Shadowing Practice: Fail Better - Peter Dinklage | Best Motivational Speech - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Ever tried, ever failed, no matter,
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try again, fail again, fail better, the world is yours.
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Treat everyone kindly and light up the night.
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Please don't ever stop.
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I had so many dreams of where I wanted to go, who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do.
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What I didn't have was cash, a bank account, a credit card, or an apartment.
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I just had debt!
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A big, hungry, growing larger every moment debt.
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I packed the life that I knew with socks and a toothbrush into my backpack,
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And I slept on couch after couch after couch after couch at friends' apartments in New York.
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I dusted pianos at a piano store on Ludlow Street.
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When I was 29, I told myself, the next acting job I get, no matter what it pays,
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I will, from now on, for better or worse, be a working actor. But something good happened.
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I got a low paying theatre job in a play called Imperfect Love, which led to a film called 13 Moons with the same writer,
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which led to other roles, which led to other roles.
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And I've worked as an actor ever since.
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Raise the rest of your life to meet you.
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Don't search for defining moments because they will never come.
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The moments that define you have already happened.
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And they will already happen again.
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And it passes so quickly.
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So please bring each other along with you.
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You just get a bit derailed.
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But soon something starts to happen.
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Trust me.
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A rhythm sets in.
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Just try not to wait until, like me, you're 29 before you find it.
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And if you are, that's fine too.
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Some of us never find it. But you will.
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I promise you.
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You are already here.
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You'll find your rhythm or continue the one you have already found.
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Don't wait until they tell you you are ready.
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Get in there.
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Sing.
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The world might say you are not allowed to yet.
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I waited a long time out in the world before I gave myself permission to fail.
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Please, don't even bother asking.
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Don't bother telling the world you are ready.
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Show it. Do it.
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Ever tried.
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Ever failed.
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No matter.
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Try again.
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Fail again.
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Fail better.
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The world is yours.
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Treat everyone kindly.
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And light up the night.
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Thank you so much for having me here.
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Thank you.

Peter Dinklage's Motivational Speech: A Tool for English Learning

Renowned actor Peter Dinklage delivers a powerful talk on resilience, failure, and seizing opportunities. Filled with conversational phrasing and emotional depth, the video is an excellent resource for learn english with videos, offering real-world language use and inspiring content. Whether you're practicing IELTS speaking or aiming to sound more natural, the dialogue balances simplicity with impact, making it ideal for learners of all levels.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Fail better" – A concise, motivational phrase to encourage persistence in setbacks.
  • "Raise the rest of your life to meet you" – A vivid way to express taking control of your future.
  • "Get in there. Sing." – A casual, energetic call to action, perfect for inspiring others.
  • "A rhythm sets in" – Describes finding a natural flow in tasks or life, useful in daily conversations.
  • "Light up the night" – A poetic phrase to urge positivity and impact, great for creative expression.

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video

The shadowing technique is key to mastering pronunciation and fluency. Here's how to use this video effectively:

  1. Listen and Analyze: Watch the video once to grasp the message. Note Dinklage's pace—slow, deliberate, with pauses for emphasis. This helps with improve english pronunciation by mimicking natural stress and intonation.
  2. Break It Down: Focus on 10-second clips. Pause, repeat, and shadow speak immediately, matching his tone and rhythm. Pay attention to phrases like "Ever tried, ever failed"—the short, punchy structure requires crisp delivery.
  3. Record and Compare: Record your shadowing and listen back. Check if you're stressing words like "debt" or "rhythm" correctly. Adjust to match the speaker's emotional weight, which is crucial for IELTS speaking practice.
  4. Practice Daily: Dedicate 10 minutes daily to shadowing. Over time, you'll notice improved fluency and confidence in using phrases like "Don't wait until they tell you you're ready."

This video isn't just motivational—it's a practical tool to refine your English. By focusing on shadowing and key phrases, you'll build skills that translate to real-life communication.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →