Shadowing Practice: how to find your spark again. - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
It's been a very turbulent and emotional week for me.
2
I've been going through a lot of personal stuff, and it seems like everything in my life has done a complete 180,
3
and nothing feels the same anymore.
4
I've received a lot of bad news this week, and I'm just completely overwhelmed with work.
5
And to top it all off, I'm on my period.
6
I have just never felt so low in my life, but we are turning it around.
7
I don't know how, but I am on a mission to find my spark again.
8
And you are going to watch me do it because if you clicked on this video, then you're probably also very desperate to just feel normal again.
9
So take this as a sign and let's go find our sparks together.
10
You know, ironically, whenever I'm going through a really hard time in my life, I always seem to have a million things going on simultaneously.
11
Despite this week being one of the hardest weeks this year, it was also the busiest.
12
So I really didn't have time to curl up in a ball and feel sad.
13
I had a ton of events to go to
14
that I needed to show face at and that's one of the things about being a creator that you can't really hide.
15
Like I'm not going to pretend that my life is perfect
16
because clearly it's not but I do think
17
that in order to find your spark again you need to continue doing the things you were doing before.
18
I don't know what it is
19
but I feel like another reason I do not feel like myself is my makeup just does not look good.
20
I do the same thing I always do, but yeah, I just don't feel pretty.
21
Okay, I just need to shut up.
22
We're fine.
23
We're fine.
24
Even though it's hard to go outside and be around people when you're not feeling your best, it's necessary.
25
I needed to get out of the house and dive back into the things that make me happy, like hosting a dinner party for my friends.
26
I made these plans a week ago, and I wasn't gonna back out of them now, especially when people were counting on me.
27
If I'm being honest, it was actually freeing to distract myself with a gesture meant for someone else.
28
And when my friends came over, suddenly I wasn't thinking about my problems anymore.
29
All my fears and worries kind of evaporated, and my home was filled with laughter and conversation and the juiciest tea.
30
Maybe humor really is the best medicine.
31
And after tonight, being surrounded by my friends felt a little normal, like old times.
32
Good morning, guys.
33
It's the morning after my little girl dinner last night.
34
I actually feel like considerably better.
35
Maybe I've just had time to like sleep on everything
36
and my emotions but I really feel refreshed after spending some time with my girls.
37
We were laughing up a storm last night.
38
It was so funny.
39
We were also watching a little bit of the newest season of Love Island.
40
Sometimes I feel like I'm losing brain cells when I watch that show but it's entertaining.
41
What can I say?
42
Yeah I just wanted to like kind of reflect on last night
43
and like how it made me feel
44
and I know just like talking about my situation with my friends
45
and just having like other bodies in my apartment besides me was really nice
46
and it was honestly just refreshing to not like think about
47
my problems for a second even though they're still very much real i do think
48
that finding ways to distract yourself or just take your mind off of your concerns like temporarily is really helpful.
49
That being said, I still don't feel like 100% like myself.
50
I don't know if it's like stress
51
or the stuff that's going on with my personal life or the fact that I'm still on my period
52
and my body hurts like hell.
53
But I do have some more events to go to today.
54
Today's actually like my busiest day in a very long time.
55
I've got like four things going on today
56
but my friend just informed me last night when she was here
57
that today is gonna be like the worst thunderstorm in Chicago this year
58
which I was like because last week was already really bad
59
so how can this week be worse but today it's gonna be raining all day.
60
I think it's even raining right now.
61
So I just hope that all my stuff isn't canceled
62
because I was really looking forward to going to these things
63
and again I just like giving myself other things to think about besides my problems.
64
Despite the weather being absolutely abysmal today, I was reminded of something.
65
That the fastest way back to myself is to start noticing again.
66
The small, insignificant, yet beautiful things about life.
67
To tell you the truth, I don't just make videos because it's my job.
68
I love capturing the moments.
