Shadowing Practice: Learn English with Disney's A BUG'S LIFE — Meet the Circus Bugs - Learn English Speaking with Video
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370 sentences
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It's perfect!
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Perfect?
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What's so perfect?
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Your highness, don't you see?
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We could send someone to get help!
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Leave the island?
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Now why didn't I think of that?
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Oh, because it's suicide!
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She's right!
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We never leave the island!
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Never leave!
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There's snakes and birds and bigger bugs out there!
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Exactly!
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Bigger bugs!
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We can find bigger bugs to come here and fight!
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And forever rid us of Hopper and his gang!
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Ludicrous!
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Who would do a crazy thing like that?
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I'll volunteer, I'd be very happy to volunteer!
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You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no one's gonna help a bunch of ants.
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At least we could try.
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Oh, I could travel to the city, I could search there!
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THE FAMILY.
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Oh yeah, I'm Ethan your RealLife English Fluency Coach, and today we're learning English with a Pixar classic, Bugs Life.
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So Flick has really buggered things up.
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See, every year the ants need to prepare extra food to pay the grasshoppers for their protection.
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Or rather, so that the grasshoppers don't hurt them.
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Flick accidentally destroyed the colony's offering.
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And now Princess Ada and the colony need to figure out what to do.
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That's when Flake gets his brilliant or maybe it's crazy, idea.
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He'll travel to the city and find tough bugs to defend them from the grasshoppers.
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By the way, do you ever get into a conversation
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and a word that you know you've learned simply won't come to you when you most need it, I've learned six languages myself.
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So I've been there.
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I totally know how you feel.
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That's why we created our real life app where we have several tools
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that help you to learn all the expressions you see highlighted in blue and never forget them.
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That way, you can commonly use them all.
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I'll tell you more about that in just a little bit.
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But for now, let's learn all of the advanced expressions from that scene.
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"Exactly!
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Bigger bugs!
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We can find bigger bugs to come here and fight
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and forever rid us of Hopper and his gang !" When you rid someone of something, you're removing or freeing them from something unwanted.
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It's like getting rid of a problem for someone.
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For example, when Marvel introduced Spider -Man in the MCU, they were ridding the franchise of the history of the previous film versions
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and giving fans a fresh start with a new Peter Parker played by Tom Holland.
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followers.
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A gang is a group of people who hang out together and often do bad things.
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In this case, the grasshopper gang bully the ants.
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You'll hear this word used in different contexts.
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For example, in a friendly way, you might say "I'm going to the movie with my gang," meaning your group of friends.
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But it can also refer to criminal groups, like street gangs in big cities.
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By the way, the grasshopper's leader is appropriately called hopper.
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This, along with the insect's name, comes from the verb to hop.
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Some animals, like rabbits, hop.
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It's like a small jump.
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Now here's a fantastic advance word: "Ludicrous" means completely ridiculous or absurd.
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So foolish that it's almost laughable.
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When the council member says this about Flick's plan, he's basically saying it's totally crazy and unreasonable.
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Check out this other example.
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Next, I wanted to help you speak more naturally and understand native speakers better with something called connected speech.
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That's how we natives cut, reduce, and link our words together in fluent speech.
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We have several examples throughout the lesson, like this: We have a common pattern here.
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When a "T" is followed by "U", they usually morph into a "choo".
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"Choo".
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And then "link".
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So instead of "don't you see", Flick says, "Don't you see?
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Don't you see?" Your speaking will only improve with lots of practice.
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So listen again and try to say that just like Flick.
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Your Highness, don't you see?
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Your Highness, don't you see?
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Now before we continue, let's test your understanding with a quick quiz.
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You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no one's gonna help a bunch of ants.
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What do you think spunk means here?
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Intelligence or cleverness?
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courage and determination, foolishness or recklessness, you .
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you That's right,
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the Queen is saying that Flick has Spunk because he's brave enough to volunteer for a dangerous mission, even though everyone thinks that his idea is crazy.
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Another famous character with Spunk is Hermione.
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She's always willing to stand up for what's right, and take on challenges.
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even when others doubt her.
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Now there's an important grammar point that I want to highlight here.
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Did you notice how the Queen said, "You got a lot of spunk?" In formal English, this should be "you've got" or "you have".
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But in casual spoken English, native speakers often drop the have and just say "you got." This is super common in everyday conversation.
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You'll hear things like "you got this." I got a meeting at 3.
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She got a point.
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So when you hear "you got" without the apostrophe "ve" don't worry you're not missing anything.
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That's just how we natives speak casually.
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We also have another really nice connected speech example here.
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You got a lot of spunk kid, but no one's gonna help a bunch of ants.
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First off, "of" is often reduced to just an "uh" sound.
