Shadowing Practice: Elle Fanning : Life Lessons | Bazaar UK - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
105 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hi, I'm Elle Fanning and I'm here with Harper's Bazaar UK to share some life lessons.
2
What I've learned about style over the years is to always be yourself.
3
I definitely have always been a fashion nerd growing up, 100%.
4
I went to a private school so we had a uniform, But then on Fridays we had free dress Friday,
5
which was very exciting and everyone was planning their outfit all week long, me specifically.
6
I definitely wore some avant-garde ensembles that perhaps my classmates, you know, didn't quite understand yet.
7
I would like to think.
8
I stood my ground.
9
I loved it.
10
I definitely had a phase where I was swayed a bit and I succumbed to skinny jeans and t-shirts, but I grew out of it.
11
I realized that was not me.
12
So I think what I've learned is that you're inevitably going to always be yourself,
13
even though I did definitely try on different characters and different personalities when it came to style.
14
I still do love all the things of my past that I've worn, though.
15
I'm not, you know, I don't look back and regret.
16
I don't regret anything I've worn.
17
The best piece of fashion advice I've been given.
18
It is, it's such a cliche, but you have to kind of, you have to love what you're wearing.
19
You can't let it wear you.
20
I know my mom would always say that to me.
21
Because I think you can tell when someone looks a bit uncomfortable or like they've been squeezed into this garment
22
and it doesn't feel authentic.
23
I don't want it to appear that way.
24
I want to love what I'm wearing and- and I think- because I think the person should elevate it.
25
It shouldn't be about the clothes.
26
It should be- you should see the person first, I think.
27
And so that's what I've learned.
28
I think what we wear matters because it's about your identity, your sense of self, your individuality.
29
Everyone's one of a kind.
30
Everyone is their unique selves and I think it's important
31
if we all looked the same and dressed the same life would be extremely boring.
32
So I would I do not want that.
33
Beauty is a big one because I think beauty can mean so many different things.
34
I think beauty always comes from within and how kind you are to people and how respectful you are of others.
35
Time, like I find that beautiful, being on time, being prepared.
36
It's really unbeautiful to see someone that just thinks they're too cool for school.
37
I hate that.
38
So I, um, beauty is that to me.
39
The best piece of beauty advice I've ever been given is a couple things.
40
We can go one route where we can go, don't pluck your eyebrows, don't do anything to them, which I have never.
41
I like very bushy, unruly eyebrows.
42
I wish my eyebrows were more Brooke Shields than they are.
43
Like I love a strong brow.
44
Also I have really pale skin, so I'm not a beach girl, even though I live in LA, but I have to keep sunscreen on at all times.
45
Kim Basinger, I did a film with her when I was young
46
and she played my mom and she wore these giant hats and always told me to just protect your skin.
47
So I definitely, I don't burn.
48
And then another route of beauty advice is always smile.
49
Like I have a big smile and I love to smile, but I think it's important to smile.
50
Like if you have no makeup on, you're like not ready to go, you can wear your smile and it works every time.
51
Self-care to me is really looking inside yourself, which I've gotten better at lately.
52
It's definitely, you know, no one is confident and perfect all the time, and we all have our struggles with that,
53
but I think it's really listening to how you're feeling each day and not being too hard on yourself, because I am quite a perfectionist in all aspects of my life,
54
and so I have to remind myself to take care of my precious being.
55
Like, we're all very precious and we have to take care of that.
56
And sometimes I am too hard on myself, but I'm trying to do better at listening to how I'm feeling each day
57
and not getting too caught up in the small things, even though it's important to motivate yourself, but don't be too harsh.
58
I've learned that success is not exactly what you might think it is.
59
I think success is you being happy.
60
You have to be happy with what you're doing.
61
It's about being happy with the result and the end product and proud of it.
62
Because I think even on films, you pour your soul into one thing.
63
And in our case, sometimes people never even see it.
64
You have to be happy and feel successful that you completed that project and you're proud of the outcome.
65
And that it's not just about the payoff or what people might think about it.
66
You have to be happy with it.
67
And I think when you can reach that, which I'm still working on, you can really feel free.
68
And you actually don't even have to worry about success at all.
69
I've learned that friendship is pretty much the most important thing, and you have to be honest with one another.
70
I think I've surrounded myself with friends in my life
71
that are extremely honest and are going to tell me like it is, even when it's not necessarily what you want to hear, but it's, that's so helpful for me, and I do the same to them,
72
and they're extremely loyal, which I find is the most important quality to me in humans in general, but definitely friends.
73
And I guess my friends would probably describe me, I'm the jokester, like I'm the silly one.
74
I'm the Chandler of the group.
75
I deflect with jokes.
76
So that is me, I will make you laugh.
77
The best advice I've received from another woman is probably my mom.
78
I mean, I've received a lot of advice from her, but a quote that she said one time
79
that always took out to me is that the way that you handle disappointments is what defines you.
80
Because if people knock you down, you're disappointed in something, people tell you no, you can't do this, you can either drag your feet and give up,
81
or you can find the passion again and keep going and the belief in yourself.
82
And I think that has always really rang true to me.
83
I am very lucky
84
because I have very strong examples of women in my life who are not afraid to speak their mind.
85
They are extremely opinionated and I've always just been taught that way.
86
Also this is an industry that, you know, it can be hard for women sometimes for sure
87
and you have to learn to stand your ground and speak up in those rooms and not be afraid.
88
I definitely had to learn to assert myself and also to remind myself that I do know what I'm talking about,
89
even though, because I'm young and I'm a girl and sometimes people don't want to listen to that.