69
Before YouTube, I was always taking out my phone and recording the experiences I wanted to remember.
70
And this week, I've been capturing every moment using my phone cases from Case Coup.
71
As a content creator, I always end up fumbling around with my cameras while on the go.
72
That's why I really like the MagSafe Stand Coup case that allows me to easily prop up my phone wherever I am.
73
The Magic Stand can rotate 360 degrees, so I can use it in portrait, landscape, or even at an angle, and it stays exactly where I leave it.
74
So whether I'm filming videos, reviewing content, or video calling friends, I don't have to keep holding my phone the whole time.
75
Their Linkoo version is one of my favorites.
76
It comes with clip safe, which attaches directly to the phone case, and the buckle is fully hidden inside the case when not in use.
77
You can't see it or feel it, and it won't snag when I put my phone in my pocket.
78
So when I'm out and about, I can carry my phone all the time without worrying about it getting scratched in my bag.
79
Plus, the magnetic hold is really strong, so I never have to worry about my phone falling.
80
Even when I'm on the go, it stays firmly attached to the stand.
81
If you want to romanticize your life a bit more, I'll link my phone cases from Case Coup in the description.
82
Order now and get 30% off.
83
I'm not gonna lie guys, this day was absolutely so insane.
84
I think I was running on straight adrenaline at this point.
85
But what helped me get out of my funk was by saying yes to all these things, not knowing how they would turn out.
86
My friend Jessica I met for lunch is one of my longest friendships and she is the epitome of a girl boss.
87
I'll never forget what she told me this day.
88
She was like, Allison, I'm not even joking.
89
You need to be more conceited.
90
And I I was like, huh?
91
What do you mean?
92
She said, you downplay yourself way too much for how hard you've worked and how much you've built in your career.
93
You need to walk into every room being that bitch.
94
And you know what?
95
She's right.
96
Maybe the reason I've lost my spark is because I'm not celebrating myself enough.
97
I'm always looking for the next best thing without ever acknowledging everything I've done so far.
98
Our problems can seem so insurmountable and all consuming.
99
And when things are not going your way, of course it's easy to be negative.
100
But she reminded me that no matter how hard my life is right now, there is always a silver lining.
101
That even though I might not feel like my best all the time, that doesn't mean I'm any less valuable.
102
Oh my god, you guys, I am so tired.
103
Yesterday was definitely the busiest day I've had this year by far
104
and even though i'm freaking exhausted like it's 8 21 in
105
the morning i didn't sleep until like 12 30 last night i'm
106
so so tired but i've got another event to go to
107
and the place is like an hour away
108
so i have to leave early because i don't want to be late
109
but you know what it's with my girl alta again it's just an alta filled week
110
which i love so i'm not complaining just my sleep schedules a little bit all over the place
111
and if i'm talking kind of quiet right now it's because
112
cameraman is in the other room because he slipped over last night
113
but i just wanted to reflect on yesterday
114
and like i just want to be very real can i
115
be like transparent with you guys for a second here what
116
is in my hair dude i didn't have time to shower like i have to go soon
117
so it's gonna be a quick yap session i know it
118
might seem like i have it all together all the time
119
like i'm always going to these events i'm like always putting
120
myself out there meeting new people i seem very confident
121
but like when i go to these things i still feel very much imposter syndrome
122
and yeah like i've been doing youtube for over three years now
123
but i don't think
124
that feeling ever goes away like even people who you know don't have as many subscribers as me
125
or they've been doing this for longer like those things don't really matter i just feel imposter syndrome
126
because it's me and i feel like the reason i haven't really felt
127
that spark or i haven't felt like myself in a long time is
128
because i just get very into my head
129
and i really like overthink stuff like i'm very aware of how like other people perceive me out in public
130
and i'm seeing like the same people at like these events now so i just like think about how they perceive me, I guess, if they have a good impression of me.
