Shadowing Practice: ENGLISH SPEECH | LEONARDO DICAPRIO: Climate Change (English Subtitles) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I stand before you not as an expert,
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I stand before you not as an expert,
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but as a concerned citizen.
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One of the 400,000 people who marched in the streets of New York on Sunday
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and the billions of others around the world who want to solve our climate crisis.
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As an actor, I pretend for a living.
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I play fictitious characters, often solving fictitious problems.
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I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way,
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as if it were a fiction,
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as if pretending that climate change wasn't real would somehow make it go away.
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But I think we all know better than that now.
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Every week we're seeing new and undeniable climate events,
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evidence that accelerated climate change is here right now.
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Our oceans are acidifying with methane plumes rising up from the ocean floor.
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We are seeing extreme weather events and the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets melting at unprecedented rates,
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decades ahead of scientific projections.
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None of this is rhetoric and none of it is hysteria.
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It is fact.
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The scientific community knows it,
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industry knows it, governments know it,
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even the United States military knows it.
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The Chief of the U.S.
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Navy's Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear,
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recently said that climate change is our single greatest security threat.
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My friends, this body, perhaps more than any other gathering in human history,
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now faces this difficult but achievable task.
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You can make history or you will be vilified by it.
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To be clear, this is not about just telling people to change their light bulbs or to buy a hybrid car.
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This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make.
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This is now about our industries and our governments around the world taking decisive, large-scale action.
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Now must be our moment for action.
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We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions and eliminate government subsidies for oil,
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coal and gas companies.
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We need to end the free ride that industrial polluters have been given in the name of a free market economy.
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They do not deserve our tax dollars.
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They deserve our scrutiny.
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For the economy itself will die if our ecosystems collapse.
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The good news is that renewable energy is not only achievable,
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but good economic policy.
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This is not a partisan debate,
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it is a human one.
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Clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights.
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And solving this crisis is not a question of politics,
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it is a question of our own survival.
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This is the most urgent of times and the most urgent of messages.
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Honored delegates, leaders of the world,
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I pretend for a living, but you do not.
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The people made their voices heard on Sunday around the world,
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and the momentum will not stop.
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But now it is your turn.
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The time to answer humankind's greatest challenge is now.
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We beg of you to face it with courage and honesty.
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Thank you.
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you

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Context & Background

In this compelling speech, actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio addresses the urgent issue of climate change at a significant gathering of world leaders. He emphasizes the severity of the climate crisis and the necessity for immediate action from both governments and industries. By drawing attention to undeniable climate events, DiCaprio seeks to awaken a collective responsibility among listeners, highlighting that the survival of humanity depends on tackling this phenomenon decisively and effectively.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I stand before you not as an expert but as a concerned citizen." - A memorable way to express humility while sharing important views.
  • "This disaster has grown beyond the choices that individuals make." - A crucial phrase that underscores the necessity for systemic change.
  • "Clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights." - A powerful declaration that underscores the importance of environmental justice.
  • "The time to answer humankind’s greatest challenge is now." - A call to action that can be adapted to various contexts.
  • "We need to put a price tag on carbon emissions." - A specific recommendation that encourages economic accountability.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English pronunciation through shadowing with DiCaprio's speech, follow these steps:

  1. Listening: Begin by listening to the speech in its entirety. Focus on the tone, intonation, and rhythm of DiCaprio's delivery.
  2. Transcription: Write down the key phrases that resonate with you. This will help with memorization and understanding the context in which they are used.
  3. Segmenting: Break the speech into smaller segments, focusing on a few sentences at a time. This will make it easier to emulate his speaking style.
  4. Recording: Utilize a shadowing app or simple recording device to capture your voice as you repeat each segment after DiCaprio. Pay attention to pronunciation and emotion.
  5. Comparison: Listen to your recorded speech alongside DiCaprio’s. Note areas where your pronunciation differs and where you can improve.
  6. Repetition: Repeat this process regularly, gradually increasing the length of the segments you tackle. This daily practice will enhance your pronunciation and fluency over time.

By employing a shadowing technique like shadowspeaks, you not only build confidence in your speaking skills but also connect more deeply with the content and its message. Remember, the goal is to not just mimic sounds but to understand and convey meaning as well.

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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