Shadowing Practice: I Played the First Ever Fan Controlled Baseball Game - Learn English Speaking with Video
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337 sentences
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What would you do in this situation?
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A, walk to first base, or B, charge the mound.
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Today, I'm letting 15 ,000 strangers make that decision as they coach me in a real professional baseball game.
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Last time I played professionally, this happened.
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The one, two, is in there, called third strike.
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Dude, that was nasty.
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And I did everything to prepare for that moment.
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Professional coaches, YouTube tutorials, I even tried asking my dog for help.
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Bro, that was a horrible swing.
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But nothing seems to work, so I've reached my last resort, the internet.
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Today, strangers will decide what position I play, what bat I use, if I steal, and every other decision I make.
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Whatever gets the most votes, I have to do, no matter how stupid or dangerous it is.
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I'm about to find out if 15 ,000 strangers are my solution,
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or if they'll embarrass me in front of thousands of fans and make the wrong decision.
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Obviously, before the game starts, I have to get warmed up.
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So I asked my Instagram following 15 ,623 people what I should do to get warmed up, and they said, hit BP.
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Throughout the day, I'll be asking my Instagram followers, random fans, and even going live to get tips from strangers in real time.
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But for now, it's time to lock in.
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That's not going to do it.
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So during my pregame warm -up, I was honestly feeling kind of nervous.
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Our opponents are the Portland Pickles.
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Oh, the Portland Pickles.
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That one guy's like seven feet tall.
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I genuinely might not make it out alive.
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And so, my fate lies in the hands of random strangers on the internet.
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And my team, the YouTube Melonheads, have lost to the Portland Pickles three years in a row.
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Uh, that's right.
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We're that bad.
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But this year, our team is stacked.
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So it is of utmost importance that we bring home the W and don't screw it up for our team.
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I'm batting second in the lineup.
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I think it's time to ask the people a very important question.
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What bat should I use?
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all right boys i'm not gonna lie i'm a little nervous
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i'm up next the people told me to use the pablo bad
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i don't think it's legal here i think it's wood only
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but you know what i don't care it's loud too so
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if i hit this it's gonna be rough all right here we go i'm up boys wish me luck
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but before i walked up to the plate
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i had to consult my instagram coaches once again for some more advice should i bribe the umpire
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i mean it could be smart uh
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i could also get thrown out of the game oh
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i guess i don't have a choice anymore how's
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it going guys good you home plate i am fine it was at this moment
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that he knew that's not
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that much i'm bad hey no this is all
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you need no no no no i'm gonna put this right here put
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that right i'm batting second just remember
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that first pitch strike don't worry all right so now
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that the umpires are paid off
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and i'm using an illegal bat
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i had just one more question before stepping up to the plate what should my approach be
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that two dollar bill that two dollar bill remember
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that uh -huh you think this this bat's legal i love
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it yeah sick yeah two away for lap bros all right approach i'm hacking i'm taking
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Let's get a big hack, right here, also a mascot's pitching.
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I don't know what's going on right now.
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What?
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Dylan kicks some of the dirt off the rubber.
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Looks in for a sign, has it.
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Winding the 1 -0 on the way.
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Oh.
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Oh.
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Dang.
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That was a big hack, though.
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Dylan has his sign, the 1 -1.
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I didn't go thank you
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that was the two dollars there the two dollars came in clutch about disagrees with
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that video kind of disagrees with that too
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but moving on why did the 2 -1 that one high fly ball out to right field ah
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it was kind of nasty wasn't it yeah
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that was a wood bat by the way definitely legal
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it was a wood bat i took a big hack big hack
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but just came up short i'm not even going to blame
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that on my followers that was on me okay
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so honestly we were not off to a great start
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but don't worry because later in the game the unthinkable happened let's go let's go
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But for now, I had to ask the people, what position should I play?
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Wait, what's happening?
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Are they really going to make me play left bench?
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Oh my gosh, you've got to be kidding me.
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I guess I'm sitting here for the inning.
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You know what?
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I'll take that.
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After that pop fly to right field, I think I deserve to sit here.
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Just under it.
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So as I was sitting on the bench, our pitcher Tosh was absolutely dealing.
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Pitch on the way.
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Swung on and missed.
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The game remained scoreless into the bottom of the second inning where a mascot got hit by Pitch.
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Runner goes, Pitch on.
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Whoa!
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And then the Pickles hit an RBI single to make the score 1 -0.
