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Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!
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You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men!
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You have the love of humanity in your hearts!
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You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural!
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Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
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In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men!
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In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines.
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The power to create happiness!
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You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
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Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite.
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Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security.
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By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie!
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They do not fulfil that promise.
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They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people!
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Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance.
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Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.
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Soldiers! In the name of democracy, let us all unite!

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About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on enhancing your English speaking and listening skills through the powerful speech by Charlie Chaplin in "The Great Dictator." You will practice key phrases and vocabulary that reflect themes of humanity, unity, and democracy. By engaging with this speech, learners will work on improving their English pronunciation and fluency, making this an excellent resource for those preparing for IELTS speaking practice. The emotive delivery and compelling content will also help you connect with the language on a deeper level.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Emperor: A ruler of great power, often over an empire.
  • Greed: Intense and selfish desire for something, often wealth or power.
  • Humanity: The quality of being human; kindness, compassion.
  • Liberty: The state of being free within society.
  • Brotherhood: The relationship between individuals united for a common purpose.
  • Despair: The complete loss or absence of hope.
  • Dictators: Leaders who exercise absolute power, often in oppressive ways.
  • Unity: The state of being united or joined as a whole.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience with this speech, employ the shadowing technique. Begin by listening closely to Charlie Chaplin's delivery. Note the emotional tone and pacing of his speech, which can be quite expressive. This will help you improve English pronunciation and capture the nuances of intonation. Repeat after him, imitating not just the words but also the emotion and rhythm. You may want to pause the video frequently to practice each segment, making sure to match his speed.

If you find the speed intimidating, try slowing down the playback speed slightly. This way, you can articulate each word more clearly before gradually returning to normal speed. Remember to focus on the meaning behind the words as well; understanding the context will make it easier to remember phrases during your IELTS speaking practice.

Engage fully in this shadow speak exercise, and don’t hesitate to revisit challenging sections multiple times. Over time, this approach will not only bolster your speaking skills but will also foster a deeper appreciation for the language's expressive power. Embrace the themes of unity and kindness, as you transform your shadowspeaks into confident oral skills.

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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