Shadowing Practice: [Eng] ep.4| Perfection doesn't really exist. - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The number one reason to let go of perfectionism is that your idea of perfection will change over time.
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Even your most perfect work today will be crap in five years.
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There is no way to ever be perfect because you are constantly learning and improving.
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Hello, how's your day going?
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Wherever you are, I hope everything's good.
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Lately, I've been feeling like I am really lucky
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because I want to explore things and connect with people to engage in many different conversations.
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It is like networking plus discussing my career paths to figure out what makes sense for me.
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Meeting great people has made me think like that.
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Sometimes I feel like all the things that I've been gathering have been worth it.
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I'm feeling pretty satisfied with myself.
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Maybe that's why I feel like I have the leisure to have these conversations today.
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The desire for perfection is like addiction, I guess.
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If the result is somewhat perfect, no matter which way you look at it, that feels good.
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I mean I did pick the topic today but I don't consider myself as a perfectionist.
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Or is this even about perfectionism?
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Oh no, maybe um i'm not sure
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because i think this is like i cannot completely confident in calling myself the one
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that i'm perfect
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because i'm not perfect i think i saw a quiz the other day on the internet
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that i can check myself if i'm a perfectionist i think i should do
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that let's do that so okay do i have trouble meeting my own standards i don't think
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so i don't think that i set my standards that high.
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It's just that many things can feel a bit overwhelming to me because I want to do better.
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I want to be better.
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The next one.
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Do I often feel frustrated, depressed, anxious, or angry while trying to meet my standards?
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No, not really.
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Have I been told that my standards are too high.
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I do hear this quite often though.
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Do my standards get in my own way?
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For example, do they make it difficult for me to meet deadlines, finish a task, trust others or do anything spontaneously?
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I don't think this is perfectionism.
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Well, I do spontaneous things well.
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If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a problem with perfectionism.
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Okay, maybe yes, maybe no. I'm curious about what you guys think.
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Is the process more important than the result for you?
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At what point can you chill with the thought that you've prepared enough?
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of this like perfectionism I feel like many things
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that I could be easy for me are becoming difficult I mean to myself
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so I'm practicing telling myself that's like that's okay I'll be
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okay to take things easy I think YouTube is like
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that too there's no defined perfection and deciding
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when it complete is up to me how perfect it seems depends on the viewer
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or maybe the level of perfection itself isn't what you guys are looking for.
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Actually, I'm not really interested in other people's achievements.
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So even when I watch others YouTube videos, I don't really judge them on their perfection.
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As long as the person is charming, I think that's all that matters, isn't it?
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Yeah, perfection alone doesn't seem all that appealing to me.
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I have a habit of imagining and copying things when I say it.
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Like normally it's something that I want to become.
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Everyone has their own way of wanting something and working towards it.
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yeah this is just my thing
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if my results are like different from the original i used to feel unhappy
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because i learned english the same way i i copied
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and mimicked someone who spoke english i'll explain it later
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when i have a chance anyway work english
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and even dating i think i had a clear image that i wanted to design.
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In dramas and movies, the main characters never seem to use the bathroom.
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Or do they ever take the wrong bus and end up getting off at the next stop?
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Um, no. So yeah, I wanted to make my life like that too.
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Not that I wasn't satisfied with my life and wasn't happy,
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but I used to dream of a perfect ideal that was like quite far away.
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It seems like I'm gradually improving.
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Even if I make any mistakes, I think I need to have some oopsie attitude.
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There are many things that I really don't know how to do but they're interesting enough to try.
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I think those moments helped me to improve myself like being flexible.
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Like a designer job that I mentioned before in the previous video, there was no proper way to prepare myself for the job itself.
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I just need to be there and learn from the job and I just need to learn from the environment.
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It's okay to deviate from the order and understand the method, realizing that you can challenge something that taught me a lot.
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There are some moments when you have to step forward even
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if you are not prepared and there are some things that are impossible to prepare for.
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At some point I felt that moving forward even without success was cooler than actually succeeding.
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Having social experience abroad also helped me.
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There are just so many diverse people here
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so it was easy for me to understand or acknowledge myself
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that I would be a bit different from others and become less fixated on perfection which others had decided.
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The biggest help for me was stopping evaluating others.
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Depending on how I view the outside world, the perspective of myself is set.
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If you sharpen your edges towards people, you become like that too to yourself.
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Stay away from negatively sharp people and if I am sharp, then stay away from me too.
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I like being thorough and detailed.
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Objective judgment about myself is also important but if that makes me sad or concerned too much, definitely not healthy.
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If it takes a day or two to unfold the file and press the submit button
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and if there are several tasks saved temporarily like that, it's stressful because that was me.
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In fact, perfection doesn't really exist, doesn't it?
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Investing more time and effort doesn't necessarily bring you closer to perfection.
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As the quote said, there's no way to ever be perfect because you are constantly learning and improving.

Context & Background

The dialogue presented in this video focuses on the concept of perfectionism and its impact on personal and professional development. The speaker expresses a reluctance to identify as a perfectionist while acknowledging the societal pressures and internal expectations that often accompany this mindset. They reflect on their experiences of constant learning and emphasize the fluid nature of perfection, noting that personal perceptions can shift over time. This discussion not only fosters self-awareness about standards but also prompts viewers to explore their own relationships with perfectionism and the pursuit of excellence in daily life.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Is the process more important than the result for you?" - Use this to spark discussions about personal goals.
  • "I think many things can feel overwhelming." - A relatable point that opens up conversations about stress and expectations.
  • "It's okay to take things easy." - A comforting phrase that can help ease pressure to perform.
  • "Do your standards get in your own way?" - An introspective question that can encourage self-reflection in conversations.
  • "As long as the person is charming, that's what matters." - A great way to shift focus from perfection to authentic connections.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Practicing your spoken English using the shadowing technique with this video can be immensely beneficial. Shadowing allows you to improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation by mimicking the speaker in real-time. Here’s how to effectively use this technique:

  1. Listen to the Video: Start by watching the video once to grasp the overall message and tone.
  2. Focus on Key Sections: Identify segments with clear pronunciation. Pay attention to phrases that stand out, such as those listed above.
  3. Use Shadow Speech: Play a short clip of the dialogue and pause after each sentence. Repeat what the speaker says immediately after, mirroring their pace and inflection. This practice is known as shadow speak.
  4. Record Yourself: After a few attempts, record your shadowing practice. Listen for differences in pronunciation and intonation compared to the original speaker.
  5. Reflect on Your Progress: Revisit the video after a few days to see how much your spoken English has improved and how comfortably you can now replicate the speaker’s style.

For those seeking a comprehensive approach to their learning, consider establishing a routine on a shadowing site where you can practice regularly. Remember, improvement comes with consistency, and the journey is often more important than the destination. Emphasize the process, and don't hesitate to enjoy the learning experience!

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.