Shadowing Practice: Learn English Through Story for Beginners | Unexpected Letter | Shadowing Technique Ep. 09 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello, my friends!
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Hello, my friends!
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Welcome to Begin with Miss English Channel, your best English learning place.
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Today we are going to learn English using a beautiful story.
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It is about a young girl named Anisha.
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She found an unexpected letter on her wedding day.
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When she saw the letter, she was shocked.
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Do you want to know why she was shocked?
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Then you have to watch the full story until the end.
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This story will train your brain to think in English, and improve your listening and speaking skills.
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Are you ready?
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Let's begin the story.
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My name is Anisha Hart, and this is the story about a letter.
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A letter that came on the wrong day.
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A letter that broke everything I had.
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I was always busy.
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Work work work.
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That was my life.
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Every morning I woke up, washed my face, made breakfast, and… ran to work.
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One morning I was late.
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Very late.
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I walked fast on the road.
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I looked at my watch.
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Oh no, I am so late.
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I got to the crosswalk.
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I waited for the cars to stop.
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on, come on.
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I was too impatient.
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I stepped onto the road.
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I did not see the car coming.
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Suddenly, a young man grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
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We both fell to the ground.
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I looked at him.
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He looked at me.
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He said, Are you okay?
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I said, Yes, thank you.
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Then I looked down.
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My dress had mud on it.
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Oh no, my dress.
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How do I go to the office like this?
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He looked at my dress.
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He said, I have a shop near here.
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You can clean your dress there.
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I had no other choice.
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I followed him.
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It was a bookshop.
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A small, cozy bookshop.
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It smelled like old paper and coffee.
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I loved it.
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it.
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I cleaned my dress and came back out.
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I said, thank you so much.
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I have to go now.
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Bye.
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I ran to the office.
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But all day, I could not focus on my work.
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I kept thinking about The morning.
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The man.
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The bookshop.
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I smiled to myself.
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My friend said, Anisha, why are you smiling alone?
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I said, oh, nothing.
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I just remembered a funny thing.
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Days passed.
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Weeks passed.
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One evening, I finished work and walked home.
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Suddenly, it started to rain.
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I remembered the bookshop.
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It is near here.
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I did not think twice.
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I ran to the bookshop.
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He saw me.
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He said, Hey, I remember you.
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Come in, come in.
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I said, Hi!
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I was a little nervous.
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He asked, You came to buy a book?
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I said, No, actually, I came because of the rain.
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He laughed.
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He said, That is okay.
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Come and sit.
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I looked around the shop.
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The books, the warm lights, the old wooden shelves.
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I said, this place is really beautiful.
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He said, thank you.
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My name is Lucas, by the way.
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I said, I am Anisha.
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He brought me a cup of coffee.
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He said, it is very cold today.
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Drink this.
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I held the cup with both hands.
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I said, Thank you, Lucas.
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I took a sip.
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It was warm and sweet.
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The rain did not stop.
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We talked and talked.
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About books.
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About life.
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About small things.
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Time passed.
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So fast.
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I said, It is getting dark now.
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I need to go.
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Lucas said, Let me walk you to the bus stop.
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We walked together in the quiet night.
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Sometimes, our eyes met.
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My heart beat a little faster each time.
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That was the beginning.
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After that night, I visited the bookshop every day.
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I did not always buy a book.
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I just came to see him.
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He always had a new story to tell.
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We became friends.
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Then we became more than friends.
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One day, Lucas took my hand.
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He said, Anisha, I like you.
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I like you very much.
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Will you be with me?
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I said, yes.
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That was the happiest moment of my life.
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Months passed.
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Our love grew.
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Then, Lucas asked me to marry him.
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I cried happy tears.
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I said, Yes!
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Yes!
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A thousand times yes!
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Our wedding day came.
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I woke up early.
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Sarah, my best friend, helped me get ready.
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Sarah said, You look beautiful, Anisha.
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I smiled big.
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I was so happy.
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I was ready to start a new life.
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Then something strange happened.
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I heard a small sound at the door.
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I looked down.
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Someone pushed an envelope.
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I opened the door fast.
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No one was there, just the quiet hallway.
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I picked up the envelope.
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There was a letter inside.
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I started to open it, but then I heard
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sarah's voice sarah said anisha we are late lucas is waiting i
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looked at the envelope then i looked at the door i called one second i put the envelope in my bag i told myself i would read it later
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The wedding was beautiful.
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The flowers, the music, the smiles.
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Everything was perfect.
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And Lucas, he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.
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Lucas said, You are my everything.
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I said, You are mine too.
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That night, I forgot about the letter.
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I was too happy.
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Five days passed.
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Life was sweet and quiet.
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Lucas went to work early each morning.
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I cleaned the house, cooked, and felt grateful.
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I thought I took a new step in my life.
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But I was wrong.
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One afternoon, someone knocked on the door.
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I opened it.
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No one was there.
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But on the floor, there was another envelope.
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My heart jumped.
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I picked it up.
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My hands were shaking.
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I opened it.
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I warned you on your wedding day.
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You did not listen.
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Lucas is not a good man.
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Leave him now.
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I stopped breathing for a second.
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Then I remembered the first letter.
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It was still in my bag.
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I ran to my bag and pulled it out.
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Inside, there was a letter and some photos.
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I read the letter first.
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Please, do not marry Lucas.
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He hurt me badly.
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He left me without a word.
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You will be sorry.
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Then, I looked at the photos.
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Lucas with another woman.
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They were very close, smiling, holding hands.
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My heart felt cold.
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I called Lucas.
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I said, Lucas, what are these photos?
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He was quiet for a moment.
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He said, Anisha, I am sorry.
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Please, let me explain.
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I said, explain what?
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My voice was calm, but my heart was breaking
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Lucas said, please, I love you, give me a chance to talk I said, I do not want to hear it, this is over
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That night, I packed my bags and left
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One year later, a new city, a new home, a new job, a new life.
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But Lucas was still in my heart.
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I tried to forget him.
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I could not.
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My only friend in this new city was Maya.
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She was funny and kind.
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She made the hard days easier.
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One day, our boss called us both.
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The boss said, I need you and Maya to go to Portland for a business meeting.
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Portland?
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My heart stopped.
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That was Lucas's city.
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The city where we met, where the bookshop was, where everything started.
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I could not say no.
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I went with Maya.
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The meeting went well.
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After we walked to the train station, Maya said, I am so hungry.
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Wait here.
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I will get some food and come back.
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She left.
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I stood alone.
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I looked around.
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The streets, the buildings, the people.
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Everything brought memories back.
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Lucas's bookshop was near here.
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I knew it.
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My feet started walking before my mind said, yes.
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I walked to the spot.
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But the bookshop was gone.
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A different shop was there now.
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A small grocery store.
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A man was standing at the door.
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I said, excuse me, there was a bookshop here before.
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Do you know the man who had it?
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His name is Lucas.
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The man's face changed.
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He said, ah, that young man, poor thing.
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I said, what happened?
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The man said, he was so happy here, always smiling, always reading.
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Then his wife left him.
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After that, he was never the same.
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He closed the bookshop.
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He gave all the books to the children in the neighborhood.
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He sold this place to me.
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I felt my chest get tight.
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The man said, but sometimes he still comes here.
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He stands outside and looks.
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He told me once, if a woman ever comes and asks about me, tell her I am sorry.
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Tell her I still love her.
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Tears came to my eyes.
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Then, I heard Maya's voice behind me.
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Maya said, Anisha, what are you doing here?
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What is wrong?
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I turned to her.
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My face was wet.
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Maya looked at the shop.
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Then, at me.
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Then, she went very quiet.
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Maya said, Anisha, do you know Lucas?
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I said, yes.
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Why?
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Maya said, Was he the one you married?
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I stopped.
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I said, yes.
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How do you know him?
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Maya closed her eyes.
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She said, oh no, Anisha, I am so sorry.
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Lucas was my boyfriend a long time ago.
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I was not a good girlfriend.
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I went to clubs, I talked to many other men.
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Lucas asked me to stop, I did not listen.
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In the end, we broke up.
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I said nothing, I just listened.
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Maya said, then I heard he was going to marry someone.
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I was angry.
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I wanted to stop the wedding.
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I wanted him back.
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So I sent a letter and photos from our time together.
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I said, you sent the letters?
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Maya said, both of them, yes.
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She looked at me.
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She said, Anisha, I am so sorry.
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I did not know it was you.
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I was selfish.
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Lucas is a good man.
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He is a very good man.
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I ruined everything because I was jealous.
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I asked the shop owner, where is he now?
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The man said softly.
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Sometimes he sleeps here the whole night.
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He just sits outside and looks at the road, waiting for his wife to come back.
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But I have not seen him in four months.
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I said, four months?
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Then I made a decision right there.
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After that day, I looked for him everywhere in Portland.
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Every street, every cafe, every corner.
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I am still looking.
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I will not stop.
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Because I need to find him.
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I need to say, sorry.
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I made a mistake.
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And I want to fix it.
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He waited for me, night after night.
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Now it is my turn to wait for him.
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This is not the end of our story.
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This is just the beginning.
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The second part is coming.
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Make sure you stay.
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Context & Background