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Then we have two tapped "ts" here, which sounds like a soft "duh"
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This usually occurs when a T is between two vowel sounds
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and they all link together so we hear "you got a lot of spunk." you got a lot of spunk.
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Listen to that again and try to say it just like the Queen.
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"You got a lot of spunk, kid." "You got a lot of spunk, kid." So Flick actually goes through with his crazy plan.
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He leaves Ant Island, something no ant has done before, and heads to the big city to find warriors.
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But there's just one problem.
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The bugs he finds aren't actually warriors, they're circus performers.
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When Flick met them, he misunderstood how they defeated some menacing flies.
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So, he offers them the job to protect the colony.
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"Will you help us?" "Where are they?" "We'll take the job !" "Yeah, come on !" "Really?" "No,
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no, no !" "You can explain the details on the way." "Heh heh !" "Okay, come on everyone, break a leg !" "Whoa!
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You're vicious !" "Hold on, Mr. Ant !" "Amazing!
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This is too good to be true !" See, the circus performers believe that Flick is offering them a theatrical job, Flick said that he's scouting for bugs,
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which means he's searching for them they understand he's a talent scout, someone who looks for talented individuals.
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For example, scouts might go to university football games to find someone to join their professional team.
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In theater, there's a superstition that it's bad luck to wish someone good luck before a performance.
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Instead, we say "break a leg." However, Luke takes this literally and thinks he really has found some strong bugs that can defend them.
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That's why he says "you're vicious." Let's watch what happens when Flick brings the warriors back to the colony.
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We're gonna need a miracle!
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That's right, we need a miracle!
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Run for your life!
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Ta -da!
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Once again, our reputation precedes us.
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Hey, everybody!
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Hey!
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I'm back!
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Hey, guys!
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Hey!
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Look who's here with me!
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Flick!
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Flick, Flick, you're back!
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I knew you could do it!
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Ha!
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Flick has returned!
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He's back?
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And he's accompanied by savage insects.
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What?
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How?
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He wasn't supposed to actually find someone?
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Oh, look at this, look at this, this is great, look.
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Oh, my tickler!
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Oh, kids, he's kinda ticklish.
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Come on now, careful.
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Well, my boy, you came through.
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Acy and I are fun.
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Very impressed.
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- I had it!
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Did you see that really big bug over there?
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- He looks absolutely ferocious.
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- They're our ticket out of this mess!
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- They came just in time.
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- That's right!
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So Princess Atta, what do you think?
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No, no, no, wait.
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This was not supposed to happen.
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Mayday, mayday.
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We're losing the job.
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We gotta sweeten the deal.
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Your Majesty!
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Ladies and gentlemen, Boys and girls of all ages!
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Our true peer guarantees a performance like no other.
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Why, when your grasshopper friends get here, We are gonna knock them dead!
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Boy, these folks are sure hard up for entertainment.
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Alright, let's learn all the expressions from this chaotic scene and understand the humor.
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Ta -da!
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Once again, our reputation precedes us.
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Now, when someone says, "Our reputation precedes us," They mean that people have already heard about them before they arrive somewhere.
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It means that your reputation arrives before you do.
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The answer ran away scared, so he believes this must be because of their terrible performance.
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When the Beatles first came to America in 1964, their reputation preceded them.
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American teenagers had already heard about their music and fame in Britain, so by the time they arrived, they were greeted by thousands of screening fans.
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Flick has returned!
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He's back?
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And is accompanied by savage insects!
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Let's look at this word "savage".
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It means wild and untamed.
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like a dangerous animal.
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When the ants see these big bugs, they think they look brutal and ferocious, like warriors who could really fight.
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It's meant as a compliment here: they're impressed.
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Earlier, Flick used a very similar word: vicious.
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In modern slang, savage has taken on a new meaning too: People use it to describe someone who's bold, doesn't care what others think, or says something brutally honest.
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For example, if someone makes a really clever comeback in an argument, their friends might say, "Ooh, that was savage !" Check out this other example.
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This card has a lot of memories.
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and you're just gonna throw it all away because you want to kiss some basic girl?
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Savage!
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Brixley isn't just some girl.
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We're probably gonna get married!
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Let's see another connected speech example.
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Look at this, look at this, this is great, look!
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When a word ending with "t" is followed by a word beginning with "th", we usually drop the "t" so that it flows together.
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So, Flix says a smooth, Look at this.
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Look at this.
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Try to say that just like him.
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Look at this.
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Look at this.
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This is great.
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Look.
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Look at this.
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Look at this.
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This is great.
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Look.
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"Look at this, look at this, this is great, look." "Oh my ticker !" Ticker is an informal, old -fashioned word for your heart.
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When someone says, "Oh my ticker," they're expressing that something is so exciting, surprising, or scary that it's affecting their heart.
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It's the kind of expression an older person might use.
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"Oh, kids, he's kinda ticklish.
