Shadowing Practice: How to Speak Clearly Without Rambling! - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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If you clicked on this video,
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there's a high chance that you ramble and you lose your train of thought often when you're speaking to others,
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which can make you feel frustrated, self-conscious, and insecure.
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How do I know?
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It's something I used to do a lot.
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I want to share with you three lessons to help you unlock the three C's,
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to help you become more clear,
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more concise, and more coherent.
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This is what all great communicators do.
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Starting with nervousness.
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I've spent more than a decade speaking on stage
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and presenting to millions of people all around the world
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and nerves are one of the unexpected culprits that causes you to lose your train of thought
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and then start to ramble and it often happens in that exact sequence.
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So let's talk about nervousness,
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something that I know impacts all of us,
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even me still until this day.
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I can tell you one lesson that's going to completely change the way you show up
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and help you crush 90% of the nerves.
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One of the key reasons why we feel nervous is because we become extremely self-conscious We think,
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is the audience going to like what I'm going to say?
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Do they like the way my slides look?
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Do they like the way I look?
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Do they like the way I dress?
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Do they like my glasses?
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Do they like my hair?
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Do they like my watch?
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Do they like me, me,
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me, me, me, me, me?
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And the more you focus on you,
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naturally, the more self-conscious you become,
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naturally, the more nervous you're going to feel.
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So if you want to change that,
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don't become self-conscious, become audience-conscious.
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As you start to focus more of your attention on the audience,
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you have less cognitive capacity to focus on yourself.
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Therefore, if you're spending all of this brainpower thinking about the audience,
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you have no brainpower left to think about yourself,
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meaning you're no longer self-conscious,
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meaning you're no longer nervous.
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Let's go back to the three lessons.
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The second lesson when it comes to speaking clearly is rehearsal.
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And I recently flew from my hometown Adelaide,
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Australia to Melbourne, one of our rival cities.
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Adelaide is way cooler to run a three-day communication workshop
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and I was asked this very question we're discussing in this
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video right now How do I keep track of what I want to say
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because like you I speak very fast and I can ramble
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and then get into the waffle and then lose my train of thought.
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So there's multiple elements within that.
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There's how do I not lose track of what I'm going to say,
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how do I also not ramble.
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Two separate things has two separate solutions.
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So the first part is how do I not lose track of what I'm going to say.
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Now often how many of you fear that
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when you've got a presentation you're like ah what if forget what I'm going to say, what happens?
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The reason you feel that is most likely,
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most of you don't rehearse properly.
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You don't rehearse well.
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So I'll tell you how to rehearse,
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because most people what they do,
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the way they rehearse is they'll print out something and the way they rehearse is this is how they do it.
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So in front of a mirror generally,
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underwear preferable, and then they go there,
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because normally you're comfortable at home and then you just go,
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all right, just good morning everyone,
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it's really good to be here.
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Got it.
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I need you to understand that low levels of effort during rehearsal leads to low levels of retention.
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Higher levels of effort during rehearsal leads to higher levels of retention.
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So when you're rehearsing, to not forget what you're going to say,
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you need to rehearse with more energy.
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So when you're rehearsing, even if you're at home by yourself in your underwear,
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if you so choose to do that,
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Then you just go, hey, good morning everyone.
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Oh my goodness.
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So good to see all your lovely faces I can't wait for us to spend two days together, right?
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So as you're practicing that that's how you got a sound and that high level of effort
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It brings in muscle memory now and high levels of effort also makes it cognitively stick
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Most people rehearsing correctly that's step one I'm just gonna add
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on to what I was saying on stage there You also
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want to do what's known as table reads three to five table reads where you're sitting there
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reading your entire presentation from top to bottom with high levels of effort.
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Then from there, you turn your speech into dot points
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and you're going to be shocked because you'll remember more of your presentation than you've ever remembered before.
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Because it's not now just embedded in here,
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it's also embedded in here, in your body.
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And as we get to the final lesson,
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what are you doing, Peter?
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Why are you hiding behind the pole?
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It looks so, this is not even good B-roll.
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This is the- It's trying to be cinematic.
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That's not cinematic.
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That's bloody terrible.
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Listen, before we get to the final lesson,
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we're gonna be talking about communication frameworks.
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And this is a fascinating area of communication.
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We're gonna cover just briefly the three, two, one framework.
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But again, for those of you who are interested in going deeper with me,
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I've created a free two hour training session
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to help you learn how to take your thoughts
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and turn them into words so you can think faster and speak more clearly.
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And if you want access to that,
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just click the link below in the description.
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And seriously, what is that angle even?
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Oh my goodness, you know,
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Peter, that's illegal in some parts of the world.
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Move up, move up.
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All right, we're gonna jump back to me on stage as we briefly go through the 3-2-1 framework.
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Waffling, anyone else waffle?
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Me too, I love waffles and waffle too.
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So when it comes to waffling,
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a very simple framework that I use,
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some of you know this,
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some of you don't, very simple.
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Just use three, two, one.
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Three, two, one.
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Three steps, two types, one thing.
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Use that as a framework.
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What I mean by this is,
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when someone asks you a question,
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ask me a question about a topic, any topic you want.
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Okay.
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Best milkshake in town.
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Best milkshake in town oh,
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but there's so many things that make a great milkshake because it's also the consistency of the milk,
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but beyond the consistency of the milk is also the ice cream that they use.
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But it's also the temperature that you receive it at,
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because if it's too cold,
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it sticks together and it doesn't do anything because then you can't drink it and then it sucks as an experience.
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Size of straw, also really critical when you're thinking about milkshakes.
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I'm waffling.
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I'm waffling, right?
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And that's what tends to happen because someone gives you a topic,
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you freak out, you think you have to answer first immediately,
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and then you say everything you know about that topic.
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That equals waffling.
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So when you use this framework,
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it takes the waffle out of it.
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So you said best place or best thing about milkshakes,
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or you said milkshake, right?
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So I can say, listen,
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the one thing you have to know about the best milkshake is you get them in Adelaide, not Melbourne.
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Boom, clear, concise, coherent.
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The bit's done.
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You don't have to talk more than that.
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Or you can say, there are two types of milkshakes.
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There's the good type you get in Adelaide,
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and there's the type you get in Melbourne.
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Look, I love Melbourne, I just love Adelaide more.
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That's why we call it Radelade.
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Now you think we're bigger losers than we were.
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Now, you go three steps.
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You know, there are three steps to you being able to experience the best milkshake of your life.
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The first thing is to explore.
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Explore, give yourself the permission to explore lots of different flavors.
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The second step is to try different consistencies, right?
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Try the really loose one,
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then try the firm one.
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And then the last thing is you evolve your taste as a result.
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So again, it's a simple framework that when you feel like you're asked a question that feels complex,
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you can just revert to one of these.
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So I'll try one with you.
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Okay?
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So I'll try one with you.
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Sure.
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So I'll give you a random topic and then you pick one of these.
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Okay?
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I'll go with something common so it's not crazy.
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So I will go travel.
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The one thing about travel is to be really clear about what you want out of the experience.
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A round of applause.
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That's amazing.
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That's incredible, right?
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So can you see how once you have the framework,
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then you're able just to immediately go to the framework.
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Otherwise, when we leave it to our own brain,
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The brain goes I know lots of things about milkshake.
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There's four different stores Should I tell you about all four maybe I shouldn't tell you
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and then you just now you're waffling Frameworks help.
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Perfect.
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Thank you so much.
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It was awesome round of applause for Marissa.
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Thank you Marissa And how about we give this guy a round of applause?
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No, that would be weird.
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That would be way too weird,
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but it's not as weird as this guy.
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What are you doing now?
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This is this is too close.
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Trust me man.
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This is cinematic.
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The audience is gonna love it.
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Trust me, bro I don't know if I trust him,
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but you know what I do trust I trust communication frameworks
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If you do want to dive deeper into learning more about
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frameworks join me for the free two-hour training I got linked right down in the description below
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so click that come learn with me It's going to help you be able to think faster
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and speak more clearly so you can avoid rambling

