Shadowing Practice: ENGLISH SPEECH | ANNE HATHAWAY: Don't Make Us Wait (English Subtitles) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello.
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Hello.
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What an honor it is for me to be here with you today on behalf of UN Women,
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to find myself once again in the privileged position of adding
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my voice to the ever-expanding chorus of those who celebrate International Women's Day.
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I'm sure I don't need to tell you that this is a strange thorny moment in the world.
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It's very confusing to try and bridge what's actually going on out there what versus what we hope to achieve in here.
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It's hard to bear the knowledge that the distance between the promise of equality
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and the experience of it are yet still so far apart for so many.
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It's It's hard knowing that this day,
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which is meant to celebrate women,
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must yet still be about how unsafe it is to be a woman,
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even less safe to be a girl.
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Are we not all tormented that societal progress for women has,
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in large part, been in response to extreme gender violence?
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Are we not tormented by what women like Giselle Pellico,
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Virginia Jufri, and Malala Yousafzai,
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to name three amongst half the world, have had to endure?
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These women and girls had the bravery to demand justice when horrific violence was forced on them,
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and in doing so, by honoring their own right to dignity, changed the world.
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Are we not tormented by this cost of change?
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Amid all this pain, all this proof of inequality,
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all this proof of the stubborn imbalance of justice,
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do we really dare celebrate?
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Well, it's just my opinion, but yes.
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Yes, we absolutely do.
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It is absolutely our honor to celebrate the courage
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and power of the women who would not be denied their justice because they chose action in a world that expects silence.
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We celebrate their defiance, and we,
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in turn, are defiant in celebration.
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We come together today under complicated skies,
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and yet we celebrate our generations of warriors who,
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either by seemingly small individual actions or sweeping government and societal reform,
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have stayed focused on the true goal of justice for all for all.
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Our fighters have been the cornerstone of accountability as political landscapes have changed and as power players have shifted.
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They have kept the momentum of progress moving forward to all corners of the world.
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Progress which we know can be devastatingly slow but which is weaving together across time and space,
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making the lives, rights, and dignity of women and girls more equal in opportunity,
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more equal in safety, economic empowerment,
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and freedom to those historically favored.
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Their work has laid the path for gender equality which we proudly walk today together,
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a path which we pray will lead to the peace of future generations.
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We celebrate the fact, the fact,
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that strong, autonomous, feminist movements are among the most consistent predictors of government action to address violence against women.
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We celebrate that we have come far enough to have evidence to prove that fact.
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We grieve that there is yet so much evidence of the necessity of this work.
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We celebrate, yes.
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We grieve as well.
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But no matter what, we keep going until it's done.
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Today we come together in tribute to the hope and work and the grit of those who have not yielded to cynicism,
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who leave the candle of our collective faith in the importance of justice ever lit,
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and with every person who commits to ending gender-based violence in the physical and digital worlds,
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who commits to championing women's economic empowerment,
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who demonstrates authentic communication by listening and uplifting the voices of the unheard and in doing so,
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blunts the danger of silence and self-censorship to every person that does that here and up there and out there.
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The flame grows stronger, and our experience of being human brighter.
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Friends, our choosing to celebrate today does not signal that we are here to accommodate injustice,
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no. Our celebration today affirms our determination to outlast it.
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Don't make us wait.
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Please.
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Happy International Women's Day.
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Context & Background

In this inspiring speech, actress Anne Hathaway addressed an audience on behalf of UN Women, celebrating International Women's Day. She touched upon the complexities of gender equality and the ongoing struggle for women's rights amidst global challenges. Hathaway voiced the importance of acknowledging both the progress made and the hard truths surrounding gender-based violence, emphasizing that society must continue to strive for justice and equality. Her powerful rhetoric not only aims to inspire action but also invites listeners to reflect on the significance of collective celebration and defiance in the face of injustice. This context makes the speech an excellent resource for those looking to enhance their English speaking skills through authentic dialogue.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "It is an honor to be here with you today." - A respectful greeting that can be used in various formal settings.
  • "We come together under complicated skies." - A poetic way to acknowledge challenges when uniting for a purpose.
  • "Are we not tormented by the cost of change?" - A thought-provoking question often used to engage an audience.
  • "We celebrate our generations of warriors." - A phrase expressing gratitude and recognition towards those who fight for equality.
  • "Don't make us wait." - A rallying cry urging immediate action, suitable for motivating discussions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this powerful speech for english speaking practice using the shadowing technique, follow these steps:

  1. Initial Listening: Watch the video without subtitles first to grasp the overall message and tone.
  2. Subtitled Viewing: Next, view the video with English subtitles. Pay close attention to pronunciation and intonation while reading along.
  3. Repetition and Imitation: Select short segments (1-2 sentences) of Hathaway's speech that resonate with you. Listen to them repeatedly, then pause, and try to shadow speak the phrases exactly as she does.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or a recording device to capture your voice while shadowing. Compare your output to the original to improve accuracy in pronunciation and rhythm.
  5. Contextual Practice: Finally, integrate these phrases into your daily conversations. Experiment with different contexts to enhance your fluency. Discuss themes from the speech, such as equality and justice, in your own words.

By following this guide and immersing yourself in the content of Anne Hathaway's speech, you can leverage *Learn English with YouTube* resources while honing your articulation and comprehension skills. The rhythm and emotion in her delivery provide an excellent model for aspiring English speakers to imitate.

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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