Shadowing Practice: Learn English with Disney's COCO — Crossing the Flower Bridge - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
Hey!
312 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hey!
2
Ha-ha!
3
Ah!
4
Ah!
5
Ah!
6
Ah!
7
Ah!
8
Ah!
9
Ah!
10
Almost!
11
Ah!
12
Just a little further!
13
Ah!
14
Ah!
15
Ah!
16
Ah!
17
Obsidacy!
18
Fine!
19
Okay!
20
Fine!
21
Who cares?
22
Dumb flower bridge!
23
Aww!
24
I don't know what I'd do if no one put up my photo!
25
Next?
26
Oh!
27
What happens if no one in the living world remembers you?
28
Well, in the movie Coco,
29
spirits can only cross the bridge to visit their relatives on Dia de los Muertos
30
if someone has put up their photo on an ofrenda, like this.
31
But what if they are forgotten,
32
and their photo isn't on any ofrenda?
33
In today's lesson, we'll learn a ton of advanced English vocabulary while seeing this guy,
34
actor, try to sneak past the border checkpoint and cross the bridge.
35
In these two clips we'll watch today,
36
there are some great expressions like zip right over and clean up your act.
37
Every single advanced word explained today is included in the deck
38
of flashcards we created especially for this lesson with Coco on our own app.
39
The special link below will get you straight to the lesson over there,
40
where you can continue watching and practice your vocabulary.
41
Go check it out!
42
Alright now let's watch the first scene with actor trying to fool the officer and cross the bridge.
43
Next!
44
Yes, it is I, Frida Kahlo.
45
Shall we skip this canon?
46
Among so many of your friends it'll just overwhelm your blinky thingy.
47
Well shoot, looks like no one put up your photo.
48
Oh, Frida.
49
Okay, when I said I was Frida,
50
just now, that was a lie.
51
And I apologize for doing that.
52
No photo on an offranda, no crossing the bridge.
53
You know what?
54
I'm just gonna zip right over.
55
You won't even know I'm gone!
56
Almost!
57
Just a little further!
58
Obsidation.
59
Fine, okay.
60
Fine, who cares?
61
Dumb flower bridge!
62
Serving the peace, fleeing an officer, falsifying a unibrow.
63
That's illegal?
64
Very illegal.
65
You need to clean up your act, amigo.
66
Amigo?
67
Oh, that's so nice to hear you say that
68
because I've just had a really hard beady muertos and I could really use an amigo right now.
69
And amigos, they help their amigos.
70
Okay, so just so we can understand the context of the movie,
71
you should know that in Mexican culture on Dia de los Muertos,
72
people set up ofrendas or altars in their homes,
73
decorating them with candles, food,
74
and most importantly, photos of their ancestors.
75
The belief is that on this special night,
76
the spirits of these relatives can return to visit their families.
77
But there is a rule,
78
they can only cross the flower bridge between the worlds if their photo is on an ofrenda.
79
Shall we skip the scanner?
80
Among so many ofrendas it'll just overwhelm your blinky thingy.
81
Well shoot, looks like no one put up your photo, Frida.
82
When Hector tries to trick the scanner by dressing up as this famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo,
83
He thinks that since she's so famous,
84
lots of people must have put up or placed her photo on their offenders.
85
In fact, he jokes that there are so many that the scanner might get confused.
86
He calls the machine a blinky thingy.
87
Blinky describes blinking or flashing lights,
88
and a thingy is just a funny way to say a thing
89
when you don't know or don't want to say the real name.
90
Check it out in this example.
91
Erase him!
92
Drop the bubble guns, or I will mess with this gravity thingy.
93
Well, shoot, looks like no one put up your photo.
94
Frida, no photo on an ofrenda, no crossing the bridge.
95
Shoot is a soft word for a more vulgar shit.
96
This scene is both funny and important to the story because it shows how important the ofrenda and family traditions are.
97
If no one remembers a person,
98
they can't visit, and eventually their memory fades away completely.
99
That's one of the big themes of the movie being remembered by your loved ones keeps your life in their hearts.
100
You know what?
101
I'm just gonna zip right over.
102
You won't even know I'm gone!
103
If you zip somewhere, it means you move or go there very quickly.
104
Just imagine how a zipper moves up and down on a jacket, fast and smooth.
105
Probably the head of police cars and ambulances just zipping all over the place.
106
Serving the peace, fleeing an officer, falsifying a unibrow.
107
That's illegal? very illegal.
108
Now we see actor at the police station getting in trouble for breaking the rules.
109
When he tried to run to the bridge without permission,
110
he was fleeing an officer.
111
To flee means to run away from a place,
112
usually because of danger, like when people flee their country during a war.
113
Sturbing the peace, fleeing an officer, falsifying a unibrow.
114
That's illegal?
115
Very illegal.
116
Remember actor dressed up as Frida?