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Context & Background

In the quest for effective communication, many language learners find themselves struggling with clarity and coherence. The speaker of the video, a seasoned communicator with over a decade of experience, addresses a common issue: rambling while speaking. This problem often stems from feelings of nervousness and self-consciousness. By sharing insights and techniques to overcome these challenges, the speaker aims to empower individuals to transform their communication skills, making them more clear, concise, and coherent. Understanding these principles not only enriches one’s English speaking practice but also builds confidence in social interactions.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "How do I keep track of what I want to say?" - A reflective question that encourages awareness of one's speaking patterns.
  • "Focus on the audience, not yourself." - A mantra to combat self-consciousness and build engagement.
  • "Nerves are one of the unexpected culprits." - Highlighting the commonality of nervousness in speaking situations.
  • "Become audience-conscious." - A powerful shift in perspective that aids clarity.
  • "Rehearsal helps you stay on track." - Emphasizing the importance of preparation in effective communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English pronunciation and overcome the tendency to ramble, utilizing a shadowing technique can be remarkably beneficial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to tackle the difficulty presented in the video:

  1. Choose a Segment: Start by selecting a short segment from the video. It could be a specific lesson or a phrase you would like to master.
  2. Listen Actively: Play the segment and listen attentively. Pay close attention to the speaker’s intonation, pacing, and clarity.
  3. Break It Down: Write down key phrases or sections that resonate with you. This will help you focus during your practice.
  4. Imitate: Play the segment again and try to mimic the speaker's tone and rhythm. This practice will help you improve English pronunciation through repetition.
  5. Record Yourself: After several attempts, record yourself speaking the same phrases. Play it back and compare it to the original. This step helps identify areas for improvement.
  6. Practice Regularly: Integrate this shadowing exercise into your daily routine. Consistent practice will enhance your fluency and confidence in English speaking.

By applying these techniques, you can become more aware of your speaking habits, ultimately leading to a clearer and more engaging communication style. Use this learning journey as an opportunity to learn English with YouTube, and embrace the transformative power of shadowing for effective language acquisition!

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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