Shadowing Practice: 👑 Kids Book Read Aloud: THE RECESS QUEEN by Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello, my reading friends.
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104 sentences
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Hello, my reading friends.
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It's Ani.
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I've got a question for you.
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Have you ever known a bully?
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Well, today we're going to meet a little girl who's very bossy and likes to get her way.
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Let's see if anything changes when a new kid joins the class as we read The Recess Queen.
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If you have a copy,
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go get it so you can read along with me.
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The Recess Queen, written by Alexis O'Neal, illustrated by Laura Haliska-Beeth.
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Mean Gene was Recess Queen and nobody said any different.
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Nobody swung until Mean Gene swung.
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Nobody kicked until Mean Gene kicked Nobody bounced until Mean Gene bounced If kids ever crossed her,
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she'd push them and smush them Lollapalush them,
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hammer them, slammer them, kits and kajammer them Say what?
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Mean Gene growled Say who?
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Mean Gene howled Say you!
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Just who do you think you're talking to?
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Mean Jean always got her way.
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Until one day...
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A new kid came to school.
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Katie Sue.
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A teeny kid.
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A tiny kid.
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A kid you might scare with a jump and a boo.
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But when the recess bell went ringity ring,
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this kid ran zingity zing for the playground gate.
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Katie Sue swung before Mean Gene swung.
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Katie Sue kicked before Mean Gene kicked.
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Katie Sue bounced before Mean Gene bounced.
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The kid you might scare with a jump and a boo was too new to know about Mean Gene the Recess Queen.
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Well, Mean Gene bullied through the playground crowd.
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Like always, she pushed kids and smooshed kids,
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Lala-pulushed kids, hammered them, slammered them,
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kits and kajammered them as she charged after that Katie Sue.
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Say what?
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She growled.
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Say who?
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She howled.
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Say you!
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She snarled and grabbed Katie Sue by the collar.
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Nobody swings until Queen Jane swings.
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Nobody kicks until Queen Jane kicks.
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Nobody bounces until Queen Jane bounces.
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And she figured that would set the record straight.
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She figured wrong.
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Katie Sue talked back.
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Just as sassy as could be,
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she said, How did you get so bossy?
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Then that puny thing, that loony thing,
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grabbed the ball and bounced away.
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Oh!
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Katie Sue was one quick kid.
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She bolted quick as lightning.
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Bouncety, bounceity, bounce.
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Kickity, kickity, kick.
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Swingity, swingity, swing.
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Mean Gene thundered close behind.
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Bouncety, kickity, swingity.
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The Recess Queen was not amused.
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She raced and chased and in your faced that Katie Sue.
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No one spoke.
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No one moved.
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No one breathed.
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Then from her pack pulled Katie Sue a jump rope clean and bright.
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Hey, Jeannie Beanie, sang Katie Sue.
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Let's try this jump rope out.
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Here's one thing true.
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Until that day, no one dared ask Mean Gene to play.
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But that Katie Sue just hopped and jumped and skipped away.
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I like ice cream.
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I like tea.
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I want Gene to jump with me.
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Gene just gaped and stared as if too scared to move at all.
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So Katie Sue sang once more.
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I like popcorn.
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I like tea.
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I want Jean to jump with me.
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Then from the side a kid called out, Go Jean, go!
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And too surprised to even shout,
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Jean jumped in with Katie Sue.
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I like cookies.
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I like tea.
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I want you to jump with me.
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The rope whizzed and slapped.
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Faster, faster.
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The rope spun and flapped.
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Faster, faster.
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Till it caught in a tangled disaster.
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But they just giggled and jumped again Well,
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now when recess rolls around
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That playground's one great place At the school bell's ringity ring Those two girls race zingity zing out the classroom door
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Jean doesn't push kids and smush kids Lollapalush kids,
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hammer them, slammer them Kids and can jam them Cause she's having too much fun rompity romping with her friends.
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Bouncity, kickity, swingity, hopity, skippity, jumpity, ringity, zingity, yes!
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Katie Sue was too new to know about Mean Gene's reputation,
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and when she found out,
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she wasn't afraid of Gene.
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Katie Sue thought Gene might be lonely,
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so she invited her to play.
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That one act of kindness changed everything for Jean.
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Now she has lots of friends.
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I hope you enjoyed our story today.
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Thank you for reading with me.
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See you next time.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the video "The Recess Queen" presents a unique opportunity to practice speaking English while immersing yourself in a captivating story. The narrative revolves around the themes of friendship and bullying, providing a rich context for learners to explore character-driven dialogue. By shadowing the speech patterns and emotional tones of the readers, you can enhance your fluency and intonation, making your spoken English sound more natural.

Moreover, this video is designed for children, meaning the language is simple yet expressive, making it an ideal resource for learners at various levels. As you learn English with YouTube, you can repeat lines and mimic the tone given by the speaker, fostering an engaging and interactive learning environment. This method significantly aids in improving English pronunciation and supports your overall speaking confidence.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the reading, several key grammatical structures and expressions can be observed:

  • Imperatives: The phrase “Nobody swings until Mean Gene swings” exemplifies the use of imperatives and commands. This structure is common in colloquial English, especially among children.
  • Descriptive phrases: Expressions such as “a teeny kid” and “that loony thing” provide vivid imagery and showcase how adjectives can add meaning and color to descriptions.
  • Repetition for emphasis: The continuous use of “Say what? Say who? Say you!” emphasizes dialogue and character traits effectively, which can also be useful in IELTS speaking practice when you want to emphasize a point.
  • Engagement phrases: The character interactions allow for practice in conversational cues, as lines like “How did you get so bossy?” create opportunities for learners to explore everyday English dialogue.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with this video, there are specific pronunciation challenges to be aware of:

  • Character Names: Names like “Mean Gene” and “Katie Sue” may seem simple but watch for how the speakers emphasize and articulate them to convey personality.
  • Playful language: Terms such as “Lollapalush,” “smoosh,” and “kits and kajammer” require careful pronunciation to maintain clarity while capturing the playful tone.
  • Intonation in questions: Notice how the intonation rises in questions, especially in phrases crafted for dramatic effect, contributing to the overall narrative arc.

Utilizing this video as a shadowing site for language practice not only makes learning enjoyable but also deeply effective. By frequently engaging with the content, you'll develop a natural lilt in your speech while expanding your vocabulary and mastering the flow of conversational English.

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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