Shadowing Practice: Journey to the West: The Monk Rescues the Monkey - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The Journey to the West: How the Monk Freed the Monkey.
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Hello!
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This is Jana and I'm here with a story from China about a monk and a super -powered monkey.
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Previously, we heard how the monkey Sun Wukong fought the armies of heaven.
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His favourite weapon was an iron staff that he could shrink to the size of a pin and keep behind his ear.
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But eventually he met his match, the Buddha himself.
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The Buddha was a prince born in the mountains of India.
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he gave up his life of luxury and set out on a search for truth and inner peace.
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In this story, he is also the most powerful spiritual being in the universe.
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He trapped Sun Wukong beneath a mountain, where the monkey remained for 500 years.
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When the monkey had spent 499 years under the mountain, the Emperor of China wanted to bring the Buddha's holy teachings to his people.
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The sacred writings were far away in India.
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writings.
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His epic mission was known as the Journey to the West.
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Tripitaka set out on his white horse,
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picking his way across mountain passes and travelling across deserts.
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until he reached Double Forked Mountain.
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He followed the path that led through the forest, up and around the mountain,
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Towards evening, a tiger jumped down from a tree and landed in front of him.
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It snarled and dribbled hungrily.
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Tripitaka's horse reared up, causing the monk to fall to the ground.
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He squeezed his eyes tight, believing that his journey was already at an end.
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Thank you.
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When the roaring stopped, the monk wondered if he had gone to Nirvana
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a place that Buddhists believe is even more peaceful than heaven.
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Gradually he opened his eyes and saw that the hunter had defeated the tiger.
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The hunter bowed to Tripitaka and said, "Your Holiness, follow me.
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It will be my great honour if you eat with my family and stay under our roof tonight."
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When they arrived at the hunter's hut, The monk was surrounded by his children, who sang songs and asked him to tell them tales of his travels.
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夜光在樹梢 He saw the wolf "Singli bu huangjang,
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ta tai te wo jing chang" Meanwhile, the hunter and his wife prepared roast tiger for dinner.
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After hours of cooking, they sat down to eat.
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But Tripitaka did not touch the food.
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"I am most embarrassed," he said, "but in all my humble life,
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I have never eaten meat." The family was just as embarrassed as he was.
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They had not realized that Buddhist monks are vegetarian.
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They hastily cleaned up the pots and cooked vegetable soup.
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It was very late indeed when they eventually had time to lie down and sleep.
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In the morning, the hunter walked with Tripitaka as fast as the border of Tang, as China was called back then.
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I am not permitted to go one step further, said the hunter.
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Beyond this place lie the lawless lands.
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Tripitaka was fearful that he would soon be eaten by a tiger or attacked by robbers.
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However, as he bid farewell to the hunter, they both heard a voice.
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Hey, are you that monk who's on his way to India?
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"Who said that?" demanded the hunter, drawing his knife.
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I did!
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Come over here quick and let me out.
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I've been stuck here for 500 years and I'm bored silly.
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Hungry too.
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The hunter moved towards the voice and discovered two brown eyes peering through the tiniest window in the rocks.
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Not you! said the monkey rudely.
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The monk!
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When Tripitaka joined them, Sun Wukong,
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for it was he, explained: So I was born the stone monkey king of Flower Fruit Mountain.
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The Jade Emperor gave me a job in heaven.
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First as keeper of his horses, and then as chief gardener in a sacred orchard.
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When I rebelled and fought his army There was absolutely nothing he could do to defeat me But then...
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The Buddha tricked me.
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And here I am.
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Stuck under this mountain.
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"'I've pleaded with him.' and promised to be good.
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His disciple, the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, told me that you would come along eventually.
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Only you can free me, Reverend Monk and I must protect you on your journey to the west.
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Thank you.
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Tribitaka knew well that once he crossed the border into the lawless lands, he would face bandits, demons and worse.
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Who better than a magical monkey warrior to be his bodyguard?
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Very well said the monk.
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How do we get you out of there?
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Right, so you must climb to the top of the mountain.
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and fetch the mantra that is written on an orange piece of paper.
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When you bring it down to me, I'll be set free!
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Yay!
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The climb up the mountain was not easy.
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In places, the rock face was like a wall.
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The hunter went first, clinging on with his fingernails, and then hauled the monk up with a rope made of vines.
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When they reached the windy summit, they found the orange piece of paper.
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On it, in Chinese letters,
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were written the words: Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum
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Om is the sacred sound of the universe.
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Mani means jewel and represents love and compassion.
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Bhadme means lotus and represents wisdom.
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"Hum" means together, the joining of compassion and wisdom.
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A sacred phrase like this is known as a mantra,
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and Buddhist monks chant mantras over and over again to calm the mind and draw closer to the truth.
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In this case, when Tripitaka sat down and repeated the mantra a few hundred times, the door to the monkey's prison cell flew open.
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"At last !" declared Sun Wukong.
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"I haven't felt this good or this hungry." for 500 years!
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Wheeee! And
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that was the story of how the monk Tripitaka set the
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monkey Sun Wukong free after he was imprisoned for 500 years under a mountain.
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It was adapted for Story Nori by Bertie.
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to the West, collecting more fantastical companions and meeting demons and monsters.
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I'll be back with some more episodes soon.
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For now, from me, Jana, bye -bye!
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will engage with the story of "Journey to the West," focusing on the monk Tripitaka's adventures and his encounter with Sun Wukong, the monkey. As you practice, you will not only improve your English vocabulary and comprehension but also enhance your speaking skills through the shadowing technique. The video presents a mix of dialogue and narration that will help you master pronunciation and intonation. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in using English in both spoken and written contexts.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Monk: A member of a religious community who lives under vows, often practicing meditation and prayer.
- Rescue: To save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation.
- Iron staff: A heavy metal rod, often used as a weapon.
- Nirvana: A state of perfect peace and happiness, often associated with Buddhism.
- Vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat or fish, often for ethical or health reasons.
- Lawless: Not governed by law; chaotic.
- Hungry: Feeling the need for food; having hunger.
- Super-powered: Having extraordinary abilities or strengths.
Practice Tips
To effectively use the shadowing technique while watching the video, follow these guidelines:
- Listen carefully: Pay close attention to the narrator's speed and pronunciation. The pacing is clear, which makes it easier to follow along.
- Pause and repeat: If a sentence feels too long or complex, pause the video and repeat it a few times until you feel comfortable.
- Focus on intonation: Notice the rise and fall of the narrator's voice, especially at the end of questions or exclamations. Mimicking this will greatly improve your English pronunciation.
- Practice with phrases: Utilize the key vocabulary and phrases throughout the lesson. Try creating sentences with them and incorporate them into your daily conversations.
- Record yourself: After shadowing sections of the video, record yourself speaking the same passages. Compare your pronunciation with the original to identify areas for improvement.
By using these tips, you can learn English with YouTube effectively and enjoyably, enhancing your speaking skills through immersion in engaging stories. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep at it and watch your English proficiency improve!
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 known · was surrounded · was called |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have never eaten · I've been stuck · I've pleaded |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | more peaceful than · better than |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most powerful · the tiniest |
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.