Shadowing Practice: Flashback: Emma Watson, 11, on Original 'Potter' - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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How did you get it?
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62 sentences
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How did you get it?
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What was the process?
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Basically, my school got an invitation to get 16 of us from the school,
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the ages around 11, 12, 10, I don't know.
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I was called out in assembly and it was done on a Thursday in my school gym
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and it was exactly like a drama class, you know?
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Just a really basic drama class.
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And you didn't want to do it?
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No, it was just such a bore, you know?
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I really didn't want to do it.
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I'm only joking, I'm being sarcastic.
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Now, what do your friends all think about all this?
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They have been so supportive,
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they've been really nice about it.
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They saw it when I saw it,
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so it's not like I saw it before they did,
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which was very nerve-wracking.
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I thought I was going to fluff up and they'd all think I look stupid.
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And what did they say?
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But no, they really liked it, which is really nice.
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I think Hermione has great charisma.
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You know, she's bossy, she's squatty,
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she's top of the class,
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you know, she's very, I know what I'm doing.
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And that is why she is so funny,
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and that is why her charisma and character is just so great.
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You've got to tell how you remember it all.
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Come on, how did you remember all those things to say?
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Oh, it was easy.
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They did it in little chunks.
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So I didn't really have to remember that much.
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What was your favorite thing you did?
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The troll scene.
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That was great fun because I had lots of stunts to do.
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Was it the physical?
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I mean, did you prepare for it?
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I had a bit of training,
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but it was, no, not much.
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It was good fun.
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You could have gotten killed.
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Or expelled.
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Worse.
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Are you signed up to do all six of them?
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How does that work?
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I don't know.
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I'm just taking it one film at a time at the moment.
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Would you do six of them?
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Would you do all of them?
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I don't know.
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Rupert and Dan, we're just such good friends.
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We've got a very strong friendship,
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all three of us, which is really nice.
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I've got millions of role models.
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What are your favourites?
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Pitt, he's very good looking.
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I haven't seen any of his films,
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but I'm looking forward to.
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Julia Roberts, I think she's fantastic,
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and I love all of her films.
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Oh my goodness, I could go on forever.
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You'd probably think you were a little bit like Julia Roberts.
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I wish.

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Context & Background

In this engaging transcript, we explore an early interview with Emma Watson at just 11 years old, reflecting on her experience auditioning for the iconic role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. The conversation reveals insights about her school life, the process of getting the role, her friendships, and her initial worries about performing in front of friends. This context not only highlights her journey but also provides valuable moments for English learners to practice speaking and listening skills.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "How did you get it?" - A great phrase for inquiring about someone's experience or achievement.
  • "I didn't really want to do it." - Useful for expressing reluctance or lack of interest.
  • "It was good fun." - A conversational way to express enjoyment.
  • "I thought I was going to fluff up." - An informal expression of fear of making a mistake, ideal for casual conversations.
  • "Taking it one film at a time." - A metaphorical phrase for approaching tasks slowly and with focus, relevant in various contexts.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Using a shadowing app can be an effective way to master the nuances of English speaking through this transcript. Here’s how to tackle the video for your English speaking practice:

  1. Listen Actively: Begin by listening to the transcript several times. Pay attention to Emma’s intonation, pacing, and pronunciation. Focus on capturing the emotion behind her words.
  2. Chunking: Notice how she breaks down her thoughts into short, manageable phrases. This method can be especially helpful to improve English pronunciation.
  3. Practice Repeating: Use the shadowing technique. Listen to a sentence and repeat it immediately. This will help you mimic her rhythm and develop your own speaking style.
  4. Record Yourself: Utilize your shadowing app to record your voice as you practice. Listening to your recordings will allow you to identify areas where you can improve your enunciation and flow.
  5. Reflect and Assess: After several practice sessions, review your recordings. Compare them to the original track to note your progress, and identify persistent challenges that need further attention.

By integrating humor, casual phrases, and relatable experiences from Emma Watson’s interview into your practice, you’ll enhance your familiarity with conversational English, setting a strong foundation for your IELTS speaking practice and overall language proficiency. Happy practicing!

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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