Shadowing Practice: ENGLISH SPEECH | LISA KAMAL: Inspirational Graduation Speech (English Subtitles) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Today we feature Lisa Kamal, the student speaker at Utah Madison's 2019 Winter Commencement.
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An international student from Malaysia, Lisa shares her moving journey of resilience, determination and gratitude.
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From using the Hamilton soundtrack as her coping mechanism to overcoming the struggles of college life,
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Lisa inspires graduates to reflect on their sacrifices and achievements.
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Join us to experience this heartfelt and motivational speech.
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Raise a glass to freedom.
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Raise a glass to all of us.
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Telling the story of today.
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In my junior year of college, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack became my coping mechanism that would get me through the day.
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In case you don't know of the musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda,
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it tells the story of an orphan and immigrant who became one of the founding fathers of America.
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After listening to the album, I dove into the fandom, memorized all of the songs while walking to class, waiting for the bus, and before I went to sleep.
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I came here on a scholarship a long way from my home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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This opportunity to be here at the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Madison did not come easy or cost little for any of us.
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My hopeful freshman self had started out college with big dreams.
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I wanted to make the most out of my time here because just like Hamilton, there's a million things I haven't done.
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In the beginning, the unknown was exciting.
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Remember those days?
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I could justify struggling in calculus or chemistry
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because I was only a freshman and I thought that by the time I'm a senior I'll be a pro at everything.
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But as students we juggle a lot on our plates.
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We juggle our studies, relationships with friends and family and in most in my case most of them were abroad
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separated by a 14-hour time difference.
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Most importantly, we worked towards the promise of a great future for ourselves.
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While I was carrying the expectations of many, the heaviest ones were my own.
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When I didn't meet them, the person I disappointed the most was myself.
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My second year in college, I suffered burnout to the point of losing motivation to finish this degree.
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I'd overwhelmed myself past my breaking point, kept chasing things that would look good on my resume,
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but I stopped feeling passion for anything I did or learned.
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And the truth was, all I wanted to do was sleep all the time.
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I was so desperate to find a spark of enthusiasm, the same one we all overflowed with at the beginning,
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only to feel so helpless.
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But friends, look at where you are.
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Look at where you started.
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You made it here to the last act.
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You did it day after day.
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You made the choice to rise up and give yourself another chance to start over every single morning.
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And for me, I sang like my life was a Tony Ward winning Broadway musical.
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And believe me, you did not throw away your shot.
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Because if you graduated, having completed most of your coursework,
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from the comfort of your own bed staring into your laptop, you made it.
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I see you.
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If you graduated, having spent all hours of the day in the library or evenings in coffee shops, you made it.
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I see you.
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Or if you are anywhere in between, you made it.
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I see you.
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There is everyday human experiences that give weight and substance to the certificate you're about to receive.
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Every sacrifice, every bit of energy you drag out of you every morning,
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even if all you managed to do was scratch the bare minimum, you are here today.
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You're graduating today, and I am proud of you.
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I'm immensely proud of you.
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Now, at the end, I look back and keep thanking God,
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teachers and mentors, mental health counselors at the University Health Services,
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my family and friends who helped carry me through till today.
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I thank Lin-Manuel for writing his songs, helping me finish my Nina story,
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and for reimagining diverse representations on the Broadway stage.
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Madison, I'll miss your winters, your sunsets, your super frozen lakes,
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but I look forward to the future that the University of Wisconsin has prepared me for.
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I love this school with all my heart.
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My fellow graduates, as we proudly leave this campus,
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remember the dark moments that shaped us from the ground up, the good times that we are grateful for,
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and the person we became because of it.
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We're gonna teach them how to say goodbye, say goodbye one last time.
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Congratulations, Badgers!
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Links in the description below.
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Thanks for your support!

Context & Background

In this engaging and heartfelt graduation speech, Lisa Kamal, an international student from Malaysia, recounts her inspiring journey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sharing her personal experiences of resilience and determination, Lisa highlights the challenges many students face during their academic careers, from overwhelming workloads to the emotional struggles of separating from loved ones. Through her story, she encourages her peers to appreciate their sacrifices and recognize their achievements, reminding us all that the path to success is often lined with difficulties.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Raise a glass to freedom.” – A phrase that emphasizes celebration and gratitude.
  • “Look at where you are.” – A motivational reminder to reflect on progress.
  • “You made the choice to rise up.” – Encouragement to persevere through challenges.
  • “I see you.” – A phrase that acknowledges the efforts and struggles of others.
  • “You did it day after day.” – A recognition of consistent effort leading to success.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your speaking skills using this motivational speech, follow these steps for effective shadow speech practice:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching Lisa's speech without subtitles to grasp the overall message and tone.
  2. Listen Actively: Replay the video with English subtitles. Pay close attention to Lisa's pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm as she speaks.
  3. Select Phrases: Choose a few of the top phrases listed above that resonate with you. Focus on repeating these several times for familiarity.
  4. Shadow Speaking: Utilize the shadowing app available to overlay your voice with Lisa's. Aim to mimic her tone and pacing; this exercise is integral to learn English with YouTube.
  5. Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your speaking to analyze your pronunciation and fluency. Listen for improvements and areas to focus on for your next session.
  6. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Pair your english speaking practice with various videos that inspire you, building both your vocabulary and confidence.
  7. Engage Mentally: Reflect on the themes discussed in the speech. Consider how determination and resilience can apply to your own life, integrating vocabulary in meaningful contexts.

By utilizing these steps, you'll gain confidence in your speaking abilities, allowing you to embrace challenges with the same fervor that Lisa Kamal exhibited in her inspiring graduation address. Happy learning! Remember, every little effort counts as you work towards mastering English!

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.