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Fast forward to the top of the fifth inning where the score was now 2 -0 Pickles.
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I was getting pretty bored on the bench, so I decided to take a risk and ask a pretty big question.
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Should I pitch?
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Uh, hopefully I don't blow the game wide open.
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my followers decided
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that i need to pitch i haven't pitched in a long time probably since high school
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and even then i was throwing like 63 miles an hour we'll see
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if i come out of this a lot boys that's not good
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that's not good i think we need to ask the people what my pitching approach should be
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because i don't know what i'm doing up here i need coaching what's my pitching
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Let's go boys.
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It's time.
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It's time for our pitching debut.
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Welcome in, friends.
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We believe that
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Slap Bros out there on the mound for the Melonheads.
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You told me to do it.
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Wait, what's this?
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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I ran a poll on Instagram and the people said that I should cheat.
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That might be the first time I've seen a pitcher come out with bat spray on it.
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Really? For some?
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The bat spray in the bat pocket?
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Yeah, for some for everything.
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Guys, the umpire knows.
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But will he say anything about it?
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I don't think anybody saw that.
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Oh, that's sticky.
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Jeremiah Coughlin at the plate for the All -Stars.
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First pitch to Jeremiah.
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Yeah, dude.
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I paid off that umpire.
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I don't know who's batting right now some random guy back to the fastball the sticky stuff is doing too much
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how did he hit that dude ah full count lap rose looks for a sign he has it pay off pitch
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how's he hitting that 3 -2 on the way once more, this is ball four, Jerebio.
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Dude, I walked that guy.
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I walked the random guy.
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Who are they sending me right now?
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The plan is, paint the corners.
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That's what y 'all wanted me to do, so that's what I'm going to do.
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First pitch to the Rally Gator.
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Here we go.
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A strike, 0 -1.
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So with some help from my defense, all I needed to do was put away the alligator standing at the plate.
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The one, two, swung on and missed.
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Got him.
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The Rally Gator down on strikes.
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Two outs.
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I've honestly didn't think I would be here but we got two outs.
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I had a random guy and then I had a mascot
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but this is a real player so this is going to be the test boys.
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Pitch to Carter Riley, swung on and missed.
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That might be the best pitch I've ever thrown, I'm not going to lie.
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I don't know if I want to go fastball here.
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He's definitely going to hit the fastball.
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I knew he would hit that after a hard hit single to put a man on first base this happened
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that's not good that's not good that was a bad pitch
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and with a man now on first
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and second I think I was starting to cave under pressure because I walked the next guy 3 -2
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Oh, and inside, ball four
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Bases loaded I got a guy that's hot, so get this guy out
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Alright, let me get one more
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Yeah, let's go I was trying to stay true to my coaching advice of painting the corners
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But I think that backfired
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Because I walked him
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And so I only went two -thirds of an inning
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Walked in one run
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And honestly was feeling like I let down the team game.
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Hey, not what you wanted to see, but we still got a lot of game left.
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The Pickles are only up 3 -0.
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There's still hope.
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But my teammate came in clutch and struck out the next guy with this nasty curveball to end the inning.
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Watches that pitch curve in a cold strike and he knew it.
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Yes!
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Yes!
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Yes!
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Let's go, bro.
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Hey, thanks, bro.
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I appreciate that.
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Dude.
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Hey, that could have been way worse.
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So far, strangers on the internet have not been the best coaches.
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I've gone 0 for 1, had a rough outing on the mound, and our team was losing 3 to 0.
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I desperately wanted to get my team back at the game, so I tried a new tactic.
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Instead of asking my Instagram followers, I was going to ask random strangers in the stands.
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What's up, bro?
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Can you help me out real quick?
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I'm up to bat soon.
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Which bat should I use?
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We've got the high fire, we've got a wooden bat right here, and we've got the Pablo bat.
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High fire?
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Good choice, bro.
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Let's go.
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So now that I've got my bat secured, I needed to ask another fan which batting gloves to use for my next at -bat.
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You need the patriotic red, white, and blue.
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Let's go, my man.
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That's a good pick right there.
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Let's go.
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That's what we're wearing for you.
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So with one out, men on first and second, an illegal baseball bat in my hand once again,
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this was the moment I had been waiting for.
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So lap bros at the plate, runners on at first and second.
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A tank here would be great, right?
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Oh, go, go, go, go.
