Shadowing Practice: "Citizen Kane" (1941) Breakfast Montage - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
I can tell you about Emily.
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63 sentences
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I can tell you about Emily.
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I went to dance in school with Emily.
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I was very graceful.
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We were talking about the first Mrs. Kane.
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What was she like?
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She was like all the girls I knew in dance in school.
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Very nice girl, very nice.
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Emily was a little nicer.
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Well, after the first couple of months,
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she and Charlie didn't see much of each other except at breakfast.
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It was a marriage just like any other marriage.
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I'm not sure you're going to be the same.
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I'm not sure you're going to be the same.
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I'm not sure you're going to be the same.
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I'm not sure you're going to be the same.
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You're beautiful.
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Oh, I can't.
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Yes, you are.
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You're very, very beautiful.
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I've never been to six parties in my life.
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I would have even been left this late.
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It's just a matter of habit.
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I wonder what the servants will think.
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They'll think we enjoyed ourselves.
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Yes.
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Didn't we?
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I don't see why you have to go straight after the newspaper.
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You never should have married a newspaper man.
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They're worse than sailors.
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Oh, Charles, even newspaper men have to sleep.
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I'll call Mr. Bernstein.
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I haven't put up my appointments until noon.
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What time is it?
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I don't know.
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It's late.
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It's early.
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Charles...
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Do you know how long you kept me waiting last night while you went to the newspaper for 10 minutes?
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What do you do on a newspaper in the middle of the night?
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Emily, my dear, your only correspondent is the Enquirer.
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Sometimes I think I'd prefer a rival of flesh and blood.
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Oh, Emily, I don't spend that much time on the newspaper.
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It isn't just the time.
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It's what you print, attacking the president.
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You mean Uncle John?
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I mean the President of the United States.
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He's still Uncle John.
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He's still a well-meaning fathead...
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...who's letting a pack of high-pressure crooks run his administration.
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This whole oil scandal...
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He happens to be the President, Charles.
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Not you.
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That's a mistake that will be corrected one of these days.
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Mr. Bernstein sent Junior the most...
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...incredible atrocity yesterday, Charles.
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I simply can't have it in the nursery.
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Mr. Bernstein is apt to pay a visit to the nursery now and then.
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Does he have to?
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Yes.
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Really, Charles?
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People will think...
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What I tell them to think.
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you

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by focusing on a segment from the classic film "Citizen Kane." The breakfast montage provides a rich context for learning about conversational phrases, interpersonal dynamics, and the subtleties of communication within relationships. By engaging with the dialogue, you will enhance your listening and speaking abilities, making it a perfect opportunity for IELTS speaking practice. This exercise is designed to help you develop fluency and confidence in English through the method of shadow speech, where you imitate native speakers closely.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Graceful: having elegance and beauty in movement.
  • Marriage: a formal union between two individuals, often characterized by commitment and partnership.
  • Correspondent: a person who communicates or reports on events, often through written or spoken media.
  • Attacking: in this context, it refers to criticizing or challenging someone, particularly in journalism.
  • Scandal: an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong, often leading to public outrage.
  • Beautiful: possessing qualities that are pleasing to the senses, particularly in relation to appearance.
  • Appointments: scheduled meetings or engagements.
  • Rival: a competitor; someone you compete against in some context.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience from this video segment, follow these shadowing tips:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play the segment multiple times, pausing after each line to repeat what you hear. Pay close attention to the pronunciation and intonation used by the speakers.
  • Match the Pace: The dialogue in this montage is conversational and flows naturally. Start by practicing slowly, then gradually increase your speed to match that of the original speakers. Use a shadowing app if necessary to help track your progress.
  • Record Yourself: After you feel comfortable with the lines, record yourself speaking them. Compare your recording with the original to identify areas for improvement in clarity and expressiveness.
  • Focus on Emotion: Notice the emotional nuances in the dialogue. Practicing these lines with the appropriate feelings can enhance your fluency and make your speaking more natural.
  • Use Shadowspeak Techniques: Shadowing not only helps with pronunciation but also builds your confidence. Incorporate this technique into your daily routine to see consistent improvement.

Engage with this practice, and you'll find that incorporating vocabulary and phrases from real-life scenarios can significantly enrich your English learning experience!

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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