Shadowing Practice: Hayley Kiyoko on Joining the Community of Women Directors | Girls Like Girls - Learn English Speaking with Video

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To be able to join this beautiful community of women directors means the absolute world to me.
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We're small, but we're mighty.
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And to be a part of that, I think it's like only 5% of films are directed by women.
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And so to be a part of that 5% is the biggest honor.
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I feel like we have so many more stories to tell through the lens of women and women experience.
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And so it's just, it's so crazy that I'm even having this conversation and interview to be sitting here.
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I worked 11 years to get this film made.
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And the fact that it's going to be in theaters, the fact that it's getting support means everything.
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And it means, you know what it is?
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It's a reminder that my voice matters.
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And I think my whole journey creating Girls Like Girls, writing the song, doing the music video,
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writing the book, it's been about representation and being able to see, you know, my experience reflected on the big screen.
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And so to know that that's actually happening and
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that I get to join these incredible badass women that people have no idea,
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they have worked so hard to be who they are and to be a director in this industry.
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And so I have so much respect for them and I'm so honored and grateful to be a director officially.
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Thank you.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English listening and speaking skills by focusing on a powerful interview with Hayley Kiyoko, a woman director. You will explore her insights on representation, the challenges faced by women in film, and the importance of storytelling. This exercise will help you not only understand the nuances of English speech but also connect with meaningful themes that resonate with many learners. By engaging with the transcript, you'll strengthen your ability to express your own ideas and experiences mimicking the tone and pace of the speaker.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Community: A group of people sharing common interests or goals.
  • Director: A person responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a film.
  • Representation: The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being represented.
  • Experience: Knowledge or skill acquired by doing something over time.
  • Honor: A privilege or respect that a person receives.
  • Support: Assistance given to help someone achieve a goal.
  • Voice matters: Your opinions or expressions are important and valuable.
  • Badass: A term used to describe something impressive or someone who is tough and inspiring.

Practice Tips

To enhance your English learning experience, consider using shadow speech techniques while watching this interview. First, make sure to use a shadowing app to facilitate your practice. Play the video at a comfortable speed and listen carefully to Hayley Kiyoko’s speech patterns and intonations. Since her tone is sincere and engaging, aim to mimic not just the words but the emotion behind them. Try to pause the video after each sentence or phrase, then repeat it out loud, imitating her rhythm and tone. You can practice shadow speak by reciting key phrases along with her to reinforce pronunciation.

When you practice, focus on key vocabulary from the lesson. Use these phrases in your own sentences to integrate them into your active vocabulary. Engaging with these terms will enrich your language acquisition and comprehension. If you strive to learn English with YouTube, utilizing these shadowing techniques will greatly improve your speaking fluency and confidence.

Lastly, remember that consistency is key. The more you integrate shadowing into your routine, the more natural speaking English will feel. Embrace the process, and don't hesitate to replay parts of the video as many times as needed until you're comfortable!

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.