131
And I think the longer I do this, the more I like want to, I guess, quote unquote, stay humble.
132
But guys, I literally just made a freaking video about that.
133
And I think I need to take a lesson out of my book and like be more proud of myself.
134
Or maybe just like I convinced myself mentally that like, oh, it's not a big deal.
135
It's not all that.
136
But it is.
137
It is a big deal.
138
I'm tired of us living in this like nonchalant era.
139
Like, what even is being nonchalant?
140
I think that just, like, shows you don't really care.
141
I hate nonchalant people.
142
Like, you need to express your emotions.
143
You need to, like, live in the moment.
144
Let yourself feel things for real.
145
I don't know why, but for some reason, the first, like, image that pops into my head when I think of nonchalant is Corbin from Love Island.
146
There's, like, a meme of him going around or, like, a trend where people, like, imitate his voice.
147
And it's kind of like, yo, Kenzie.
148
You know, I know you're still trying to explore your connections, but can I get a kiss it's very like chad you
149
know what i think this period of my life despite it being like mentally challenging
150
and i have a lot of fears about what's gonna happen in the future
151
and like again personal stuff that i won't get into
152
but is very near and dear to my heart like it's been good
153
because it just it like makes you appreciate more stuff
154
and i think the key to like getting back into your
155
old self it's kind of like arbitrary i think i've always
156
been like authentic to myself maybe i don't feel 100 every day
157
but that's obviously normal i mean nobody feels like 100 in
158
perfect physical health mental health whatever dude i literally feel my frontal lobe developing right now i turned 25 this year.
159
So this is a big year for my brain.
160
Maybe for my birthday, I should have a brain cake, like in the shape of a brain.
161
Last year, I did one for when I hit 100,000 subscribers.
162
But who knows, maybe this year we'll celebrate a full, fully developed mental complex.
163
But it makes me feel less alone when I talk to people who are also going through a hard time right now.
164
Or also you guys who tell me you feel the same way
165
and you relate to the stuff I say in my videos.
166
Even though we all live different lives, I do think at our core, like most humans are all the same.
167
Although I was so physically tired today after yesterday's bender, a part of me felt refreshed.
168
Not because all my emotions and worries magically disappeared overnight, but I realized that this entire week I've been proving something to myself.
169
That I can keep showing up, getting dressed, and saying yes.
170
I can find little pockets of joy even though I don't feel great internally
171
and maybe that's what finding your spark actually is.
172
I don't think it's about trying to feel like your normal self again
173
or waiting for the burst of inspiration to hit you.
174
It's continuing to do the things that align with you.
175
It's about digging deeper into who you are as a person.
176
My whole life, I've been chasing other people's approval, wanting everyone to think highly of me
177
and maybe that's why I've lost my spark because I've been living my life for other people's eyes.
178
So instead of thinking about everything that was weighing me down, I asked myself a different question.
179
What would make today just 10% better?
180
Not how do I fix my life, but what would make today just a little more exciting?
181
Maybe it's wearing a different outfit that makes you feel pretty, trying a new coffee, taking the long way home.
182
Because finding your spark again doesn't come from you doing the same things you've always done, but it's from forward momentum, growing into a bigger and better person than you once were.
183
If you've been feeling off lately or unhappy with the way things are, remember that you always have the power in every situation.
184
No one can tell you how to feel or what to think.
185
You have complete autonomy over your life and I think that's the best news ever.
186
The person you were yesterday does not exist anymore, so stop trying to chase after her and welcome a new version of yourself every day.
📺 Same Channel
B22
10 HIGH MAINTENANCE beauty habits that will make you look LOW MAINTENANCE
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B24
How to stop GIVING UP on your routines and ACTUALLY stay consistent
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
25 things i wish i learned before 25.
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B19
how to have the BEST GLOW UP this summer | 10 it girl beauty + lifestyle tips
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
My simple BUT EFFECTIVE skincare routine!
