Shadowing Practice: Daniel Kaluuya gives speech honoring Michael B. Jordan | 39th Annual American Cinematheque Awards - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Yes, Black Panther, man.
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What memories.
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When Ryan Coogler got me involved in 2017, I was so humbled to be a part of history, man.
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I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
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And I was looking up to everyone on set.
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They were heroes to me.
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And I ended up working with them, and they ended up becoming leaders.
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And one of those leaders was Michael B.
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Jordan.
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Another one of those leaders lives on in everyone who he touched.
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And I would love it for everyone in this room to take a moment of silence to acknowledge our brother, Chadwick Boseman.
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Thank you.
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We miss you, Chad.
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We love you.
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Experiencing Mike's brilliance firsthand, I was going back and forth.
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What specific moment to focus on?
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What inspired me the most?
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Is it a playful venom within Mike's Hey, Auntie line?
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Or having a front row seat to Mike's visceral roar abandoned screaming, is this your king?
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These are acting moments and choices that will live in cinema forever.
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However, for me, it was the behaviour detail that moved me most.
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I'll be real with you, like any honest, hard working man, I hate waking up early.
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But I had these tribal marks on my face and they took a bit more than my usual fade, so Bang, 30 to 40 minutes of sleep, gone for the next few months, gone.
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When I get into the makeup trailer, the mic's already there.
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But he hasn't got scars on his face, he has scars across his whole body.
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He was one of the first people at work, in the zone, listening to his headphones, eyes closed.
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Killmonger had a scar for each kill he had done.
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An incredible makeup department every morning, every day, would put every single scar in the exact same way for the next few months.
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I was struck.
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I saw surrender.
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I saw service.
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I saw humility before Mike had said a word.
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Before it even opened his eyes.
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I used to see an early wake-up call as taking something from me.
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But now I see it as an opportunity to show how much I care, like Mike.
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But the truth is, like many of us, Mike inspired me way before then, before I even met him.
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I could speak on a prison in a Fruitvale station truthfully
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embodying Oscar Grant as he switches from tender to warrior in a look.
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The iconic final fight in Creed where Mike dives into the core of Adonis with a fortified honesty
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and vulnerability to prove he isn't a mistake.
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Or the incredible portrayal of our guy, fallen soldier, Wallace, in the wire.
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However, we're gonna go to 2015, yeah?
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Ten years ago.
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We're in Holland, guys.
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Picture it.
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Rotterdam, to be precise.
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I love Rotterdam.
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I go there all the time.
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Yeah?
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Tangent, but strongly advised.
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They had a carnival, we went, it got rained out, different speech.
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Some of the guys, yeah, dropped our stuff, we're like, cool, let's go for a walk.
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Left the Airbnb, went down the stairs, hit a left.
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They were right in the middle of a square, and there was a massive poster of Fantastic Four.
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And Mike was right bang in the middle of it.
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And all of us looked up at it and was like, rah, man.
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Well, it's made it.
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He's Johnny fucking Storm!
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The Human Torch!
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Yeah, that's mad.
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That's mad.
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But at that moment, a shift happened to me.
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I kept thinking, like, I didn't know you could do that.
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He's lighting a path here.
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There's a way I didn't see that now I see.
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In 2015, people like us were not playing characters like that.
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Mike was.
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the human torch in real life.
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And if you zoom out a little bit more, look at it, man.
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Like, English guys in Holland, where they don't speak English, being inspired and proud by an American who we feel we've seen grow up.
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We feel we've been on his journey with him.
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And with all of that is Michael's reach, influence and impact.
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Global before he was given permission.
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Effortlessly centering himself in a zeitgeist every time he has a film out.
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while giving us characters, people who we are invested in, who we care about, and who we see ourselves in.
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Watching him create Killmonger was proof of that for me.
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And after Black Panther came out, I was on the streets, and I kept hearing, Killmonger was right, Killmonger was right.
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For me, that is a reflection of Mike.
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Mike's detailed character work, looking for fresh truths in every line and every take, devotion to death and his humanity,
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where he made us feel like the villain was the hero.
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Michael B.
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Jordan is a movie star, and while his star continues to rise, he keeps showing us he's an artist as well, using his star power not to preserve what he has,
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but to take more creative risks, every forward step becoming more audacious, more fearless, and more courageous,
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showing him what hasn't been done, what we could do.
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For me, for us, and for a new generation of guys going on a walk, who was stopping their tracks to see him torching a new way.
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Here are some scenes from Black Panther.

Context & Background

In this video, Daniel Kaluuya delivers an emotional tribute to actor Michael B. Jordan during the 39th Annual American Cinematheque Awards, reflecting on their collaboration in the groundbreaking film Black Panther. Kaluuya expresses his deep admiration for Jordan, highlighting not just his acting prowess but also his dedication and work ethic. The speech serves to remind us of the impact Jordan has had in the film industry and to honor the late Chadwick Boseman, whose legacy continues to inspire. As Kaluuya weaves personal anecdotes with reflections on their shared experiences, he offers insights not only into their artistic collaboration but also into the values of humility, service, and the craft of acting.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Experiencing Mike's brilliance firsthand” – A great way to express admiration for someone’s talent.
  • “I saw surrender. I saw service. I saw humility” – Use this to describe someone who displays humility and dedication.
  • “Opportunity to show how much I care” – A positive way to convey feelings and intentions.
  • “In the zone, listening to his headphones” – Perfect for discussing focus and preparation.
  • “Each scar for each kill he had done” – A metaphorical phrase that can be adapted to describe personal experiences and growth.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is an effective method to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use this video for English speaking practice:

  1. Watch the Video Once: Initially, watch Daniel’s speech without distractions. Focus on the emotions and context behind his words.
  2. Listen Closely: Play the video again and pay attention to Kaluuya’s intonation and pronunciation. This step is crucial for your IELTS speaking practice.
  3. Repeat After Him: Use the shadow speak technique. As he speaks, pause the video and repeat phrases out loud. Make sure to imitate the rhythm and tone. This will help you refine your accent and improve your English pronunciation.
  4. Record Your Voice: After shadowing, record yourself speaking the same phrases. Listen to your recordings and compare them to the original. This self-assessment helps identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Dedicate time daily to shadowing similar videos. Regular practice not only enhances your pronunciation but also boosts your confidence in speaking.

By incorporating shadowing techniques, you will enhance your English speaking skills, making it easier to express yourself fluently in various situations.

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.