Shadowing Practice: Emma Watson Interview Speech with English subtitles - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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two years ago i launched a campaign called he for she at the un in new york i was very nervous before that speech the nerves were followed by a tremendous high immediately afterwards and a
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crashing low a few days after that my best hopes and my worst fears were confirmed all at once
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i had opened pandora's box to a standing ovation and almost simultaneously a level of critique i had never experienced in my life and the beginning of what would become a series of threats
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the last two years have been a baptism of fire to say the least where i learned just how little i know and also how much
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it was my scary first step as an activist a word i never imagined that i would use to describe myself so reading the applications of activists who applied here for one young world scholarships
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was surprising to me here i was reading the stories of people from nearly 200 different countries from around the world
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with experiences that i i couldn't even imagine i mean i really just they were so out of this world
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to me and yet
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their notes looked like my notes the same themes emerged over and over and over again there was
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so much overlap with the things that i had been thinking about and that i had been struggling with
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because the truth is it had never been about being an activist it was about the choice
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to make myself visible and the choices that you made to do that too
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apart from the significant progress the world has made
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in the cause for equality the best thing about the last two years has been this finding people from such disparate experiences and communities that i found that i have something in common with
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this is a community of artists spiritual teachers dreamers
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thinkers doers who work together and support each other for the first time in my life
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i found my sisterhood a brotherhood whatever however you want to describe it i found my tribe
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my hope for you while you're here is that you will find some of your tribe too i really needed mine
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bobby kennedy when he was senator from new york said each time a man or woman stands up
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for an ideal or acts to improve the lots of others or strikes out against injustice he sends forth
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a tiny ripple of hope and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy
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those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance
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that's what we are doing
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we the entire spectrum of the feminist movement are building an unstoppable current for which we need ripples of hope from every age race ability walk of life from every human experience
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i feel gender equality is as important as any of the other goals that we are here to discuss and actually if anything it is even more important
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because it intersects with every single other issue that we face
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we all have feminine and masculine energies within us
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and both forces need to be lifted up
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respected they need to work together in order to make the world go round
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each of you are here at one young world because you do something important
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and it is so exciting to see you all come together in one room because one young world isn't about saying what i each of us individually can do but what we can do
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working together supporting and listening to each other
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it's in that spirit that i am delighted to introduce nine activists who are the first recipients of a one young world scholarship that i am very honored to have in my name
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they are working to secure real progress towards a gender equal world and i hope that their stories will inspire you as much as they have inspired me in a moment i'm going to ask them to come onto
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the stage but before i do i want to offer a few statements of my own that i have struggled with and continue to struggle with on a daily basis um but that i have found inspiring
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i want to ask you to take a moment you can keep your eyes closed or keep them open
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um and ask yourself if these have any truth for you in them
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i am willing to be seen i am willing to speak up
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i'm willing to keep going i'm willing to listen to what others have to say
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i'm willing to go forward even when i feel alone
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i am willing to go to bed each night at peace with myself
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i am willing to be my biggest bestest most powerful self
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these seven statements scare the absolute out of me
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but i know that they are at the crux of it all at the end of the day and when all is said and done
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i know that these are the ways that i want to have lived my life
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i know each one of you probably will have encountered one of these statements in the last 48 hours and if you have thank you for being here i appreciate it
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it's truly an honor to be here with you all thank you

Context & Background

In her stirring speech at the One Young World Summit, Emma Watson reflects on her journey as an activist and the challenges she's faced since launching the HeForShe campaign at the United Nations. With emotional honesty, she shares her initial fears and subsequent experiences that have shaped her perspective on gender equality and community. Watson emphasizes the importance of collective action and the necessity for everyone, regardless of background, to contribute towards building a more equitable world. This context provides English learners not only with the opportunity to improve their language skills but also with meaningful insights into social issues that resonate globally.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I am willing to be seen." - This phrase highlights the importance of visibility and self-acceptance.
  • "I am willing to speak up." - Encourages assertiveness in discussions and expressing one's thoughts.
  • "I am willing to listen to what others have to say." - Emphasizes the value of active listening in communication.
  • "I hope their stories will inspire you." - A great way to express encouragement and positivity towards others’ experiences.
  • "We are building an unstoppable current." - Illustrates the power of unity in achieving common goals.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English speaking skills using Emma Watson's speech, follow this shadowing guide:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the video with English subtitles. Pay attention to her pronunciation, intonation, and body language.
  2. Transcribe Short Segments: Choose a segment of the speech, perhaps one of the top phrases listed above, and write it down. This will help reinforce the language structure and vocabulary.
  3. Repeat and Mimic: After understanding the segment, replay it and attempt to mimic Watson's speech patterns. Focus on mimicking her rhythm and emotion to enhance your speaking style.
  4. Expand Your Vocabulary: Identify and look up new words or phrases used in the speech. Create flashcards to broaden your English vocabulary, crucial for IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Engage in Discussion: Find a speaking partner or use a shadowing site to discuss the themes of the speech, incorporating the phrases you've practiced. Engaging in conversation will solidify your learning and build confidence.

By implementing this step-by-step shadowing guide and embracing emotional and engaging material like Emma Watson’s speech, you can enhance your English speaking practice through effective and meaningful methods, ultimately enriching your language learning experience. Remember, learning English with YouTube not only aids in language acquisition but also keeps you informed about global conversations.

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.