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Let's come on out, be careful !" In this scene,
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they're referring to Dim, the rhino beetle, who reacts when the young ants run beneath him.
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Most people are ticklish on the bottom of their feet, their sides, or under their arms.
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Alright, let's check out our final connected speech example for today.
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"Let's come on now, careful !" Phrasal verbs like this almost always connect.
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"come" and "on" sound like one word.
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Come on!
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"Come on, come on." And often when a word ends with a T, we cut the sound at the back of the throat.
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This is called a glottal T.
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Let me give you some more examples.
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Say them after me.
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Fight!
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Kat.
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Mute.
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So this phrase sounds like, Come on out.
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Come on out, listen again and say it just like Rosie the Spider.
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And here we have another great come phrasal verb: Listen to what the Queen said.
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To come through means to successfully do what was needed or expected of you.
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It means you delivered on your promise or completed a difficult task.
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The Queen is praising Flick for actually accomplishing his mission bringing back tough bugs.
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Think about when the Avengers needed someone to go back in time and get the infinity stones in Endgame.
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When they succeeded, you could say they really came through when it mattered most.
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Here's another example.
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By the way, the queen's pet is called Aphy, it's because he's an aphid.
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a small insect that eats plant juices which damages and weakens them.
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Now let's test your knowledge again with another quiz.
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Listen to this line:
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"He looks absolutely ferocious !" "Dar I take it out of this mess !" What do you think ferocious means?
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Friendly and kind?
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Fierce and scary?
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Tired and weak?
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you .
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Exactly.
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Ferocious is another word similar to savage and vicious.
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It's often used to describe dangerous animals or intense behavior.
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In The Lion King, Scar is ferocious when he's angry.
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Or think about how ferocious a protective mother Bear is when defending her cubs.
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And we heard another great idiomatic expression here.
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"He looks absolutely ferocious !" "They're our ticket out of this mess !" When something is your ticket out of a situation, it means it's your solution or escape from a problem.
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is what's going to rescue or fix things.
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For example, when someone wins the lottery, people might say, "That's their ticket out of poverty." "No, no, no, wait!
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This was not supposed to happen !" "Mayday, mayday, we're losing the job !" Mayday is an international distress signal used in emergencies especially by ships
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or aircraft in serious trouble.
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It's what you say when you need urgent help.
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Here, The circus bugs are using it dramatically to express that their job opportunity is falling apart.
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If you ever watched Titanic, you remember hearing Mayday when the ship was sinking and calling for help.
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"We gotta sweeten the deal." When you sweeten the deal, you make an offer more attractive by adding something extra.
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It's like adding sugar to make something taste better.
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you're making the arrangement more appealing or beneficial.
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Francis is saying they need to make their offer sound better to convince the ants to give them the job.
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Think about when companies try to recruit talented employees.
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They might sweeten the deal by offering a signing bonus, extra vacation days, or the ability to work from home.
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Now the next line offers some great theatrical expressions that only confuse the ants more.
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To knock them dead means to greatly impress someone or do something extremely well.
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It's an expression performers use, like saying "we're going to give it an amazing performance."
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Or imagine your co -worker is about to give a presentation and is really nervous.
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You might encourage them by saying "knock 'em dead." Of course there's dramatic irony here
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because the circus bugs mean it literally as a performance, while the ants think they mean defeating grasshoppers.
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Finally, when you're hard up for something, you're desperately in need of it or lacking it.
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The circus bugs are observing that the ants must really need entertainment if they're this excited about a circus performance.
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eats plain crackers for dinner, you might joke, "Wow, you must be really hard up for food." And just a reminder that you can get more confident,
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natural English by practicing all of today's expressions with your AI coach.
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Don't miss out on the best price that you'll ever see for a premium.
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It's only available for a few more days, so sign up for your free week now.
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All right, and this is the moment of truth.
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We're going to watch both scenes again without subtitles, and I'm going to ask you some quiz questions to see how much you've absorbed.
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Let's do this.
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What does ludicrous mean?
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Extremely serious and important.
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Completely ridiculous and absurd.
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Somewhat reasonable but risky.
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you you
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Oh, ow, ow.
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You're perfect!
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Oh, great ones!
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I have been scouting for bugs with your exact talents!
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A Talon Scout!
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My colony is in trouble!
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Grasshoppers are coming!
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We've been forced to prepare all this food!
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Genius!
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Here, Jeff!
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Food?
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Please!
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WILL YOU HELP US? Where are they?
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We'll take the job!
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Yeah, we are!
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Really?
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You can explain the details on the way.
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Okay, come on everyone, break a leg!
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Whoa!
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You're vicious!
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Hold on, Mr. Ant!
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Amazing!
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This is too good to be true!
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We're gonna need a miracle!
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That's right, we need a miracle!
