Shadowing Practice: I Taught A Billionaire To Live A Normal Life - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

258 sentences

If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.

Hi, I'm Ivy from California, and I love making lists.

To -do lists, shopping lists, lists of my strengths and weaknesses, and my life goals.

And my number one life goal is to become a veterinarian.

But before I continue, please like and subscribe because if you do, a songbird might land on your window and sing to you.

I love animals.

When I was seven, I went to the zoo and saw this pretty cat locked up in a cage.

Mom, it looks so sad.

Honey, don't get too close.

I snatched the keys off the zookeeper's belt and let the cat out.

I was banned from the zoo after that.

Another time, I invited a stray cat and dog into our house.

They got so excited that they scratched up the curtains, the walls, and the furniture.

My brother's face swelled up like a tomato because he was allergic.

When I was 15, I was outside the grocery store and this woman came up to me.

Save the whales!

Excuse me, have you ever considered being an actor?

The camera would love you, and you can make a ton of money.

My parents appeared out of nowhere with these huge smiles on their faces.

Apparently, the woman was a famous agent who had discovered a ton of young movie stars.

Ivy, this is a once -in -a -lifetime opportunity.

But I don't want to be an actor.

I want to be a vet.

The extra money you'd make could help the family and pay for veterinary school.

I didn't want to take up acting but looking at mom

and dad and the fact that this money could really help us out, I reluctantly agreed.

The next day, I signed a contract with the agent.

Soon, I was auditioning every day.

I booked small roles in TV shows and a few movies.

In the 11th grade, I auditioned at a big Hollywood studio for a role in a movie opposite this teenage heartthrob, Roman.

I arrived at the audition with cat hair all over my clothes, and I smelled a little funny from volunteering at the animal shelter.

I stopped in the bathroom to clean up and ran into Becky, the meanest girl in school.

She was also auditioning for the role and was equally shocked to see me there.

What are you doing here?

I'm auditioning?

You'll never get this part.

They don't want a weirdo like you.

We'll see about that.

I auditioned, then went to the park to feed the birds.

One of them dropped a little surprise on my head.

It just meant that he liked me.

The next morning in school, Becky He stormed up to me screaming like a lunatic.

You cheated.

You bribed someone.

I know you did.

There's no way you could beat me to the part.

Thankfully, one of the teachers was around and grabbed Becky before she could attack me.

Just then my phone rang, and it was my agent, confirming that I got the part.

When Mom and Dad heard, they were over the moon.

But I was still not as happy.

A week later, I was on set and heard a commotion.

I turned to see Roman yelling at one of the assistants.

I said decaf, you idiot.

An hour later, he shouted at the writer.

This dialogue is horrible.

Change it now.

The next day, he was even worse.

Roman and I were shooting a scene where we were playing with the cutest little puppy.

The puppy jumped up and licked Roman in the face.

Get that thing out of here.

It was bad enough that Roman bullied the crew.

But to scare an innocent little puppy was going too far.

You're a big, fat jerk.

I'm not fat.

How dare you?

Do you know who I am?

You're a spoiled brat, your acting sucks, and your movies stink.

You can't talk to me like that.

I already did, and you know what?

I quit.

I'd rather get stung by a jellyfish than spend another second with you.

My agent called me a dozen times, but I didn't answer.

Roman wasn't the first spoiled actor I'd dealt with on set, but he was going to be the last.

I was done with acting.

A few days later, a sound woke me up in the middle of the night.

Ouch.

I charged at the intruder and knocked him to the ground.

And then I saw his face.

What are you doing here?

I wanted to talk to you.

Ever heard of a phone?

Did you mean the things you said about me?

Every last word.

Then Roman sat on my bed and looked up at me with the cutest puppy dog eyes.

No one ever tells me the truth.

Everyone says I'm such a great actor, and they expect me to be perfect.

But I'm not.

That's why my last few movies failed, and I just got bitter.

I'm really sorry for being mean, but I really just want to do a good job.

You're playing a poor teenage boy in high school.

It's not that difficult.

It's difficult for me.

I've never been to a high school, and I'm definitely not poor.

So I was hoping you could do me a favor.

What favor?

I want to go to school with you, and I want to live like a normal teenager.

I'm not sure how you're going to manage that.

