Shadowing Practice: Dua Lipa: How Books Change Lives - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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While I've always felt firmly rooted,
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While I've always felt firmly rooted,
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my life has never really been what you might call local.
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I was born in the UK,
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but my first language was Albanian.
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Woo!
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London is my home, but I'm often on the road.
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And today I have the privilege of traveling the world doing a job that I love.
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Last year I played live in 33 cities in 20 countries and sang in 9 different languages.
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It turns out, thank you,
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it turns out my reading habits follow a similar pattern.
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Since we launched the Service 95 book club three years ago,
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eight of my 33 monthly reads have been translated fiction.
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Just as importantly, these 33 books tell stories that span Japan,
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Korea, Nigeria, Colombia, the US,
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Mexico, Hungary, Norway, Afghanistan, Poland,
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Ireland, Spain, the UK, France, Vietnam and Australia.
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I read as much as time allows and while some of the books I love become book club titles,
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others remain private passions.
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I'm a reader who loves to be immersed in a novel and I mean really deeply in it.
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When I read translated fiction and some of you recognize these scenes,
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I walk the streets of Naples in the shoes of a young girl who's becoming aware
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that her future will be defined by her gender.
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I've borne witness to animals taking revenge on their hunters in rural Poland.
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Or did they?
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I've gained wisdom I didn't know I needed from a pigeon on a balcony in Mexico City
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and as Guadalupe Natal writes you can't get anything past a pigeon
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I've overheard a conversation between French rescue responders who decided not
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to send help to 30 drowning asylum seekers who believed they would find sanctuary on British soil
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I felt the pain of a particularly lonely love in Czechoslovakia.
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I've suffered heartbreak in 1960s Tokyo.
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I've even seen my life flash before my eyes as I faced a firing squad in Colombia.
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Just this year, I've met sworn virgins in Albania.
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I thought I knew everything about Albania.
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But it took a Bulgarian writer,
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a Bulgarian translator, a small British independent publisher,
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and an international prize for me to find this story.
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There really isn't anything quite like a book to understand the perspective of others and translated fiction takes that even further.
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I guess it's the fusion of an experience that's so universal and at the same time so unique.
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It's the antidote to othering.
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When I launched my book club,
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it wasn't in a cozy cafe in London.
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It was with a reading group in Downview women's prison.
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I was there with Gabby as part of the Books Unlocked program.
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Each year, the Booker Prize Foundation provides free Booker-nominated books to UK prisons and young offender institutions,
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and that also includes titles from the international list.
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One of the most insightful conversations about a book I've ever had was that morning in Downview,
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and I'll never forget what one of the women shared with the group,
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that perhaps that if she'd read more books when she was younger,
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maybe she wouldn't be here now.
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That moment really brought it home to me that reading a book is often so much more than a solitary activity.
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It can trigger a conversation with a friend or,
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like in Downview, provide a way to share a profound experience with a wider group.
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And a book club discussion is maybe the one occasion where you get even more out of it if you disagree.
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Last year's winner of the International Booker Prize was Heartlamp,
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written by Banu Mushtaq and translated by Deepa Bashti.
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We'll have the pleasure of hearing from Deepa shortly.
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In her acceptance speech, Banu said,
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This book was born from the belief that no story is ever small,
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that in the tapestry of human experience,
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every thread holds the weight of the whole.
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As a reader, I want to follow those threads of connection.
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What a joy it is to read.
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What a joy to read the world.
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Thank you to the International Booker Prize for giving us this gift.
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Join our global community of English learners absolutely free.
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start our beginner course, and join live classes with certified teachers.
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Everything's in one place community.englishspeeches.ca Let's speak English.
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Together.

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Context & Background

Dua Lipa, a celebrated artist known for her powerful voice and engaging performances, shares insights into her life that intersects with literature and cultural experiences. Born in the UK to Albanian parents, her journey has been anything but ordinary. Over the last year, she has performed across 33 cities and in nine languages, demonstrating her deep connection with diverse cultures. Lipa emphasizes the role of reading, particularly translated fiction, in shaping her understanding of the world. By immersing herself in stories from various countries such as Japan, Nigeria, Colombia, and more, she articulates how literature can transport us into the lives of others, fostering empathy and broadening perspectives.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "My life has never really been what you might call local." - This phrase can be used to express a diverse experience or background.
  • "It turns out my reading habits follow a similar pattern." - This is useful for discussing personal habits or choices.
  • "There really isn't anything quite like a book to understand the perspective of others." - A great line to highlight the value of literature in conversation.
  • "Perhaps if she'd read more books when she was younger, maybe she wouldn't be here now." - This reflects on the potential impact of education and reading.
  • "Reading a book is often so much more than a solitary activity." - A phrase that points out the community and connectivity that can arise from reading.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively learn English with YouTube videos like Dua Lipa's, consider the following step-by-step shadowing guide:

  1. Select a shadowing app: Use a shadowing site or app to find the video transcript. Ensure that it allows you to listen and repeat segments at your own pace.
  2. Watch and listen: Play the video while paying attention to the pronunciation and intonation used by Dua Lipa. Focus on understanding the context before diving into shadowing.
  3. Break it down: Divide the video into smaller segments. Shadow a few sentences at a time, mimicking Lipa’s rhythm and emotion.
  4. Repeat and record: Use the recording feature on your shadowing app to capture your attempts. Listen to yourself and compare it with the original to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key. Dedicate time each week to shadow different sections of the video, gradually increasing the length as your confidence grows.

By engaging with literature and media in this way, you not only enhance your language skills but also explore the nuances of cultural narratives, deepening your understanding of English and its context. Embrace the journey of learning and let these stories inspire you!

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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