Shadowing Practice: Home Alone 1990 Buzz tells kevin about Old Man Marley scene - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
No mom's gonna pack your stuff anyway.
2
You're what the French call les incompetents.
3
What?
4
Bombs away!
5
P.S.
6
You have to sleep on the hide-a-bed with Fuller.
7
If he has something to drink, he's gonna wet the bed.
8
This house is so full of people, it makes me sick.
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When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone.
10
Did you hear me?
11
I'm living alone!
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I'm living alone!
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Who's gonna feed your spider while we're gone?
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He just ate a whole load of mice guts.
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He should be good for a couple weeks.
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Is it true that French babes don't shave their pits?
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Some don't.
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But they got nude beaches.
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Not in the winter.
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Buzz?
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Don't you know how to knock, phlegmwad?
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Can I sleep in your room?
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I don't want to sleep on the hide-a-bed with Fuller.
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If you have something to drink, you'll wet the bed.
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I wouldn't let you sleep in my room if you were growing on my ass.
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Check it out, old man Marley. Who is he?
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You ever heard of South Bend Shovel Slayer?
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No. That's him.
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Back in 58, he murdered his whole family and half the people on the block. With the snow shovel.
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Been hiding out in this neighborhood ever since.
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Well, if he's a shovel slayer, how come the cops don't arrest him?
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Not enough evidence to convict.
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They never found the bodies.
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But everyone around here knows he did it.
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Now it'll just be a matter of time before he does it again.
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What's he doing now?
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He walks up and down the streets every night, salting the sidewalks.
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Maybe he's just trying to be nice.
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No way.
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See that garbage can full of salt?
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That's where he keeps his victims.
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The salt turns the bodies into mummies.
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Whoa.
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Mummy.
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Yah!
46
Look out!

About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on a memorable scene from the classic movie "Home Alone," particularly the exchange between Buzz and Kevin about Old Man Marley. Through this dialogue, learners will practice understanding and using conversational English, particularly in a humorous context. You'll enhance your vocabulary and pronunciation by engaging with the dialogue at a natural pace, making it ideal for those who want to learn English with YouTube. This lesson is designed to assist you in enhancing your speaking capabilities through the shadowing technique.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Incompetent - a term used to describe someone who lacks the ability to carry out a task.
  • Hide-a-bed - a type of bed that can be hidden away, often used for guests.
  • Phlegmwad - a humorous insult, not commonly used but effective in informal contexts.
  • Shovel Slayer - a nickname that implies danger, deriving from the character's grim backstory.
  • Mummy - a reference to a preserved body, often used in a spooky context.
  • Salting the sidewalks - this refers to putting salt on icy sidewalks, highlighting a local concern.
  • Turn the bodies into mummies - an exaggerated phrase symbolizing danger and fear in a playful manner.

Practice Tips

To effectively use this lesson for your English speaking practice, consider the following practice tips:

  • Watch the scene multiple times, focusing on the speed and tone of dialogue. The playful yet slightly tense atmosphere can help you grasp the nuances of English humor.
  • Use the shadowing technique by repeating lines after you hear them, matching not just the words but also the intonation and rhythm. This dynamic practice is particularly useful for improving English pronunciation.
  • Pay attention to how words are connected in natural speech. For example, phrases like “who’s gonna” are often contracted, making them an essential part of fluent speech.
  • Try recording yourself while shadowing this dialogue, then listen back to compare your pronunciation with the original. This can help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Engage with the humor in the scene. Understanding jokes and playful insults can deepen your grasp of conversational English, making your practice more enjoyable while learning.

By incorporating these strategies into your practice, you will not only build your vocabulary but also develop your overall communication skills, allowing you to improve English pronunciation and engage more confidently in conversations.

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.