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B23
why doesn’t life feel the same anymore?
American AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
5 healthy habits for a softer + stress‑free life
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
what i eat for GUT HEALTH & CLEAR SKIN | anti-inflammatory, simple meals
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B17
The Everyday Routine That Made Me Fall in Love With My Life Again
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B23
i stopped trying to have the perfect morning routine (and i've never been happier)
American AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
How to get back into a routine after falling off | realistic week living alone
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
How to INSTANTLY be more attractive (without saying a word)
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
the reason you always feel behind
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
23 Life Lessons I Learned the Hard Way (so you don’t have to)
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B27
“i don't have time to make content" | how I stay RIDICULOUSLY consistent on social media
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B114
"i'm bored but overstimulated" | 10 low effort hobbies to get off your phone
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B25
week in my life getting my sh*t together | mid-year declutter, organizing, apt finds
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B23
How to actually stop DOOMSCROLLING | end your social media addiction *for good*
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
cozy self-care diaries ⛅️ | key west vacay, beach days, & much needed recharge
American AccentTravel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B29
underrated things that will make you *extremely* attractive in 2026
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
✨ Recommend Video
B21
176 sentences
how to get your spark back | self-care, mindset & healthy habits
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
193 sentences
you could have everything you want if you stopped being afraid to be seen
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B25
179 sentences
What to do if you're feeling lost or stuck in life | Reflect, Reset, Realign
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
333 sentences
take your power back
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
423 sentences
Romanticize your life
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
106 sentences
Why I'm Always So Calm
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B27
109 sentences
I Work Out Every Day and It's Changing My Life
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
67 sentences
If You Want To Become Magnetic, Watch This!
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
137 sentences
The Art of Reinvention
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
105 sentences
the desire to be loved
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
196 sentences
How to win the season you’re currently in | BUILD with Leila Hormozi
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 186 sentences and 2469 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:33. The speaker talks fast, about 197 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 84% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| spark noun | /ˈspɑɹk/ | A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction. |
| emotion noun | /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/ | A person's internal state of being and involuntary physiological response to an object or a situation, based on or tied to physical state and sensory data. |
| refresh verb | /ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ/ | To renew or revitalize. |
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
| chase verb | /t͡ʃeɪs/ | To follow at speed. |
| capture verb | /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/ | To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem. |
| reflect verb | /ɹɪˈflɛkt/ | To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| syndrome noun | /ˈsɪndɹoʊm/ | A recognizable pattern of signs, symptoms and/or behaviours, especially of a disease or medical or psychological condition. |
| creator noun | /kɹiːˈeɪ̯təː/ | Something or someone which creates or makes something. |
| mentally adverb | /ˈmɛntəli/ | In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally. |
| attach verb | /əˈtæt͡ʃ/ | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| perceive verb | /pɚˈsiv/ | To become aware of, through the physical senses, to see; to understand. |
| distract verb | /dɪˈstɹækt/ | To divert the attention of. |
| subscriber noun | /səbˈskɹaɪbɚ/ | A person who subscribes to a publication or a service. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. |
| come over verb | To affect in a sudden, unprecedented or surprising manner; to overwhelm a person's ordinarily contrary impulse. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. |
| go around verb | To move or spread from person to person. |
| go away verb | To depart or leave a place. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 89 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: authentic /ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/, thunderstorm /ˈθʌn.dɚˌstɔɹm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, refresh /ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ/, capture /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, friendship /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/
- Long words — get the stress right: inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, simultaneously /ˌsaɪmlˈteɪnɪəsli/, momentum /ˌmə(ʊ)ˈmɛntəm/, temporarily /ˌtɛmpəˈɹɛɹəli/, considerably /kənˈsɪdəɹəbli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like spark, emotion, refresh.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been going · I've been capturing · i've been doing |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has done · I've received · have just never felt |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was filled · being surrounded · being said |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who you · people who are · guys who tell |
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.