Shadowing Practice: Learn English with BTS - Jungkook's Story | From Shy Boy to Global Star - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello, everyone.
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Welcome back to the Slow English Podcast.
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I'm Tom, and today I want to share a very special story with you.
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This is not just a story about music.
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It is not just a story about fame.
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It is a story about dreams, fear, courage, and growth.
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Recently, the game-changing K-pop boy band BTS returned after a nearly four-year musical hiatus
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and made their long-awaited comeback with their fifth studio album, Arirang.
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Their comeback has once again reminded the world why they are one of the most influential music groups of our time.
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Millions of fans around the world have been waiting,
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listening, and celebrating their return.
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But behind the bright lights,
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the music, and the global success, there are individual stories.
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Stories of hard work, sacrifice, and quiet determination.
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And today, I want to tell you one of those stories.
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Let me ask you a simple question.
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Have you ever felt like your dream was too big?
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Maybe you thought your dream belonged to someone else,
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someone more talented, more confident,
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or maybe just luckier than you.
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If you have ever felt that way,
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then this story is for you.
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Today, we are going to talk about a boy who once felt small,
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quiet, and unsure of himself.
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A boy who did not believe he was special.
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But step by step, he followed his dream,
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and he changed his life.
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That boy is Jan Jung-kuk,
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the youngest member of BTS,
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their main vocalist, a powerful performer,
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and one of the most loved artists in the world today.
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Let's go back to the beginning.
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Jan Jung-kuk was born in Busan, South Korea in 1997.
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As a child, he was quiet and thoughtful.
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He was not the loudest student in class,
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and he was not the most confident either.
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In fact, he was very shy,
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the kind of person who stayed in the background and observed more than he spoke.
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At first, he did not even dream of becoming a singer.
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Like many young boys, he wanted to be an athlete.
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He enjoyed sports, especially badminton,
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and that was the path he imagined for himself.
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But then, one day, something changed.
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He watched a performance by G-Dragon,
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a famous artist from Big Bang.
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The music was powerful.
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The stage was full of energy.
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And in that moment, something inside Jungkook woke up.
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It was not loud, it was not clear at first,
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but it was there.
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It felt like a small light turning on inside him,
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and that small light became a dream.
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From that moment on, he wanted to become a singer.
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Now dreaming is easy, but following a dream is not easy.
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Jungkook did not just sit and imagine his future.
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he started taking action.
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He practiced singing.
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He practiced dancing.
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He recorded videos.
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He trained himself again and again,
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even when no one was watching.
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And when he was only 13 years old,
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he joined a big audition show called Superstar K.
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He did not win the competition, but something important happened.
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people noticed him.
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Several entertainment companies became interested in him.
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Some of them were big, famous, and powerful.
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He had many choices, but Jungkook made a surprising decision.
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He chose a smaller company called Big Hit Entertainment.
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Why?
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Because of one person, RM.
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Jungkook saw something in him.
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He believed in the team.
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He believed in the vision.
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He believed in a future that was not clear yet but felt right in his heart.
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So he followed that feeling.
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He did not choose what looked the best,
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he chose what felt right.
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And that choice changed his life forever.
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At the age of 14,
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Jungkook made a very difficult decision.
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He left his hometown, he left his family,
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He left his friends, and he moved to Seoul.
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Can you imagine that?
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At 14, most people are still thinking about school,
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games, or spending time with friends.
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But Jungkook was already chasing a dream in a big,
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unfamiliar city, far away from everything he knew.
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His new life was not easy.
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He lived in a small dorm with other trainees.
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Every day he followed a strict routine.
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He woke up early, trained for hours,
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and practiced singing, dancing, and performing again and again.
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There were no cameras, no fans,
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no applause, only hard work.
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And in the quiet moments when the training was over,
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reality felt even harder.
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Sometimes he felt lonely.
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Sometimes he missed his family deeply.
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Sometimes he looked at others and wondered if he was good enough.
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There were moments when he truly doubted himself.
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Yes, the Jungkook we know today,
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strong and confident, once felt weak, unsure, and afraid.
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But here is the most important part of his story.
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He did not give up.
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He stayed.
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He kept showing up.
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He practiced.
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He learned.
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He improved.
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Slowly.
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Quietly.
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Day by day.
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And that is how real growth happens.
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Now let me pause here and talk to you directly.
