Shadowing Practice: Improve your English with soccer & WORLD CUP expressions - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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What's up y'all, how you doing?
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That's your boy Dog from EBF Academy about English Black Friday and guess what?
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The World Cup has started and I'm super excited about this
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but you know I'm an English teacher so I came here to help you with some expressions and vocabulary.
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I know you're going to be using that but tell me here in the comments, what team are you cheering for?
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Is it going to be Brazil like me?
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Is it going to be Turkey?
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No, not Turkey.
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Is it going to be Australia then?
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Australia.
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No, not Australia.
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The United States.
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USA.
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No, it's going to be Canada.
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No, you're going to stick with Brazil, right?
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Argentina?
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You said Argentina?
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Oh, no, you didn't.
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Well, let me teach you some expressions.
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Let's go.
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And the first expression is against all odds.
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Against all odds.
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What does that mean?
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That means when you succeed, even when nobody is expecting you to.
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Check this example.
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Morocco reached the semifinals of the World Cup against all odds.
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Yeah, I know nobody believed in Morocco, but I do.
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I actually like that team.
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So they reached the semifinals of the World Cup against all odds.
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What team are you going to be talking about using this expression against all odds?
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Let me know here in the comments.
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Which one do you think will be like, oh my God, nobody believed that team would go that far and he did.
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Well, I'm cheering for Curaçao.
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Curaçao is going to be my second team in this World Cup.
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Brazil comes first, of course, but Curaçao is going to be my number two.
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Baby, which one you're going to be cheering for?
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Curaçao.
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Curaçao too?
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I know you like that place.
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You like the team too.
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Yes.
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First time.
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First time in the World Cup, right?
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And how do you say, how are you in Papiamento.
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Forget about it.
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Next expression.
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The expression is the whole world is watching.
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The whole world is watching.
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What does that mean?
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It means that you're receiving global attention and of course pressure.
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The whole world is watching.
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The whole world is watching the World Cup right now.
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Check this example.
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When you take a penalty in a World Cup final, the whole world is watching.
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Yes.
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So you got to be careful.
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When you take a penalty in the World Cup final, the whole world is watching.
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Next expression, deliver on the big stage, is when you perform well under pressure in a big moment.
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That's a big, a very important moment, and you have to deliver on the big stage.
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Check the example.
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Some players are stars at their clubs, but fail to deliver on the big stage in the World Cup.
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We have seen that, right?
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So there are big stars at their clubs, you know, Manchester United, Cruzeiro,
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Flamengo, you know, but they fail to deliver on the big stage in the World Cup.
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I remember Fred, 2014, an amazing player.
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He played for Cruzeiro, My national team. But...
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Okay, next example.
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Carry the weight of a nation.
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That means to feel enormous pressure and responsibility.
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You know, this happens a lot to Brazilian players.
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We know that because this jersey here is very important.
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Well, check the example.
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Brazilian players often carry the weight of a nation during the World Cup.
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Brazilian players often carry the weight of a nation during the World Cup.
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Well, and I hope you guys don't fail this time.
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Next example.
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Write history to achieve something unforgettable and historic.
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Yes, when you do that, you are writing history.
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Check the example.
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The team wrote history by winning its first ever World Cup match.
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Yes, and I hope this happens to Curaçao.
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Next one.
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This expression here is very interesting.
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To steal the spotlight.
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We know that in our team, in Brazil, we have a big star in there.
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His name is Neymar.
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But let's say that another player, you know, someone who's not expected to be the top player,
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he starts scoring goals.
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And everybody now starts loving this guy.
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So he steals the spotlight.
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What does that mean?
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That means that he attracts all the attention.
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Okay, check this example.
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The young striker stole the spotlight with two incredible goals.
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The young striker stole the past of steel, stole the spotlight with two incredible goals.
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Yes.
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Hopefully this is going to happen to an African team.
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You know, I really like Nigeria, Senegal, you know, South Africa.
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That would be interesting.
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Let's see the next expression.
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Glory or heartbreak.
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What does that mean?
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Well, glory or heartbreak.
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Glory is glory, something great.
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Heartbreak is when your heart breaks.
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Well, this happens during the World Cup, right?
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It means glory, winning everything.
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Or heartbreak, suffering a painful defeat.
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Well, this will happen.
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It doesn't matter what happens during the World Cup somebody will be the glory
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and somebody will be the heartbreak of the World Cup.
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Check the example.
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Every World Cup ends with glory for some and heartbreak for others.
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Well, which one do you think will be the winner this time?
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Write down here in the comments.
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Who will end with glory and who will end with heartbreak?
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so write it down here what's going to be the final Portugal
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and Brazil Argentina and Brazil the United States and Morocco Curaçao
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and Japan write it down here I hope you enjoy the World Cup I'm going to be right here working and
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if you have any questions let me know in the comments
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don't forget to subscribe to the channel I'll see you in the next video bye

About This Lesson

Welcome to our English learning practice focused on soccer and World Cup expressions! In this lesson, you'll enhance your spoken English skills through engaging vocabulary related to soccer, specifically designed to elevate your English speaking practice. We’ll explore exciting phrases like 'against all odds' and 'the whole world is watching,' which can be used in various contexts beyond sports. This practice will not only help you learn new expressions but also improve your pronunciation through a unique shadowing technique. So whether you're cheering for your favorite team or discussing last weekend's matches, you'll have the right words and confidence to express your thoughts.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Against all odds: Succeeding despite unlikely circumstances.
  • The whole world is watching: Receiving global attention and pressure.
  • Cheering for: Supporting a team or player.
  • Semifinals: The round in a tournament preceding the final match.
  • Global attention: Focus from audiences worldwide.
  • Pressure: The stress or influence to perform well.
  • Team spirit: Shared enthusiasm and support among teammates and fans.
  • First time: Participating in an event for the very first time.

Practice Tips

As you engage with this content, remember that effective shadow speech can significantly enhance your English pronunciation. To practice, listen carefully to the expressions used in the video, noting the speaker's intonation and pace. Since the video presents a lively and enthusiastic tone, aim to mimic this energy in your shadowing sessions. Repeat segments after the speaker, focusing on the rhythm and flow of the sentences. Consider using a shadowing site where you can play the video at varying speeds, making it easier to keep up with the pronunciation nuances.

Engage with the phrases by creating your own sentences. Use them in discussions with friends or online language partners to reinforce your understanding. The more you practice these expressions in real contexts, the more natural they will become in your everyday speech. Incorporate this active listening and speaking practice into your routine to continuously improve your English skills and enhance your overall fluency.

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.