Shadowing Practice: Don't Go Back To School (2020) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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I got three words for you.
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Children will die.
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Seriously?
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You want to open schools, sir?
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This is a death trap.
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That's a load of crap.
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Listen, quarantine's over.
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The kids have to go back.
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Do you know how hard it's gonna be to socially distance 30 kids in a classroom?
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That's a joke!
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And you know those school bathrooms don't even have soap.
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That's a frightening vision, and something ain't right with it.
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How come you politicians have your kids homeschooled, yet you wanna sacrifice the health and life we're living?
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That's like being pro-war.
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But no, no, no, you're not the one fighting in it.
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Don't worry, only a few kids may die.
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That's life, we can't control it.
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Plus, it's proven that kids are strong and we're protected from COVID.
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That's not true, sir.
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Don't play that political game.
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I know you expect us to surf the second wave, but this study out of South Korea says that children are affected exactly the same.
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Plus all kids aren't strong.
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Some have obesity, others breathing trouble, and none live in a bubble.
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Which means if they catch the virus and take it home, their parents and grandparents are in trouble.
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Yeah, but virtual learning is not ideal.
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Kids just don't learn like that.
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You are sad.
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Hospitals are overrun, borders closed, but you want kids to go to school and play Corona tag.
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You know it's funny how all of a sudden you care about education.
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See I think it's really about cash cause no cap, I learn more watching YouTube videos than I did in class.
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So don't tell me school is perfect cause that's bogus.
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I'm not trolling but I knew a kid who graduated high school and couldn't even read his own diploma.
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Oh grow up.
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I'm serious.
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See, classroom learning is equal or worse to e-learning.
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And if you don't believe me, check out this study that concluded classroom learning is equal or worse to e-learning.
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Yeah, but kids need socialization and physical interaction, okay?
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Seriously?
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Seriously.
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School tells kids to sit their butt down and don't talk to each other for 8 hours a day.
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You call that socialization?
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That's not smart.
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Plus, how are kids gonna interact when they are 6 feet apart?
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Okay, wise guy.
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What about our great teachers?
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Their presence is needed.
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Now that I can agree with, yes.
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Teachers are the most important factor for a student's success.
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Which is why you should treat them with more respect.
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I mean, they give their best, yet many have to buy their own supplies because you refuse to invest.
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And once again, during COVID, they are the ones you neglect.
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See, you're giving them the short end of the stick.
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God forbid, but are you gonna pay the medical bills when these great teachers get sick?
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I mean, I get your point.
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Socialization and hanging with friends is needed for a healthy mind.
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And the only way I think physical class could work is if we have it outside.
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Outside?
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Yeah, outside.
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You know, kids do learn better when they're actually alive.
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This guy.
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Don't even try.
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Do I look like a fool to you?
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No, no, of course not.
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I know you want more business as usual.
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You love the fact that prisoners get more time outside than students do.
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But see, outside learning is what they did during the Spanish flu and tuberculosis too.
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Steal social distance, follow all protocols for prevention, but give them fresh air and vitamin D which are proven to boost the immune system.
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So here's what I conclude.
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Give them one to two days a week in an outside classroom.
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Those who need hot meals any day should be able to pick up the food.
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But the rest of class will be online.
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Now when in class, follow all the guidelines, like masks and or face shields which protect the eyes, and get creative.
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Let students police themselves.
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For every day of safe behavior, they get points.
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If they get enough points, they get, I don't know, a week vacation.
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Here are some protocols from other countries that I want you to read and understand.
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Because one life lost is one too many.
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Let's leave nothing up to chance.
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I know you have other interests involved, but even you shouldn't want this blood on your hands.

Context & Background

The video titled "Don't Go Back To School (2020)" presents a passionate dialogue addressing the contentious topic of reopening schools during uncertain times. The speaker raises significant concerns about the safety and health of children in a classroom setting during the pandemic. With a compelling mixture of frustration and urgency, they highlight the challenges of social distancing, the inadequacies of school facilities, and the actual effectiveness of traditional versus virtual learning methods. The underlying message critiques the political motivations influencing educational policies while advocating for a reassessment of what constitutes effective learning.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "This is a death trap." - A strong expression denoting extreme danger or risk.
  • "That's a load of crap." - A colloquial way to dismiss something as nonsense or untrue.
  • "Kids have to go back." - An assertion expressing a firm opinion regarding children returning to school.
  • "How come you politicians have your kids homeschooled?" - A rhetorical question emphasizing hypocrisy in policy-making.
  • "Classroom learning is equal or worse to e-learning." - A statement challenging traditional educational methods compared to online learning experiences.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use this video as part of your shadow speech practice, follow these steps to enhance your listening and speaking skills:

  1. Listen carefully: Watch the video and listen to the speaker multiple times to familiarize yourself with their tone, pace, and pronunciation.
  2. Transcribe directly: Write down parts of the dialogue that resonate with you, particularly phrases from the "Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication." This helps reinforce comprehension.
  3. Slow it down: Use playback settings to slow down the video, allowing you to catch nuances in speech patterns and intonation that can help you improve your own spoken English.
  4. Shadow the speaker: As you listen, repeat each phrase immediately after the speaker, aiming to mimic their intonation and rhythm. This is an effective way to practice IELTS speaking skills and overall fluency.
  5. Record yourself: After shadowing, record your voice to evaluate your pronunciation and fluency. Compare your recording with the original and note areas of improvement.

By engaging in this shadowspeak technique while learning English with YouTube, you not only gain fluency but also develop critical listening skills necessary for real-world conversations. Implementing this approach into your routine can significantly enhance your overall speaking abilities. Practice regularly, and you'll notice substantial improvements in your command of the English language!

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.