Shadowing Practice: Fail Better - Peter Dinklage Motivational Speech - Learn English Speaking with Video
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38 sentences
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When I was 29, I told myself the next acting job I get, no matter what it pays, I will from now on,
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for better or worse, be a working actor.
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So I quit my position at the professional examination services,
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and now I didn't have either the internet or a cell phone or a job. But something good happened.
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I got a low-paying theater 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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I didn't know that would happen.
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At 29, walking away from data processing, I was terrified.
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Ten years in a place without heat, six years at a job I felt stuck in, maybe I was afraid of change. Are you?
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My parents didn't have much money, but they struggled to send me to the best schools.
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And one of the most important things they did for me is that once I graduated, I was on my own.
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financially it was my turn.
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But this made me very hungry.
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Literally.
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I couldn't be lazy.
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Now I'm totally lazy, but back then, I couldn't be.
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And so at 29, in a very long last, I was in the company of the actors and writers and directors I'd sought out that first year,
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that first day after school.
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I was, I am, by their size.
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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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Sorry, it sucks after graduation.
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It really does.
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I mean, I don't know, at least it did for me.
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But that's the only thing I know.
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You.. you just get a bit derailed.
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But soon something starts to happen.
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trust me a rhythm sets in 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 some of us you never find it but you will I promise you
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what did Beckett say 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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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 38 sentences and 368 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:17. The speaker talks at a steady 112 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| define verb | /dɪˈfaɪn/ | To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly. |
| lazy adjective | /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ | Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. |
| hungry adjective | /ˈhʌŋ.ɡɹi/ | Affected by hunger; having the physical need for food. |
| suck verb | /sʌk/ | To use the mouth and lips to pull in (a liquid, especially milk from the breast). |
| theater noun | /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/ | A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on. |
| examination noun | /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ | The act of examining. |
| graduation noun | /ˌɡɹæd͡ʒuˈeɪʃən/ | The action or process of graduating and receiving a diploma for completing a course of study (such as from an educational institution). |
| rhythm noun | /ˈɹɪð.əm/ | The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. |
| financially adverb | In terms of finance or money. | |
| derail verb | /ˌdiːˈɹeɪl/ | To cause to come off the tracks. |
| terrify verb | /ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ/ | To frighten greatly; to fill with terror. |
| actor noun | /ˈæk.tɚ/ | Someone or something that takes part in some action; a doer, an agent. |
| fail verb | /feɪl/ | To be unsuccessful. |
| writer noun | /ˈɹaɪ.təɹ/ | A person who writes, or produces literary work; an author can refer to themselves as "the writer". |
| struggle noun | /ˈstɹʌɡəl/ | A contortion of the body in an attempt to escape or to perform a difficult task. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| walk away from verb | To abandon or leave; to shun; to refuse. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, couldn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: theater /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, graduation /ˌɡɹæd͡ʒuˈeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, graduation /ˌɡɹæd͡ʒuˈeɪʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like define, lazy, hungry.
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.