Your face is everywhere.

Then Roman opened his backpack.

He pulled out a wig and a makeup bag then turned his back to me.

100

Ten seconds later when he turned around, he looked like a totally different person.

101

Call me Rob.

102

My manager enrolled me in your high school under my new name.

103

I can stay here in your house, and when we get to school, you can teach me how to be a normal teenager.

104

Why do you want to stay at my house when you can easily afford another mansion?

105

Let's just say, I want to get the feel of everything, without my riches and comfort.

106

And your house is perfect.

107

You want to go to vet school and open an animal shelter, right?

108

Uh -huh.

109

But what's that got to do with this?

110

You do this for me, and I'll give you a million dollars, making all your dreams come true.

111

At that moment, I saw my future flash before my eyes.

112

I couldn't say no. Roman slept on my bedroom floor that night.

113

I was sound asleep when music started blasting at 5 a .m in the morning.

114

Roman and his personal trainer were working out in the middle of my room.

115

What are you doing?

116

You'll wake my parents.

117

And how did he come in?

118

The same way I did.

119

I turned off the music and shoved Roman and his trainer out of my window.

120

Honey, what's going on in there?

121

Just getting into shape, Dad.

122

Later that morning when I went downstairs, I got the shock of my life.

123

Honey, you never told us you had a boyfriend.

124

What boyfriend?

125

Then Roman turned around with an apron and a plate full of pancakes.

126

And he's such a great cook.

127

I grabbed Roman's hand and dragged him out the door.

128

Why would you tell my parents that you're my boyfriend?

129

It's perfect, right?

130

Now I can hang out at your house at any time without causing suspicion.

131

That was not part of the deal.

132

Well, what's your plan?

133

If I'm not your boyfriend, then what am I?

134

We're just friends, genius.

135

I've never been friends with a girl before.

136

The truth is, I never really had any friends either, girls or boys.

137

And I certainly never, ever had a boyfriend, but I wasn't going to admit that to Roman.

138

We went to school, and somehow, Roman was in every one of my classes, and he always sat in the seat behind me.

139

Whenever he wasn't staring at me, he was mimicking me.

140

He slouched in his seat like me, chewed his pencil like me, and even tried walking like me.

141

Stop copying me.

142

People are staring.

143

Oh, sorry.

144

What am I supposed to do?

145

Homework?

146

I already finished it.

147

Roman showed me his notebook.

148

He'd completed our math homework and half the upcoming assignments in the book.

149

How'd you do that so fast?

150

I had a tutor who was pretty intense.

151

I learned this stuff a couple of years ago.

152

I was horrible at math.

153

It was my worst subject.

154

If you need my help, just say so.

155

I really don't mind.

156

Afterwards, you can show me what normal kids do for fun.

157

Yeah, I guess.

158

Roman helped me finish my homework, and then I took him to the beach to surf, To a pizza shop, to the arcade, and to the animal shelter.

159

I showed him the dogs that were up for adoption, and he freaked out.

160

What's the matter?

161

Dogs don't like me.

162

That's not true.

163

I took Roman's hand and introduced him to Mr. Buttercup, the sweetest dog at the shelter.

164

Roman pet him, and they ended up becoming best of friends.

165

As time went on, I got used to hanging out with Roman.

166

We hung out at school and at home, and we sometimes talked all night.

167

As I got to know him, he was actually pretty cool, and he didn't think I was weird because I loved animals so much.

168

One night we were hanging out on the roof of my house, watching the stars.

169

That's the Big Dipper, and that's Orion the Hunter.

170

It's special.

171

It reminds me of you.

172

How?

173

Orion only comes out during certain seasons, just like you.

174

I still don't follow.

175

There's something different about you when you're with animals.

176

You shine.

177

There's a bright light within you, and I think it's beautiful.

178

I don't see that when you're with other people.

179

Why is that?

180

Animals are sweet and accepting.

181

People are difficult and judgmental.

182

I used to feel the same way.

183

Well, not about animals, but people.

184

But that changed when I met you.

185

The wind picked up, and I started to shiver.

186

Then Roman put his arm around me, pulled me close, and kissed me.

187

My heart fluttered as the moonlight shined down on us.

188

His words echoed in my mind.

189

And that's when I remembered.