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stop throw down to third let's go dude we need to run here this could be perfect
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a one oh swung on and hit up the middle that's going to get into the field for a base hit
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oh let's go let's go let's go let's go let's go let's go that'll drive in one Let's go.
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Let's go, baby.
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Heck yeah, dude.
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Boys, we did it.
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We got our team into this game.
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And it was all because of the strangers coaching my every move.
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But let's hope these internet strangers don't screw it up for me later in the game.
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Because remember, whatever they tell me to do, I have to do.
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Anyways, now that I'm on base, I threw up another Instagram poll to ask a question
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that might have a huge impact on the rest of the inning should i steal uh it's kind of risky
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but it could work little p on at third that bros on at first
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let's go let's go baby we're making something happen the coaching is actually working
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so we now have ourselves a one run ball game guys did we just manufacture a run
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i think we need to break down this play the catcher saw me steal
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and went to grab the ball out of his glove throwing
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it behind him allowing us to score a second run finally my instagram followers were starting to come in clutch
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this is the ideal situation it's three to two right now we could win this game
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Still one to Selmacher, up the middle and into center field for a base hit, round in the bag at third,
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headed home, lap bros to throw to home, not in time!
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Let's go, let's go baby!
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That's tied, tied up, tied up baby!
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Let's go dude!
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Mellon heads up tied it up here in the top of the sixth!
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I'm so tired, I just ran so hard, I probably should have slid but I had too many mics in my pocket.
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I can't breathe at first.
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I wasn't sure if this tactic would work, but here we are.
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It's three to three I just made something happen for the team
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And I think it was because of the strangers coaching me.
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We then tacked on another run to take the lead
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Oh one Swung on that is solidly struck out to left field coming in
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but bouncing right in front of the left fielder the throw to the plate not
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Gonna be in time and just like that the melon heads have taken the lead
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We were going out to play defense in the seventh inning, and I decided to go live on TikTok.
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Strangers on the internet have helped me play a solid professional baseball game,
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but now let's see if they can carry me and my team to a victory.
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All right, boys, we're going live.
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Here we go.
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Boys, I need your guys' help.
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Coach me.
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I'm at second base.
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How do I play second base?
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MR Wiffle said shift.
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All right, I'm shifting.
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Oh, what a play.
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Oh, my goodness.
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What a dime of a play.
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I need to make a play here on TikTok Live.
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That would be incredible.
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Pitch on the way.
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Oh, no. Oh, no, dude.
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Oh, my God.
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Dude, the melon heads are showing up tonight.
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All right, so during my little TikTok live stream, the Pickles took the lead by one run.
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We needed to get out of this inning to stand a chance at winning the game.
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oh that's you let's go hey
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we got an out all right y 'all thanks for watching the live uh the coaching was great
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i'm gonna go play the rest of the game
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it was a close game coming down to the last two innings
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and i was getting nervous
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so i needed something to distract myself should i prank my teammate
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we're about to conduct the greatest baseball prank known to man we've got some matches and take the old hot foot
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we've got to get tosh bro I'll get out of the way.
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He doesn't suspect a thing.
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Oh, no. Oh, hey, I got him.
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Dude, what an epic failure, bro.
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Well, it seems as though things took a turn.
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The prank failed, our team was losing, and we only had two more innings left in the game.
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But I had a brilliant idea that I brought to my internet coaches.
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Should I play for the other team?
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uh guys we're losing uh it's five to four i don't want to be on the losing team so
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i'm gonna go try to play for the other team hey yo can i join the team
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yeah let's make it happen
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i don't want to be on the losing side let's go bro
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it's good to be on the winning squad these guys suck dude
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so i got suited up with my new pickles jersey and walked to the on -deck circle.
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I'm about to hit for the Portland Pickles, the enemy at the beginning of this game, which is now my team.
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It was at this moment I had a feeling that my team was not happy with me switching sides,
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so I had to be prepared for anything.
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If he hits me, should I charge the mound?
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Uh -oh.
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This could get ugly.
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So I walked up to the plate for the opposing team, and this happened you guys suck hey good luck oh psych
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so runners at first and second one down runner goes and an hbp
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he just took that punch like a man i just punched him square in the face i actually punched him
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Uh, if you didn't see that.
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Okay, let's address the elephant in the room.
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I clearly didn't punch him in the face.
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But I did feel kind of bad for fake punching my own teammate, so I decided to ask my coach if they would have me back.
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Adam, uh, I know I just played for the pickles.