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Ta -da!
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"Ugh, once again our reputation precedes us." When someone says "our reputation precedes us" they mean: They're famous for being early.
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People have heard about them before they arrived.
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They're always running behind schedule.
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Hey everybody!
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Hey!
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I'm back!
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Hey guys!
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Hey!
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Look, look, look who's here with me!
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Flick!
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Flick, Flick, you're back!
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I knew you could do it!
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Ha!
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Flick has returned!
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He's back?
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And he's accompanied by savage insects.
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What?
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How?
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I - He wasn't supposed to actually find someone?
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Oh, look at this, look at this, this is great, look.
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Oh my dicker!
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Oh, kids!
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He's kinda ticklish!
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Let's come in now, careful!
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*Gunshot
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Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot *
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*Gunshot
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Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot *
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*Gunshot
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Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot Gunshot *
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When you successfully complete a difficult task that someone asks you to do, you come through.
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- Well, my boy, you came through.
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Acy and I are very impressed.
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- I'm glad, did you see that really big bug over there?
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- He looks absolutely ferocious.
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- They're our ticket out of this mess.
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- They came just in time.
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- And that's right.
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So, Princess Atta, what do you think?
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No, no, no, wait!
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This was not supposed to happen!
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Mayday, mayday, we're losing the job.
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We gotta sweeten the deal.
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Your Majesty!
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Ladies and gentlemen, Boys and girls of all ages!
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Our troop peer guarantees a performance like no other!
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Why, when your grasshopper friends get here, We are gonna knock them dead!
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Match the expression to its meaning: you
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"Boy, these folks are sure hard up for entertainment !" True or false?
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If you're hard up for something, it means you have plenty of it and don't need more.
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False.
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It means you desperately need it or are lacking it.
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Awesome job today!
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And if you like being able to understand your favorite series, movies, celebrities, and more, without getting lost,
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without missing the jokes, and without subtitles, we help you to do exactly that every single week here at Learnings with TV series, so don't miss a single new lesson.
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Hit that subscribe button and the bell down below.
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I mean, over 10 million learners from around the world can't be wrong, so join our community now.
354
And if you're sticking with us here, you might want to watch this lesson next. Do something!
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Don't just stand there!
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I need you to intervene!
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You want me to intervene?
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Okay!
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I'm intervening!
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I'm intervening!
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Let go of your brother!
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- No. Get the door!
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Hey Lucius!
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Hey Speedo!
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Hey Helen, Bob, Jack -Jack.
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Hey!
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I sub you to drop by!
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Never heard that one before.
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Colourous!
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Go!
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About This Lesson
In this lesson, learners will practice their English speaking skills through an engaging scene from Disney's beloved movie, A Bug's Life. You’ll be introduced to exciting vocabulary and phrases, all while learning how to shadow the dialogue for better pronunciation and fluency. This technique, known as shadow speech, can help you internalize the rhythm and tone of authentic English conversations. By focusing on the characters' emotions and expressions, you will enhance your listening skills and become more comfortable with spontaneous dialogues.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Rid (someone) of (something): To remove or free someone from something unwanted. Example: "They wanted to rid the world of hunger."
- Gang: A group of people that regularly associate and often engage in questionable activities.
- Volunteer: To offer oneself for a task without being paid or forced to do so.
- Perfect: To describe something that is entirely without flaws or defects.
- Crazy idea: A thought or plan that seems absurd or illogical but may lead to creativity and innovation.
- Spunk: Courage and determination; an energetic and spirited attitude.
- Accidentally: Doing something by mistake; unintentionally.
- Colony: A group of anthills or a community of organisms living together, usually referring to ants in this context.
Practice Tips
To make the most out of this English speaking practice, consider implementing the following shadow speak techniques while watching the video:
- Focus on Tone and Emotion: Pay attention to how the characters convey their feelings through their tone. Try to mimic their inflections and emotional expressions as you practice.
- Pause and Repeat: After a character speaks, pause the video and repeat their lines out loud. This mimicry is a key component of effective shadowing, letting you grasp the natural flow of English.
- Practice at Different Speeds: The original dialogue may be fast-paced. Start by slowing down the video, and gradually increase the speed as you become more confident. This will help you adapt your spoken English to various speeds encountered in real conversations.
- Speak Along with the Video: Try to speak along with the characters. This immersive technique not only improves pronunciation but also enhances your listening skills.
- Use a Mirror: Practicing in front of a mirror can help you observe your facial expressions and body language, which are essential aspects of effective communication.
By applying these tips and focusing on the vocabulary presented, learners can significantly enhance their speaking abilities while enjoying the humorous and engaging world of A Bug's Life. So let's get started with your shadowing journey!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has really buggered · you've learned · I've been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is followed · is often reduced · were greeted |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who hang · someone who looks |
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.