Welcome to an enriching journey of English speaking practice through storytelling! In this lesson, we follow the captivating tale of Anisha, a young girl on her wedding day who finds an unexpected letter that changes everything. This story, which unravels significant emotions and situations, serves as an excellent tool for learners. By engaging with Anisha’s experiences, you’ll not only improve your listening and speaking skills but also enhance your ability to think in English. As you immerse yourself in this narrative, you're encouraged to pay attention to the dialogue and context, which will make your learning both enjoyable and effective.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Are you okay?” - A simple and essential phrase to express concern.
  • “Oh no, my dress!” - Perfect for expressing dismay about accidents or mishaps.
  • “I have no choice.” - Useful when describing situations where options are limited.
  • “Come on, hurry up!” - A phrase that can be used to encourage others to speed up.
  • “I love it!” - An expression to show genuine appreciation or affection for something.

These phrases are not just vocabulary; they are windows to real-life interactions. Practice them daily to boost your conversational abilities and confidence.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

The video employs the shadowing technique, which helps learners mimic the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of native speakers. Here’s how you can tackle this video's difficulty level effectively:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video and listen carefully. Focus on how Anisha narrates her story, noting the emotions and expressions in her voice.
  2. Pause & Repeat: After each sentence or phrase, pause the video. Repeat what Anisha said, trying to emulate her tone and style. This exercise will enhance your English speaking practice.
  3. Engage with the Content: Discuss the story with a partner or write down your thoughts. This step ensures deeper comprehension of the words and phrases used.
  4. Utilize Shadowspeak: Take advantage of the shadowspeak method by recording yourself while you mimic Anisha’s narration. Listening to yourself can highlight areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Make shadow speaking part of your daily routine. Use learn English with YouTube to find more stories and dialogues to shadow.

By following these steps, you’ll not only grasp the narrative of Anisha’s unexpected letter but also develop fluency and confidence in English. Embrace your learning journey with determination, and let every story unfold new opportunities to excel in your language skills through the art of shadowing!

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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