Shadowing Practice: If I Built a School – 🏫 Creative read aloud kids book by Chris Van Dusen - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Buddy-san Storytime!
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If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen Jack on the playground said to Miss Jane,
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This school is okay, but it's pitifully plain.
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The builder who built this, I think should be banned.
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It's nothing at all like the school I have planned.
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If I built a school, the first thing you'd meet are lots of cute puppies.
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They'd flock to your feet.
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But why stop at puppies?
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Why not a whole zoo?
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So I'd add a bunch of big animals too.
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Right off the lobby to get to your class, I'd set up a system of tubes made of glass.
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You hop in a pod, press the number, then zoom!
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In under 10 seconds, you're right at your room!
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All of the classrooms are built onto towers that sprout from the schoolyard like colorful flowers.
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And like giant petals that welcome the day, the roofs open up in a similar way.
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The walls fold back and they let in the sun, which frankly makes being there that much more fun.
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Now come see your classroom, isn't it grand?
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That free floating platform is where you would stand and using a stylus you write in the air.
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No blackboard, no whiteboard, no nothing is there.
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Your words just appear and they magically glow.
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Don't ask how this works because I really don't know.
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But you're not the only There's only one floating around.
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Check out the desks.
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They don't touch the ground.
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These are my hover desks.
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See how they glide?
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They even have bumpers in case you collide.
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In my kind of classes, we wouldn't have tests.
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I'd liven things up with some hologram guests.
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Here are some samples of what I've been thinking.
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Meet a T-Rex or Abraham Lincoln.
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Hmm...
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The library is next, so let's have a look.
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You won't find your everyday regular book.
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These books come alive when removed from the racks.
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They pop up like pop-ups, but pop to the max.
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And if you're not sure what a book is about, you'll find out quite quickly when something pops out.
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Wow!
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It's off to the gym, and this place is so cool.
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Around it, please note my perimeter pool.
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The pool's a deep oval that everyone likes.
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You race underwater on submarine bikes.
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Up there is my trampoline basketball court.
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It's partly a bounce house and partly a sport.
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There's also a rock wall, and here's something new.
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I've added some skydiving wind tunnels too.
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I just heard the lunch bell, so let's go and eat.
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I'd like you to meet my new RoboChef, Pete.
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He's 20 feet tall and he spins on a gear.
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You order your lunch in this microphone here.
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And Pete can make anything simple or weird.
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From PB and jelly to squid lightly seared.
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It's now time for recess.
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Let's head out the door.
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My playground is awesome.
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So much to explore.
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Fly on the zip line way up in the sky.
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or slide down the twisty slide three stories high.
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And after all that, if you're hot and you're beat, then you can go tubing.
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Now that would be sweet.
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In art we use sprayers to splash out the paint.
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In music we're loud, but our teachers are saints.
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And over in science, just one of the features is lab grown genetically modified creatures.
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We'll visit new places, travel, explore, cause we'll go on field trips, field trips galore!
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My specialty buses will tote us around.
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They dive underwater, they blast off the ground,
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and yes, they have wheels like our regular cars, which neatly retract when we rocket to Mars.
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My school will amaze you, my school will astound.
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By far the most fabulous school to be found.
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Perfectly planned and impeccably clean.
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On a scale 1 to 10, it's more like 15.
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And learning is fun in a place that's fun too.
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If I built a school, that's just what I'd do.
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The End

Context & Background

In the imaginative narrative of "If I Built a School" by Chris Van Dusen, a young boy named Jack expresses dissatisfaction with his current school, calling it "pitifully plain." He embarks on a creative journey, detailing his vision for a dream school filled with whimsical features like cute puppies, a zoo, and technologically advanced classrooms. This dialogue encourages creativity and innovation while inviting listeners to reflect on their own educational experiences. As you engage with this playful yet thought-provoking story, you'll not only improve your English language skills but also nurture your imagination.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • This school is okay, but it's pitifully plain. - A phrase to express dissatisfaction with something.
  • Why stop at puppies? Why not a whole zoo? - An enthusiastic way to encourage expanding ideas.
  • Isn't it grand? - A phrase to indicate admiration or excitement about something.
  • Let's have a look. - A common expression when suggesting viewing or discovering something new.
  • I think should be banned. - A strong expression of opinion that can spark discussion.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing site for this video, follow this step-by-step guide:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by watching the full video to get a sense of the tone and rhythm. Pay attention to the character's emotions and expressions.
  2. Listen and Pause: Replay segments of the video. Pause after each sentence or phrase. This will help you grasp the pronunciation and intonation used.
  3. Repeat Aloud: Use the shadow speak technique by repeating what you hear. Focus on mimicking the speaker's cadence and inflection. This practice is particularly useful for improving your pronunciation, which will aid in IELTS speaking practice.
  4. Record Yourself: After shadowing the phrases, record yourself reading them aloud. Listen for any discrepancies between your pronunciation and the original speaker's.
  5. Expand Your Vocabulary: Take note of any new words or phrases. Use them in your daily conversations to build confidence and fluency.

By consistently applying these strategies, you can improve your English-speaking abilities. Embrace the fun aspect of learning as showcased in this delightful story and make your practice sessions enjoyable with the imaginative approaches reflected in "If I Built a School." Through engaging activities, you'll find that enhancing your English skills can be both effective and enjoyable!

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.