Shadowing Practice: Grandma Sues Over Grandchild’s Wardrobe | Part 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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61 sentences
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1
How many grandchildren do you have?
2
Two. - This is your daughter? - Yes - Are they both her children? - No.
3
Just one of them?
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Yes. And this is your soon-to-be former son-in-law?
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Hopefully, yes.
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And this is his sister?
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Yes. You're suing your son-in-law and his sister because you say that they won't return to you some clothing that you purchased for your granddaughter while your granddaughter was at least some time in-- Mr. Menter?
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Correct Mr. Menter's custody.
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Is that right?
10
Right Mrs. Geren, I want to tell you that I think you probably making the worst mistake in your life as a grandparent by bringing this lawsuit-- the worst.
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I gather, from reading of your complaint that you had had difficulties at certain periods of time with your daughter. Is that right?
12
Right. And you've had difficulties in certain periods of time with your son-in-law, is that right?
13
Yes. The only one thing that's constant is that they have a child together and you are that child's grandmother.
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And it would seem to me that if you were using your brains, you would do nothing to alienate-- alienate either one of the parents, either one of the parents of this grandchild of yours, irrespective of whether they're having an acrimonious divorce or not, because you never know what's going to happen.
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You never know what life circumstance turns around and brings you.
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Your daughter looks like a healthy young woman, but if something happens to your daughter tomorrow, she gets hit by a bus.
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Your granddaughter is going to be with her father.
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I don't think so.
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- Oh yes, she will. - I truly don't believe that.
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You may not think so, but if-- you may not think so, but that's the law.
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And unless there is some very special circumstance, if something happened to your daughter, in all probability, the child would be raised by her father.
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Stop looking at your papers, Mrs. Geren.
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Try to appreciate what I'm saying to you.
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And I'm saying this to you because I have four grandchildren.
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And even though-- and I have children who are in similar circumstances.
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And the one thing that I knew was I never wanted either one of them to be angry with me because it was most important to me that I have reasonable relations with the parents of my grandchild.
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And if you don't see that, you're a very, very foolish woman.
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Now, you want to continue with this lawsuit, that's up to you.
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But I think that you're making a tragic mistake.
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I definitely thought of that, about something happening to her, and I would have to naturally see Ashley through Michael.
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But the fact is that as of last night, he no longer has any custody of Ashley, besides the fact that I do want what rightfully I purchased and I did not purchase for him.
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And I feel that I'm going to continue with this lawsuit.
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Fine. When did you purchase the items for your granddaughter?
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Well, first, I'd like to show this to you.
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Just tell me what it is.
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It's a letter from Children & Family Services.
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What does it have to do with clothes?
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Because it shows that Jamie has full custody right now.
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I don't care whether she has full custody.
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And she goes to school from my home every single day.
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Ms. Geren it has nothing to do with this lawsuit, Madam.
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You're not paying attention to me.
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All right. Here-- I asked for specific question.
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Your daughter did not have custody for a period of time of this child.
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She did, too?
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No, no, no.
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The child was with the father.
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That's why-- that's why-- It's not true.
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Wait a sec.
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No, no, that's not true.
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He had three days, is all he had with her.
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Ms. Geren. Are you telling me that I don't know what I'm saying?
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Ms. Geren? Yes.
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Let me see the items, and when you purchase them for your granddaughter.
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The main item list is this.
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Can I see it?
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And the rest is right here.
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And I don't understand why you say she only-- she didn't have custody.
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That's, like, unbelievable.
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OK. With whom was the child residing in November of 1998?
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With Jamie and three days with him.

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Why This Video Clip Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

This lively conversation from a courtroom setting is ideal for honing real-world English skills. The back-and-forth between the judge and the grandmother features natural speech patterns—pauses, interruptions, and colloquial phrases—that mirror everyday interactions. It’s a goldmine for practicing shadowing technique, as the varied tone and pace challenge learners to match rhythm and intonation, key for sounding fluent. Plus, the emotional undercurrents (frustration, determination) teach how to convey meaning beyond words, a critical skill for effective communication.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: Key Phrases to Master

Let’s dissect a few lines to see why they sound authentic:

  • “Hopefully, yes.” This short, conversational response uses “hopefully” to soften a direct answer, a common way to express uncertainty in casual speech. Notice the contraction “yes” instead of “it is,” which keeps the flow natural.
  • “You’re making the worst mistake in your life as a grandparent.” The judge’s blunt delivery uses emphasis on “worst” and “grandparent” to stress urgency. This shows how word stress can change the impact of a sentence—something the shadowing app can help you practice.
  • “I definitely thought of that, about something happening to her.” The phrase “definitely thought of that” is a relaxed way to confirm prior consideration, avoiding formal language like “I have certainly considered that.” The pause after “that” mimics how people speak when organizing their thoughts.

A Simple Shadowing Routine to Improve Pronunciation

Use the shadowspeaks method to master this dialogue: 1. Watch the video once to understand the context. 2. Pick a 30-second segment (try the judge’s warning about alienating parents). 3. Play a line, pause, and repeat it immediately, focusing on matching the speaker’s tone, pace, and stress. 4. Record yourself and compare it to the original—note where your pronunciation or rhythm differs. 5. Repeat daily for 10 minutes. Over time, this shadow speak practice will train your mouth and ears to adapt to natural English, making your speech sound more confident and native-like.

By focusing on real, unscripted dialogue, you’ll build the skills to handle any conversation—whether in a courtroom or a coffee shop.

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 →