90
But then also I've been acting since I was two.
91
So I have to remind myself, no, you actually do know and say it.
92
And you might be wrong, but at least get it out there and use your voice.
93
empowers and motivates me is myself.
94
Like I'm always trying to top myself.
95
I love a challenge.
96
I want to feel scared.
97
I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie and I kind of,
98
I love that feeling of kind of being terrified and conquering it and always striving for better.
99
I just feel like there's, there's never enough.
100
Like the The possibilities are endless for all of us.
101
At any time, you could change careers and do something else and try something different and not be afraid to fail.
102
So I think failure really can hold you back, that feeling, but out of failure comes amazing things.
103
And I've learned that and that keeps me going.
104
Thank you so much, Harpers Bazaar UK.
105
I will see you soon.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B21
Daisy Edgar-Jones & Fiona Shaw Rank 5 Iconic British Snacks | Bazaar UK
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer - the future of female action stars in Ride or Die | Bazaar UK
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Sophie Turner talks through career highlights and obstacles: How I Got Here | Bazaar UK
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B24
Lily Collins on fashion, friendship, career and confidence: life lessons | Bazaar UK
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C15
Rosamund Pike breaks down her life in roles, from Gone Girl to Saltburn | Bazaar UK
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B11
Getting ready with Lily-Rose Depp for the London premiere of ‘Nosferatu’ | Bazaar UK
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B111
Jennifer Aniston Reveals What’s Really in Her Beauty Bag | Bazaar UK
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B23
Florence Pugh shares her Life Lessons: 'If you know your worth, you're unstoppable'
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B212
"You Have No Gauge." Christopher Nolan's Brutal Note for Anne Hathaway | One on One | Bazaar UK
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B13
Hailey Bieber: Inside my beauty bag | Bazaar UK
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
C110
Emilia Clarke: Life Lessons | Bazaar UK
University StudentsWorking Adults
B2Lupita Nyong’o shares the secrets to her style, career and confidence: Life Lessons | Bazaar UK
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2Jonathan Bailey: What you don't know about me | Bazaar UK
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B26
351 sentences
Hailey Bieber & Christine Centenera on the Power of Collaboration | Vogue Australia
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B27
15 sentences
Rosamund Pike Talks Elegance and Empowerment in the Lady 95.22 Campaign
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B23
61 sentences
ULTIMATE Key To Become UNFORGETTABLE | Motivational Speech For Women By Oprah Winfrey
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
66 sentences
Rebecca Donaldson Tells Vogue How To Nail F1 Style At The Melbourne Grand Prix | Vogue Australia
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B25
14 sentences
Emma Watson: “Hollywood Broke Me… But I’m Proud It Did” 💔✨
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B267 sentences
My Life Lesson from a Trip to India
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B29
32 sentences
So much to learn from Eileen Gu ❤️👏 #Olympics #WinterOlympics
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B211
112 sentences
Zendaya On Her In-N-Out Order, Last Show Binged & Styling w/ Law Roach | Ask Me Anything | ELLE
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B231
207 sentences
这就是她让全场破防的原因【泰勒丝纽约大学毕业演讲】中英大字幕 优质的英语学习材料 Taylor Swift's NYU Speech
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B210
20 sentences
#Anne Hathaway #advice on Being Kind to Yourself
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 105 sentences and 1397 words to shadow. The speech runs for 8:50. The speaker talks at a natural 158 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- remind /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ (verb) — To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person).
- regret /ɹɪˈɡɹɛt/ (verb) — To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead.
- motivate /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ (verb) — To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
- necessarily /ˌnɛs.əˈsɛɹ.ə.li/ (adverb) — Inevitably; of necessity.
- lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
- belief /bɪˈliːf/ (noun) — Mental acceptance of a claim as true.
- passion /ˈpæʃən/ (noun) — A true desire sustained or prolonged.
- helpful /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/ (adjective) — Furnishing help; giving aid; useful.
- disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/ (adjective) — Defeated of expectations or hope; experiencing disappointment; let down.
- aspect /ˈæspɛkt/ (noun) — Any specific feature, part, or element of something.
- dragon /ˈdɹæɡən/ (noun) — In European mythologies, a gigantic beast, typically reptilian with leathery bat-like wings, lion-like claws, scaly skin and a lizard-like body, often a…
- lately /ˈleɪt.li/ (adverb) — Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since.
- friendship /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/ (noun) — The condition of being friends.
- silly /ˈsɪl.i/ (adjective) — Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance.
- knock /nɑk/ (verb) — To rap one's knuckles against something, especially wood.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
- give up (verb) — To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone).
- grow out of (verb) — To emerge from (something); to take a particular shape as a result of (something); to come to exist from (an origin).
- grow up (verb) — To mature and become an adult.
- live in (verb) — To reside on the premises of one's employer (used especially of domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, maids, etc.)
- look back (verb) — To think of (past events) in retrospect (in hindsight).
- talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.
- think about /ˈθɪŋk əˌbaʊt/ (verb) — To ponder.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 57 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: authentic /ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/, cloth /klɒθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: passion /ˈpæʃən/, friendship /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/, harsh /ˈhɑɹʃ/, bushy /ˈbʊʃi/, cliché /kliˈʃeɪ/
- Long words — get the stress right: necessarily /ˌnɛs.əˈsɛɹ.ə.li/, disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/, inevitably /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like remind, regret, motivate.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've learned · have always been · I've worn |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was swayed · I've been given · they've been squeezed |
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.