117
Well, Frida was famous for her thick connected diapers,
118
which are often called a unibrow when they grow together.
119
So when actor was wearing a fake unibrow to disguise himself,
120
he was falsifying it.
121
To falsify means to fake something.
122
Quite funny that the officer is saying it's very illegal to falsify a unibrow.
123
This is my case against him.
124
Falsifying DNA tests, coerced confessions.
125
You need to clean up your act, amigo.
126
Amigo?
127
Oh, that's so nice to hear you say that because I've just had a really hard via the puertos.
128
If you need to clean up your act,
129
it means you need to start behaving better or more responsibly.
130
It's an informal phrase often used to give advice or warning,
131
like in this situation.
132
Come on, Dad, we've got a long way to go.
133
You can't stay mad at me the whole time.
134
Boy, if you were half as smart as you think you are,
135
you'd clean up your act.
136
Well, maybe pulling pranks is the only thing I'm good at.
137
At least you have something you're good at.
138
Now let's practice the advanced pronunciation we hear in this phrase.
139
You need to clean up your act, amigo.
140
Do you notice all the connected speech in it?
141
This is how natives cut,
142
reduce and link words in fast speech.
143
So the D sound from need morphs into the T sound from to,
144
making it sound like you need to.
145
Clean up also blend together.
146
The N sound links to the next vowel,
147
so it sounds like clean up.
148
And the R sound from your connects to the next vowel sound, your act.
149
Now, listen to the stress pattern.
150
The words you, clean and act are stressed,
151
meaning we pronounce them more clearly and strongly.
152
You need to clean up your act.
153
This rhythm, the mix of stressed and unstressed syllables,
154
is what gives English its natural melody.
155
Now listen again and repeat.
156
You need to clean up your act, amigo.
157
Now, before we move on to watch the second part of their conversation,
158
let me ask you.
159
Do you ever forget the words you learn right when you need them in a conversation?
160
Today, we're seeing several of these expressions,
161
so I'm talking about when you try to speak,
162
but these new words disappear and the conversation feels awkward.
163
Trust me, I know how that feels.
164
And that's exactly why we created the RealLife English app,
165
to help you remember vocabulary and speak more confidently.
166
Every lesson, including this one,
167
comes with a full transcript and flashcards powered by Space to Repetition,
168
a smart system that helps you review words at the right time so you don't forget them.
169
You can unlock this lesson for free by clicking the link below
170
or just search for RealLife English in the App Store or Google Play.
171
But the link below will get you straight to this lesson
172
which is free if it's your first one and I'll see you there!
173
Listen, you get me across that bridge tonight and I'll make it worth your while.
174
Oh, you like Vela Cruz?
175
He and I go way back!
176
I can get you front row seats to his Sunrise Spectacular show!
177
I'll get you backstage!
178
You can meet him!
179
You just gotta let me cross that bridge!
180
I should lock you up for the rest of the holiday.
181
But my shift's almost stopping.
182
I want to visit my living family.
183
So I'm letting you off with a warning.
184
Can I at least get my costume back?
185
Uh...
186
No. Ah!
187
Some amigo.
188
Actor desperately tries to bribe,
189
dishonestly persuade the officer with something valuable,
190
enough of it that makes it worth his while.
191
When something is worth your while,
192
it means you'll appreciate giving your time and attention to it.
193
If you're still willing to drive me to the train station,
194
I can make it worth your while.
195
Yeah, I'm in.
196
And no charge.
197
Consider it a freebie.
198
Why?
199
Because I wish I was going with you.
200
Hector sees the poster of Ernesto de la Cruz,
201
a famous artist, and promises the officer front row seats to his big show.
202
Let's listen to this part again.
203
Oh, you like de la Cruz?
204
He and I go way back.
205
I can get you front row seats to his sunrise spectacle.
206
What do you think the phrase,
207
he and I go way back, mean?
208
It means we have a long history together,
209
or in other words, we have known each other for a very long time.
210
This phrase is commonly used in English to talk about long-term relationships or friendships.
211
For example, Sarah and I go way back.
212
We've been friends since kindergarten.
213
Guys, this is Frankie from the health department.
214
We go way back.
215
If you're a fan attending a concert of a favorite artist,
216
you would want to have front row seats.
217
These are the best seats right in front of the stage.
218
And after the concert, you would probably love to go backstage
219
or the area behind the stage where the performers and crew are.
220
I should lock you up for the rest of the holiday,
221
but my shift's almost up and I want to visit my living family,
222
so I'm letting you off with a warning.
223
A shift is a period of working time.
224
When your shift is up,
225
it means your working hours are over.
226
Another common collocation with the word up in the meaning of being over is time's up,
227
meaning that time is over,
228
there is no more time.
229
Check out these examples.
230
Well, my shift is up.
231
Have a happy new year, Amy.
232
Thank you.
233
Okay, and...