190

It was a line from one of Roman's sappy rom -coms.

191

Of course, he was just acting.

192

I pulled away.

193

I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?

194

This isn't a movie, Roman.

195

And I'm not your girlfriend.

196

Not now, not ever.

197

After that, Roman started acting strange.

198

He didn't sit near me in class anymore.

199

And although he was still hiding out in my bedroom, he kept to his side of the room and I kept to mine.

200

I felt bad for being mean to him.

201

Roman was a self -absorbed jerk, but maybe he was changing.

202

Maybe he really did like me.

203

I caught up with him at his locker to talk.

204

Roman.. about the other night.

205

It's okay.

206

What happened on the roof wasn't part of our agreement.

207

I should have never put you in that situation.

208

You just caught me off guard.

209

I never expected that you could be.. be what?

210

So thoughtful, smart, and kind?

211

You're so much more than the characters you play in movies.

212

Orion may shine bright, but the real you is spectacular.

213

You shouldn't hide it.

214

And neither should you.

215

Roman took my hands.

216

And just then, Becky and her annoying boyfriend and Milo walked up to us with their army of brats.

217

So, who's your new friend?

218

He doesn't have four legs and fur.

219

A bit of advice, new guy.

220

Stop wasting your time with Ivy.

221

She's a loser and a freak.

222

Becky and her friend started laughing, and Roman's face turned red.

223

Don't talk about Ivy like that again.

224

Oh yeah?

225

What you gonna do about it?

226

Milo shoved Roman, and they got into a terrible fight.

227

As the teacher tried to pull them apart, Roman's wig fell off, and his cover was blown. Is that...Roman?

228

Everyone started pulling out their cell phones and started recording Roman as he ran away.

229

The next morning, the video of Roman's fight with Milo went viral.

230

Milo sued Roman in court for his injuries and Roman was fired from his movie.

231

Reporters found out that I had helped him with the disguise and they camped outside of my house to interview me.

232

A dozen stories were even published blaming me for ruining Roman's career.

233

I tried to reach out to Roman, but he didn't answer my calls or texts.

234

I felt so guilty that he was losing everything because he stuck up for me.

235

He was my first real friend, and it cost him so much.

236

A few weeks later, a breaking news report revealed that Roman's manager had stolen all of Roman's money and left the country.

237

I couldn't believe that things were getting worse for Roman, and there was nothing I could do to help him.

238

One evening, I was working at the shelter when Mr. Buttercup started jumping and barking like crazy.

239

Then he yanked on his leash so hard that it slipped out of my fingers.

240

Where are you going?

241

Oh my god.

242

Roman?

243

Hey, Ivy.

244

What are you doing here?

245

I don't have much money left, but we had an agreement.

246

Is this the only reason you're here?

247

Besides, I can't take that.

248

I'm the reason you lost everything.

249

What are you saying?

250

You're the reason I realized life is more than just making money.

251

Ever since I met you, I've become a better person.

252

And even dogs like me now.

253

Dogs?

254

Really?

255

Are you just gonna stand there talking about philosophical nonsense?

256

So, you want me to say that I'm madly in love with you?

257

Or that I can't stop thinking about you?

258

Or just shut up and kiss me already?

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence

IPA PracticeMaster every sound

VocabularyBuild your word bank

Vocab GameLearn while playing

Scan QR

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Same Channel

FOR YOU

Recommend Video

348 sentences

The One Wins the Fight, Will Date Me

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

371 sentences

GIRL MOCKED For Looking Like A Boy | Dhar Mann Studios

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

68 sentences

Học tiếng anh qua phim hài

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

287 sentences

Genius Kid and Top Student Go To War Over Grades | Dhar Mann Studios

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

149 sentences

I Turned Into A Werewolf And Now My Hunter Dad Wants To Kill Me | Easy English Listening Practice

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

610 sentences

Daily Routine English Conversations for Everyday Life | English Speaking Practice Story

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

306 sentences

I Became a Nanny for a Billionaire

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

22 sentences

S01E01- Pilot- Part 1

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

74 sentences

A2 T1 TEST1 PART2

KidsTeensDaily Conversation

402 sentences

Learn English with Stories ⭐ The Angry Landlord | Level 3 English Listening & Speaking Practice