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I, uh, I switched sides for a little bit, but will you welcome me back to the Melonheads?
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Uh, yes, I forgive you, and, um, and I need you to hit a double next inning.
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A double?
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This inning, we gotta win this inning.
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I got you.
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This is to win the game, by the way.
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What a good man i'm back on the melon heads i gotta go get my jersey
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so it was the top of the ninth we were down by one run
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and desperately needed to score strangers on the internet had brought me this far in the game
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and i had just one more at bat to see if they could carry me just a little farther
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should i hit a homer to take the lead uh i think this one's a pretty obvious answer so lap rose
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Rose to the plate, tying run on at first.
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Gitz trying to preserve the win.
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Pitch on the way, in first try.
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Just had to see one.
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Swinging for the fences here.
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Gitz looks in at Rose, has his sign, comes set.
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Oh, oh.
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Oh.
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Back.
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Come on.
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Oh, and two, the count on lap, Rose.
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it stares in as his sign comes set
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back to back hbps well i got hit
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and even though i couldn't do it for my team
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we somehow squeezed out a run to tie the game going
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into the bottom of the ninth inning tosh semlicher to the plate
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Aiming the balance right here.
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The 1 -0.
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Little number on the infield.
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That's going to be huge trouble.
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No play run comes in, and we are tied.
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Dude, we tied it.
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We tied it, baby.
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All the random strangers coaching me in this game, it's boiling up to this moment right here.
323
0 -2, swung on and missed.
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To the bottom of the ninth we go, all tied at five.
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But as fate would have it, the Pickles walked it off to take the W.
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That's game.
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We almost had them, boys.
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And even though we lost the game, I think the statistics prove that internet strangers coaching me in a real game actually worked.
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Well, kind of.
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Final score, 5 -6.
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Pickles win.
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It was a good game.
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Big shout -out to you guys for being my coaches for the day.
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15 ,623 people.
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I love all of you guys.
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So we'll see you in the next one.
337
Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “I Played the First Ever Fan Controlled Baseball Game”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: bat, pitch, inning, strangers, bro. This video has 337 sentences and 3188 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:05. The speaker talks at a natural 151 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pitch noun | /pɪt͡ʃ/ | A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand. |
| stranger noun | /ˈstɹeɪnd͡ʒɚ/ | A person whom one does not know; a person who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance. |
| swing verb | /ˈswɪŋ/ | To rotate about an off-centre fixed point. |
| punch noun | /pʌnt͡ʃ/ | A hit or strike with one's fist. |
| follower noun | /ˈfɒləʊə(ɹ)/ | One who follows, comes after another. |
| runner noun | /ˈɹʌnɚ/ | A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete. |
| mound noun | /maʊnd/ | An artificial hill or elevation of earth; a raised bank; an embankment thrown up for defense |
| steal verb | /stiːl/ | To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it. |
| bench noun | /ˈbɛnt͡ʃ/ | A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools. |
| nasty adjective | /ˈnæs.ti/ | Dirty, filthy. |
| ninth adjective | /naɪnθ/ | The ordinal form of the number nine. |
| clutch noun | /ˈklʌt͡ʃ/ | The claw of a predatory animal or bird. |
| teammate noun | /ˈtiːmˌmeɪt/ | One who is on the same team. |
| prank noun | /pɹæŋk/ | A practical joke or mischievous trick. |
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pay off verb | To bribe, especially to deter oversight. | |
| warm up verb | /ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/ | To become warmer. |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. | |
| tie up verb | To secure with rope, string, etc. | |
| break down verb | To stop functioning. | |
| come down to verb | To reach by moving down or reducing. | |
| come out with verb | To say (something) unexpectedly. | |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What would you do in this situation?
- What bat should I use?
- Who are they sending me right now?
- Can you help me out real quick?
- Which bat should I use?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've reached · have lost · haven't pitched |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is stacked · are paid · was put |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was sitting · was getting · was throwing |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should do · should I use · should i bribe |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 85 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: ninth /naɪnθ/, sixth /sɪksθ/, breathe /bɹiːð/, seventh /ˈsɛvənθ/, unthinkable /ʌnˈθɪŋkəbəl/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shout /ʃaʊt/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, tosh /tɑʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: desperately /ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹət.li/, psychology /saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/, patriotic /peɪ.tɹiˈɑ.tɪk/, alligator /ˈæl.ɪ.ɡeɪ.tɚ/
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 pitch, stranger, swing.
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.