234
Time's up!
235
Trading period is ended.
236
I should lock you up for the rest of the holiday,
237
but my shift's almost stopping.
238
I want to visit my living family,
239
so I'm letting you off with a warning.
240
The officer could punish Hector and lock him up,
241
but instead chooses to let him off with a warning.
242
This means not to punish him as severely as expected,
243
to let him go and just warn him not to do it again.
244
Good job today!
245
And now prepare for the test.
246
Let's watch the clip one last time,
247
this time without subtitles, and you will see just how much easier it is to understand everything they are saying.
248
This method works like magic.
249
To make it even more fun and engaging,
250
I've prepared some vocabulary quiz questions for you.
251
Let's go!
252
Next!
253
Yes, it is I, Frida Kahlo.
254
Shall we skip this counter?
255
I'm on so many ofrendas,
256
it'll just overwhelm your blinky thingy.
257
Well, shoot.
258
Looks like no one put up your photo, Frida.
259
Okay, when I said I was Frida,
260
just now, that was a lie.
261
And I apologize for doing that.
262
No photo on an ofrenda.
263
No crossing the bridge.
264
You know what?
265
I'm just gonna zip right over.
266
You won't even know I'm gone.
267
Almost there!
268
Just a little further!
269
Obsidazing!
270
Fine, okay.
271
Fine, who cares?
272
Dumb flower bridge!
273
Sturbing the peace, fleeing an officer, falsifying a unibrow...
274
That's illegal?
275
Very illegal!
276
Which of the following is a synonym to falsify?
277
Verify, fake, impersonate.
278
You need to clean up your act, amigo.
279
Amigo?
280
Oh, that's so nice to hear you say that
281
because I've just had a really hard via de puertos and I could really use an amigo right now.
282
And amigos, they help their amigos.
283
Listen, you get me across that bridge tonight and I'll make it worth your while.
284
If you need to clean up your act,
285
you're asked to clean up your face,
286
have official documents, or improve your behavior.
287
You get me across that bridge tonight and I'll make it worth your while.
288
Oh, you like Vela Cruz?
289
He and I go way back.
290
I can get you front row seats to his Sunrise Spectacular show.
291
I'll get you backstage.
292
You can meet him.
293
You just gotta let me cross that bridge.
294
Which phrase means you've known someone for a very long time.
295
We go way back.
296
We know our way.
297
We're back on our way.
298
I should lock you up for the rest of the holiday,
299
but my shift's almost stopping.
300
I want to visit my living family,
301
so I'm letting you off with a warning.
302
Can I at least get my costume back?
303
Uh, no. Some amigo.
304
When your shift is over,
305
you may say, my shift is stopped, up, down.
306
That's it for today.
307
Thank you for learning with us.
308
Remember to practice new words and expressions with the flashcards on our RealLife English app.
309
You'll find a special link right in the description below,
310
just use a smartphone to get started.
311
It's the easiest way to make these words stick with you forever.
312
Oh, ain't I mad a monster and you're talking SRO?
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
The video titled "Learn English with Disney's COCO — Crossing the Flower Bridge" provides an engaging context for English learners through a popular animated film. In this scene, we hear a character discuss the significance of memory and recognition in the afterlife during Dia de los Muertos. The dialogue involves navigating obstacles, such as the Flower Bridge, which serves as a metaphor for barriers in both language and life. By immersing learners in this vibrant narrative, the speaker encourages an exploration of advanced vocabulary and expressions, enhancing understanding and practical usage in everyday scenarios.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Zip right over” - to quickly move or arrive at a location.
- “Clean up your act” - to improve one's behavior or performance.
- “Aww!” - an expression of sympathy or disappointment.
- “Who cares?” - a casual way to express indifference.
- “That was a lie” - a straightforward admission of dishonesty.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize the shadowing technique with this video, follow these steps to improve your English pronunciation and speaking skills:
- Watch the Scene: Begin by watching the selected scene without pausing. Familiarize yourself with the characters, tone, and emotion in the dialogue.
- Listen Closely: Replay the video segment, focusing intently on the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers. Pay attention to how they express emotions through their speech.
- Start Shadowing: Play the video again and mimic the speakers' dialogue in real-time. This helps in improving your fluency and strengthens your accent. Try to match their speed and emotion, a method linked to shadowspeaks.
- Pause and Repeat: If a phrase feels challenging, pause the video and repeat it several times. This helps solidify the phrase in your memory. Practice saying “zip right over” with the same enthusiasm as the character.
- Apply in Daily Conversations: Incorporate the phrases learned, such as “clean up your act” and “who cares,” into your daily English speaking practice. This will make your communication more natural and expressive.
By following this structured approach, you can enhance your skills effectively while enjoying the delightful story of Coco. Shadowing strengthens your ability to converse fluently and confidently in English, inspiring you to keep practicing and learning.
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