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “I Taught A Billionaire To Live A Normal Life”. This video has 258 sentences and 2340 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:31. The speaker talks fast, about 187 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 45 of its 258 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
audition noun	/ɑˈdɪʃən/	A performance, by an aspiring performer, to demonstrate suitability or talent.
shelter noun	/ˈʃɛltə/	A place where a person or animal may find protection from the elements (especially rain, storms, or cold) sometimes as a place to sleep (such as a cave).
puppy noun	/ˈpʌpi/	A young rat.
homework noun	/ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/	Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class.
shine verb	/ʃaɪn/	To emit or reflect light so as to glow.
shove verb	/ʃʌv/	To push, especially roughly or with force.
spoil noun	/spɔɪl/	Plunder taken from an enemy or victim.
stare verb	/stɛɚ/	To look fixedly (at something).
trainer noun	/ˈtɹeɪnɚ/	A person who trains another; a coach.
teenager noun	/ˈtiːnˌeɪ̯d͡ʒə/	A person between thirteen and nineteen years old (inclusive).
teenage adjective	/ˈtiːneɪd͡ʒ/	Of or relating to an age between thirteen and nineteen years old.
mathematics noun	/mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/	An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them.
commotion noun	/kəˈmoʊ.ʃən/	A state of turbulent motion.
enroll verb	/ɪnˈɹəʊl/	To enter (a name, etc.) in a register, roll or list
flutter verb	/ˈflʌtɚ/	To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
pull out verb		To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.
clean up verb		To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy.
come out verb	/ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/	To be discovered; to be revealed.
come up to verb		To approach.
end up verb		To bring to a conclusion.
fall off verb		To become detached or to drop from.
find out verb		To discover, as by asking or investigating.
jump up verb		To move from one position to a higher position by one jump.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Excuse me, have you ever considered being an actor?
If I'm not your boyfriend, then what am I?
How'd you do that so fast?
I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?
Is this the only reason you're here?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	was banned · was blown · was fired
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've never been · I've become
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	was auditioning · was also auditioning · were shooting
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	love making · started blasting · Stop copying

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 64 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, heartthrob /ˈhɑɹtˌθɹɑb/, thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: audition /ɑˈdɪʃən/, shelter /ˈʃɛltə/, shine /ʃaɪn/, shove /ʃʌv/, commotion /kəˈmoʊ.ʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, reluctantly /ɹɪˈlʌktəntli/, veterinarian /ˌvɛt(ə)ɹəˈnɛɹ.i.ən/, veterinary /ˈvɛtəɹɪnɛɹi/, philosophical /ˌfɪl.əˈsɑ.fɪ.kl̩/

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 audition, shelter, puppy.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: I Taught A Billionaire To Live A Normal Life - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Download App

I Was Not Ready For What My Boyfriend Said About My Sister

I'm a Famous Singer But No One Sees My face

My Bully is Obsessed with ME!

My BF is Too Protective

5,000 Miles For 10 Million Dollars, The Journey Begins

School's Most Annoying Girl Competes With Me On everything

I'm the Weird Sister

I'm Turning Into A Vampire - Season 2 Episode 2 - Trailer

A homeless woman stole me when I was a baby

I Was Hired to Protect a Clumsy Billionaire

it's not you, it's her

Video

I’m too rich I get everything I want

Mom Looks like a 10 year old

Step Mom Made Dad Hate Me

I Keep Failing School Because Of Math

I Told Everyone Mom went into a Coma for Attention

I Became A Millionaire and Went to College at 14!

I Got The Worst Fake BF To Make My Crush Jealous

She Called Us Poor

The One Wins the Fight, Will Date Me

GIRL MOCKED For Looking Like A Boy | Dhar Mann Studios

Học tiếng anh qua phim hài

Genius Kid and Top Student Go To War Over Grades | Dhar Mann Studios

I Turned Into A Werewolf And Now My Hunter Dad Wants To Kill Me | Easy English Listening Practice

Daily Routine English Conversations for Everyday Life | English Speaking Practice Story

I Became a Nanny for a Billionaire

S01E01- Pilot- Part 1

A2 T1 TEST1 PART2

NoLife Animation Complilation

Learn English with Stories ⭐ The Angry Landlord | Level 3 English Listening & Speaking Practice

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?