Shadowing Practice: I Disguised Myself As A Boy To Survive The Royal Academy | Easy English Listening Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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On a stormy night with wind howling and rain pouring down.
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Huh?
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Egbert?
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What happened to you?
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Who didn't see you, Egbert?
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Sister, father, please don't make me go back to that academy.
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I'm...
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I'm scared.
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Tell me!
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I swear I'll make them pay for this!
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That's enough!
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Guards, bring the young master inside.
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As for Lady Era, lock her in a room.
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By the dim candlelight, Era found herself imprisoned in the domestic arts room, forced to embroider, cook soup,
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and learn how to smile sweetly.
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The Killian family had once been a renowned warrior lineage,
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Back when Lord Andbert was still strong enough to wield the family's ancestral sword and shield.
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After a brutal campaign, he was gravely injured.
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With no choice, he passed the two sacred relics to his only son, Egbert.
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Huh?
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Out of the way!
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Leave him!
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It's time he grew strong enough to carry this family's legacy.
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Huh
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Egbert had always been teased for looking like a girl too fragile to even lift a weapon
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Meanwhile his twin sister Ira Gillian had shown outstanding talent in combat since childhood Egbert you can do it.
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I believe in you I'm so useless.
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I'll never be as capable as you this kingdom favors men girls Don't say that!
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We each have our own strengths.
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You're a genius in medicine, remember?
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At age 18, despite his reluctance, Egbert was forced to attend the Royal Academy.
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And everything that happened at the beginning of the story was the result of their first semester at the Academy.
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On the day Egbert had to return to the Royal Academy, the rain still hadn't stopped.
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Let me come with them for part of the way.
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You two better not bring shame to this family.
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I have no other choice left.
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When they were just a few miles from the Academy gates, a gang of bandits suddenly ambushed them from the forest.
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Swords and spears clashed, screams all through the rain.
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Despite his best efforts, Lord Anbert, still weakened by an old wound, was quickly struck down and collapsed in the mud.
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Father!
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spinning blade without hesitation era threw herself in front of her
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brother to shield him in a split second of stun silence
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era gripped the sword's hilt it fit perfectly as though it
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had been made for her you you summon the killian blade era stood tall unyielding and braver than ever.
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Father, let me take Egbert's place in the academy.
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Under a transfer spell, the family's sword mark passed from her brother to Ira.
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Her eyes gleamed with determination.
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Egbert, keep the shield.
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They'll both protect his family in our own ways.
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This is a potion I've been working on for three years.
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You might need it someday.
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They hugged each other, each about to take a separate path, as if fate itself had destined the twins to part ways.
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The road ahead was anything but easy.
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Even though she had braced herself for it, Iris still found it difficult to adapt.
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Before this, Egbert had been bullied for being too fragile and weak compared to the other boys.
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But now, all the teasing, harassment and attacks were aimed at him, and even more brutally, because she was a girl.
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Well, well, pretty quick on your feet, huh?
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Already better than your coward of a brother.
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So it was you!
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Enough!
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Erechillian, minus one point for causing trouble.
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But it was clearly him!
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No boss, you'll stay behind and clean this entire hallway before returning to the dormitory.
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You know why, don't you?
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Like any teacher would dare mess with the heir of the Queen Mother's family. So naive!
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In that moment, Mira knew this was only the beginning of her trouble.
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Training equipment would mysteriously be damaged, yet instructors turned a blind eye and made no effort to find the culprit.
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During a forest trial, her entire team abandoned her, forcing her to survive alone in dangerous terrain.
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
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Eheheheh!
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And when a valuable antique belonging to the headmaster was found broken near her room, no matter how much she tried to exploit,
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Ira still ended up being disciplined.
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But unlike what Basil and his gang expected, Ira did not break.
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She didn't complain, she didn't grrrrrrrr!
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She simply gritted her teeth and endured it all!
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When her efforts paid off, Ira's performance outshone the male students in the academy.
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Physically, she wasn't any weaker.
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Basil wasn't done yet.
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During the paired sword practice, he secretly changed the schedule and bribed Ira's assigned partner just to get paired with her.
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This time, unlike before, Basil didn't hold back.
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He attacked with full force, no longer caring about appearances.
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Even though Ira had excellent technique, her body lacked the stamina to withstand Basil's relentless strikes, as forceful as crashing waves.
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Huh?
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Within minutes she was knocked down, her sword slipping from her hand.
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Ha!
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Is that all you've got?
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I may have lost today, but it won't be forever.
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I'll get my revenge at the upcoming royal hunt.
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Oh, I'm looking forward to it.
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Everyone knew Basil was a scumbag, but no one could deny him.