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If you are learning English right now,
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maybe you feel the same way.
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Maybe you feel shy when you speak.
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Maybe you feel like your English is not good enough.
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Maybe you compare yourself to others and feel left behind.
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But I want you to remember this.
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Even global stars start small.
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Even the best speakers once struggled to say simple sentences.
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Even the most confident people were once afraid to speak.
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Jungkook slowly began to grow.
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He watched the other members in BTS.
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He observed how they sang,
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how they danced, how they expressed themselves on stage.
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and little by little he learned from them.
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His voice became stronger, his movements became more confident,
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he built his confidence step by step,
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and most importantly he worked even when no one was watching.
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This is very important, because real growth happens in silence,
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It happens in practice rooms.
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It happens in early mornings and late nights.
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It happens when there are no cameras,
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no applause, and no one to praise you.
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In 2013, Jungkook finally debuted with BTS.
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He was the youngest member.
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At first, he was still quiet.
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He did not speak much,
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and he did not always stand in the center.
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Sometimes he stayed in the background, still learning, still observing.
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But he never stopped working,
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and slowly people began to notice him.
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His voice became stronger and more stable.
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His dancing became sharper and more controlled.
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His presence on stage became powerful and confident.
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But success did not come overnight.
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BTS struggled in the beginning.
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They were not famous immediately.
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They performed on small stages.
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They faced challenges.
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They worked for years before the world truly saw them.
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And during that time, Jung-gook kept growing,
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year by year, step by step, moment by moment.
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And there is a very important lesson here.
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Success is not fast.
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Success is built through consistency.
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It is not about one big moment.
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It is about showing up every day,
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even when it is hard.
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even when no one is watching.
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Jungkook once shared something very simple but very powerful.
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He said that he always wanted to improve.
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Even after becoming famous, he did not stop learning.
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He kept pushing himself to grow,
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to become better, not just as an artist but as a person.
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He learned new skills.
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He practiced more.
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He challenged himself in new ways.
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And one of the things he decided to learn was English.
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He started watching shows like Friends to improve his listening and speaking.
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At first, it was not easy.
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He did not understand everything.
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Some words were too fast.
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Some sentences were confusing.
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But he did not stop.
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He listened again.
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He repeated what he heard.
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He practiced, little by little, every day.
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Just like you.
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Take a moment and really think about that.
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One of the most famous singers in the world is learning English in the same way you are.
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Watching shows.
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Listening carefully.
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Repeating simple sentences.
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There is no magic.
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There are no shortcuts.
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There is only practice.
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And that should give you hope.
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Because if he can do it this way,
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you can do it too.
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A simple moment, but a very meaningful one.
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One day, Jungkook spoke in English during an international event.
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His pronunciation was not perfect.
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His grammar was not perfect.
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But he smiled.
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He tried.
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He spoke.
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And that is what courage looks like.
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Not perfect words, but real effort.
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Now let me ask you something.
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Are you waiting until your English is perfect before you speak?
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If your answer is yes,
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then you may be waiting for a very long time.
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Because perfection is not the goal.
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Progress is the goal, and every time you speak,
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even if it is not perfect, you are making progress.
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Jungkook also showed something very special.
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Even after becoming famous, he stayed humble.
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He never said, I am the best.
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Instead, he often said, I still have a lot to learn.
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And that mindset is very powerful.
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because when you believe you still have more to learn,
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you continue to grow.
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Over time, Jungkook performed on bigger and bigger stages.
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He traveled around the world.
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He stood in front of thousands,
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sometimes even millions of people.
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One of the most memorable moments was when he performed at the FIFA World Cup.
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The stage was huge.
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The audience was global.
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Millions of people were watching him in that moment.
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But after the performance, his words were simple.
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Thank you.
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I will continue to work hard.
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No ego.
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No showing off.
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Just gratitude.
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And that tells us something very important.
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Success is not only about talent.
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It is also about attitude.
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Jungkook's story teaches us something simple but very meaningful.
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You don't have to be loud to be strong.
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You don't have to be perfect to begin.
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You don't have to be confident to start.
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You just have to start.
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Maybe your dream is not to become a singer.
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Maybe your dream is to speak English fluently.
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Maybe you want to travel,
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to study abroad, or to get a better job.
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Whatever your dream is, the process is the same.
