Shadowing Practice: Jennie Kim on how she got started with her career - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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You learned English by going to school in New Zealand, right?
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18 sentences
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You learned English by going to school in New Zealand, right?
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Mm-hmm Why go back to Korea and why dive into the trainee program?
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When I was in New Zealand,
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I lived by myself, like my family was living in Korea So by the time I turned 14,
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15, my mom wanted me to move me to the States Like in Florida,
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yeah, she had plans to move me Yeah,
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we actually took a trip to Florida,
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saw the school, saw the place that I would live in.
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And it hit me like,
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I don't want to live by myself in Florida not knowing what I want to do.
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And I started thinking what I want to do and it was,
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I want to do music.
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I want to like learn how to dance and stuff like that.
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So I told my mom,
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instead of going to a new school,
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why don't I just come home and do something that I would enjoy for the rest of my life?
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And she was supportive with it and that's how it all started.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In this enlightening interview, Jennie Kim shares her journey from learning English in New Zealand to pursuing a career in music. At just 14 years old, she faced a crossroads when her mom planned to relocate her to Florida. Rather than embarking on a new life in an unfamiliar place, Jennie chose to follow her passion for music and dance. This decision highlights the importance of pursuing one's own interests, especially during formative years, and serves as inspiration for English learners who wish to communicate their ideas effectively.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I began learning English..." - A great way to start conversations about your language journey.
  • "I want to do something I enjoy..." - Expresses the importance of passion in life choices.
  • "Why don’t I just come home..." - Useful when discussing decisions or alternatives.
  • "I lived by myself..." - A phrase that can help you share personal experiences.
  • "My mom was supportive..." - This reveals the role of family support in decision-making.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To practice English speaking effectively using this video, follow these steps:

  1. Watch the video attentively: As you start, pay close attention to Jennie's pronunciation, intonation, and phrasing. Note how she expresses her thoughts clearly.
  2. Listen without distractions: Turn off any distracting devices. Focus on the audio quality and rhythm of her speech to enhance your listening skills.
  3. Read the transcript aloud: Take the transcript from the video and practice shadowing continuously. Mimic Jennie's rhythm and pronunciation to improve your fluency. Use the keywords to tune your practice: "english speaking practice", "shadow speech", and "shadowspeaks".
  4. Record yourself: After practicing, record your shadow speak. Compare your recording with Jennie’s speech to identify areas for improvement in accent and fluency.
  5. Engage in real conversations: Use the phrases you learned to initiate conversations with friends or language partners. This will help solidify your learning while boosting your confidence in speaking.

By employing these shadowing techniques, you can significantly enhance your English speaking practice, making you more comfortable in expressing your thoughts and feelings, just as Jennie found her voice in music.

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.

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