Shadowing Practice: Does Anyone Have A Plan? | Fifty-One | Breaking Bad - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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What are you gonna do to stop it?
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Whatever it takes.
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Everything in my power.
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Like what?
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I mean, specifically.
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What is your next move?
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My next move is maybe I hurt myself.
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Make it clear we need more time.
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Let Hank and Maurice see we're still struggling.
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No, more like you're still struggling.
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So maybe next time I have you committed, put you in some inpatient facility while I take care of the kids myself.
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Is that what you want?
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So then maybe I show up with bruises on my neck, give myself a black eye, say that you beat me when you found out about my lover.
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I see.
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So you want to involve Ted.
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Well, that'll be fun, bringing the police up to speed on all of that, But not as much fun as telling your 16-year-old son that his father is a wife-beater.
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Also not a very good plan.
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What else you got?
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I could send Junior away to school.
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Oh, here's the conversation.
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So, honey, I know you've only got one year left in high school, but I would love it so much if you would drop everything, leave all your friends behind, and go to boarding school in Arizona.
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Do you have any other ideas?
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Because I'm not hearing a solution to your problem.
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How are you going to save our kids?
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from this terrible environment.
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What are you gonna to do?
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Are you going to run off to France?
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Are you going to close the curtains, change the locks?
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This is a joke.
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Come on, Skyler.
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You want to take me on?
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You want to take away my children?
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What's the plan?
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I don't know!
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This is the best I could come up with, okay?
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I will count every minute that the kids are away from here, away from you as a victory.
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But you're right.
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It's a bad plan.
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I don't have any of your magic, Walt.
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I don't know what to do.
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I'm a coward.
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I can't go to the police.
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I can't stop laundering your money.
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I can't keep you out of this house.
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I can't even keep you out of my bed.
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All I can do is wait.
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That's it.
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That's the only good option.
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Hold on.
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Bide my time.
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And wait.
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Wait for what?
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What are you waiting for?
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For the cancer to come back.
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Thank you.

Context & Background

The dialogue presented in this transcript is a tense conversation between two characters attempting to navigate a complex and emotionally charged situation involving family and personal challenges. The speaker expresses feelings of desperation and helplessness, illustrating the struggles of making difficult decisions in a challenging environment. The context of this scene reflects the struggles individuals face when dealing with familial responsibilities and personal conflicts. Through this dialogue, learners can explore vocabulary and phrases that encapsulate emotional frustration and the need for communication.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Whatever it takes." - This phrase is used to convey a strong commitment to achieving a goal, regardless of the challenges.
  • "What is your next move?" - A common way to ask someone about their plans or intentions, ideal for strategic conversations.
  • "I don't have any of your magic." - This expression suggests feelings of inadequacy or the inability to replicate someone's skills.
  • "Hold on. Bide my time." - This phrase indicates patience and the strategy of waiting for the right moment to act.
  • "I can't go to the police." - A statement that reflects fear or reluctance to seek external help, showcasing a common dilemma in crisis situations.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this transcript for improving your English speaking skills, especially through shadowing, follow these steps:

  1. Select a Segment: Choose a small segment of the transcript, around 1-2 minutes long. This will make it easier to focus on pronunciation and intonation.
  2. Listen and Understand: Play the audio of the segment (if available) while following along with the transcript. Pay attention to the emotions conveyed and the context of the dialogue.
  3. Repeat and Imitate: Play the audio again and pause after each line to repeat what you hear. Focus on mimicking the speaker's tone, pace, and emotional expression. This is where you can practice shadowspeak.
  4. Record Yourself: After several practice runs, record yourself speaking the lines. Compare your version with the original to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Expand Your Vocabulary: Take note of the key phrases listed above and practice using them in your daily conversations. This will enhance your overall communication skills, especially in challenging discussions.
    For advanced learners, try incorporating these phrases into your IELTS speaking practice to prepare for common speaking scenarios.

By incorporating these methods into your language learning routine, you will enhance your fluency and confidence in English, ultimately improving your shadow speech as you navigate various conversational contexts.

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.