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You start small, you practice every day,
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and most importantly, you do not give up,
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even when it feels slow,
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even when it feels difficult.
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Because real change does not happen in one day.
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It happens little by little,
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step by step, just like Jungkook's journey.
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Let me give you a simple example.
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If you practice English for just 20 minutes every day,
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your progress may feel slow at the beginning.
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You may not see big changes right away,
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and sometimes you may even feel like nothing is improving.
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But don't stop.
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After one month, you will start to notice small differences.
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You understand a little more.
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You feel a little more comfortable.
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After six months, something deeper changes.
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You begin to feel more confident.
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You are not as afraid to speak as before.
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And after one year, you are no longer the same person.
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Your thinking changes.
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Your confidence grows.
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Your world becomes bigger.
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And that is how real progress works.
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Jungkook did not become great overnight.
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He became great because he showed up every single day.
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Now close your eyes for a moment and imagine this.
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You wake up in the morning.
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The world is still quiet.
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Instead of checking your phone,
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you choose to listen to English.
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You hear simple sentences.
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You repeat them slowly.
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You speak out loud, even if your voice is not perfect.
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Then you take a few minutes to write a few lines in English.
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Nothing big, just a few simple thoughts.
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But you do this every day.
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This is your training.
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This is your journey.
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And one day, without even realizing it,
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you will look back and you will see something amazing.
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You are no longer the person you were before.
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You are stronger.
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You are more confident.
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You are better.
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And most importantly, you did it yourself.
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Before we finish, I want to ask you something.
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Be honest with yourself.
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Can you wake up early tomorrow and practice English?
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Just 20 or 30 minutes.
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No phone, no distractions, just you and your English.
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Do you think you can do it?
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Take a moment and really think about your answer.
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Because change does not come from big actions.
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It comes from small actions repeated every single day.
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So here is my final message for you.
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Your dream is not too big,
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and you are not too small.
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You are simply at the beginning.
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Jungkook started as a quiet, shy boy in Busan.
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Today, he is a global star.
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But the most important part is not his fame, it is his journey.
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And now, your journey is waiting for you.
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So start today.
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Start now.
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Speak, even if your voice shakes.
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Learn, even if it feels slow.
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Try, even if you are afraid.
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because one day all of these small steps will become something big and when that day comes,
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you will look back and you will be proud of yourself,
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proud that you did not give up.
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Thank you so much for listening today.
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If you enjoyed this podcast,
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please like, comment, and share it with someone who needs motivation.
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And don't forget to subscribe for more Slow English Stories.
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I'll see you in the next episode.
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Until then, keep learning, keep growing, and take care.
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Goodbye for now.
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Your progress doesn't end here.
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To continue advancing your English skills,
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click on the next video or explore the additional video that we thoughtfully selected for you.
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Context & Background
In this engaging episode of the Slow English Podcast, Tom shares the inspirational journey of Jan Jung-kuk, better known as Jungkook, the youngest member of the global sensation BTS. His story is not just about achieving fame but also about overcoming personal doubts and finding courage within himself. Jungkook's transformation from a shy boy in Busan to a world-renowned artist resonates with many who have faced challenges in pursuing their dreams. This narrative encourages listeners to believe in themselves, illustrating that greatness often comes from small beginnings and persistent effort.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Have you ever felt like your dream was too big?" – An excellent way to start conversations about aspirations.
- "I was very shy, kind of like a quiet observer." – Useful for describing your personality or experiences.
- "Step by step, he followed his dream." – A motivating phrase that can encourage discussions about goal setting.
- "Something changed inside me." – Perfect for expressing personal growth or realizations.
- "His performance was full of energy." – Essential for discussing art, music, or any heated topic.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this podcast for english speaking practice, follow this shadowing guide:
- Listen Actively: Start by listening to the entire transcript. Pay attention to intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation.
- Segment the Content: Break the video into smaller segments. Focus on one phrase or sentence at a time for better retention.
- Listen and Repeat: Use shadowspeak techniques by repeating what you hear instantly. This will enhance your improve english pronunciation and make your speech more fluent.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing each segment, record your voice. Compare it to the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
- Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Engage in the shadow speech practice daily to build confidence and fluidity in your English speaking abilities.
By incorporating these steps into your learning routine, you will gradually boost your speaking skills and build the confidence needed to express yourself in English effectively.
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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