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He was also a skilled warrior.
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At the end of the year royal hunt, Basil quickly took the lead with his unmatched archery skills.
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Ira entered the forest with full confidence in her own marksmanship, until she discovered that all her arrows had been talented with.
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There's no time to go back for replacements.
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What if I...
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She removed the string from her belt, tied it around three arrows and fired in three directions.
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The string coiled mid-air, forming a live trap that captured wild beasts without harming them.
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Rather than killing, she cleverly captured her targets, a strategy no one else had thought of.
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On the leaderboard, Ira tied with Basil.
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The headmaster was about to declare a draw when...
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Wait, look closely at my final prey!
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He dragged out a wounded female wolf he had hidden.
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Basil knew wolves mated for life.
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If the male sensed its mate in danger, it would go berserk.
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The most important thing was to surpass Eera and claim victory in the hunt.
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A thunderous growl flowed.
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A grey blur burst out from the depths of the forest.
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A male wolf.
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It charged forward in a frenzy, attacking anything in its path.
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At first Basil stood his ground with confidence.
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But in seconds, as the male wolf lunged like a tempest, his sword snapped in half.
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The wolf didn't stop.
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Bloodthirsty and wild, it barrelled toward Basil again.
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I...
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I don't want the She-Wolf anymore!
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Get back!
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Stay away!
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In that razor-thin moment between life and death, Ira didn't hesitate.
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She summoned the Killian sword.
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It exploded, the blade sharp enough to slice the very air.
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One single slash sent a powerful gust that knocked the male wolf back, buying just a few precious seconds.
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Ira had no desire to harm the beast.
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She rushed to the injured sea wolf's side and pulled out a vial Egbert had given her.
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The only hope left.
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One drop, two drops, the whole vial emptied.
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The she-wolf flinched, then slowly breathed again.
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She staggered to her mate's side.
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The pair turned back, gave Ira a slow graceful knock, then disappeared into the woods.
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Basil began to stir, saved by the very person he'd once scorned.
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Why did you save me?
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I only did what a true member of House Killian is meant to do. That sword?
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You could summon it?
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Then why didn't you use it when I bullied you before?
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The Killian sword wasn't made to punish childish tantrums like yours.
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Haha, the little scuffle already hurt? So weak!
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Ira received the highest honor from the king, standing proudly before the entire academy.
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Surely that's not all.
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Come now, tell me, what reward would you like in return?
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Your Majesty, I ask for nothing, except that my brother, Egbert Killian, be admitted to the Kingdom's finest medical academy.
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The hall fell silent, and then came the sound of thunderous applause.
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In the years that followed, Nira became the first female captain in the Kingdom's history.
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Brave, honorable, and gifted.
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As for Egbert, in a heartfelt letter to his sister,
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he thanked Ira for stepping into the storm and helping them both live as their true selves.
Context & Background
This engaging narrative unfolds on a stormy night, setting a dramatic backdrop for the characters involved, particularly Egbert and his sister, Era. Faced with the challenge of attending the prestigious Royal Academy, Egbert grapples with fear and doubts about his abilities. The story emphasizes themes of courage, familial loyalty, and the struggle against societal expectations, as Era bravely volunteers to take her brother's place at the academy. This context not only provides gripping content but also serves as a rich resource for English learners to engage with diverse vocabulary and expressions.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Please don’t make me go back” - A plea expressing fear or reluctance.
- “I swear I’ll make them pay for this” - A strong declaration of intent, often used when feeling wronged.
- “You can do it, I believe in you” - A supportive phrase to encourage someone.
- “Stay strong and carry our legacy” - A motivational reminder of familial responsibilities.
- “Let me take your place” - A selfless offer to step in for someone else in need.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
If you want to effectively use this video for your IELTS speaking practice and to learn English with YouTube, consider applying the shadowing technique. Here’s how:
- Select a Short Clip: Choose a brief segment of the video, around 1–2 minutes, focusing on a scene with relatable dialogue.
- Listen Intently: Play the segment and listen for tone, pace, and pronunciation. Make notes on any new vocabulary.
- Repeat After the Speaker: Pause the video after each sentence or phrase. Imitate the speaker's intonation and pronunciation to practice your speaking skills.
- Record Yourself: Use a voice recorder to capture your attempts. Compare your pronunciation and rhythm to that of the original speaker.
- Practice Regularly: Incorporate this shadowing technique into your routine. Consistent practice will improve your fluency and confidence in speaking.
By engaging with the content through these strategies, you can effectively utilize the video for dynamic shadowspeak practice, elevating both your listening comprehension and speaking abilities. Dive into the storytelling and let the emotions guide your learning journey!
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.