Shadowing Practice: Learn English with Interesting Stories | B1 Level - Learn English Speaking with Video
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425 sentences
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1
Hello and welcome back!
2
Today, we have a beautiful and inspiring English story to help you practice in a fun and easy way.
3
First, listen to the story, and then focus on learning some useful vocabulary from it.
4
By following each part of the video, you'll see a big improvement in your English skills.
5
Let's get started!
6
This is the story of Patricia, A woman whose special talent nobody knew about.
7
Until something incredible happened.
8
But we'll get to that later.
9
Patricia had one big passion in life.
10
She loved novels and stories.
11
Since she was a child, she had spent most of her time reading and writing poems and short stories.
12
Whenever she found an exciting book, she couldn't put it down.
13
At work, Patricia was quiet and didn't attract much attention.
14
She'd been working at a small publishing house since she was 24 as an editor.
15
Her job was to read all the books sent to the company and decide which ones were good enough to publish.
16
Most of the books didn't really interest her.
17
Because of her curiosity and love for reading, Patricia often spent hours in the old archives of the company.
18
That dusty room was full of hundreds of old books and manuscripts,
19
most of which had never seen the light of day.
20
One day, while browsing through the archive shelves, Patricia found an old, yellowed manuscript that caught her eye.
21
The title read, The Shadows of Memory.
22
Curious, she started to read it.
23
In all her years at the publishing house, Patricia had never come across a story like this.
24
It was gripping, emotional, and deeply moving.
25
It touched something in her heart.
26
She read late into the night and couldn't stop, even though she was tired.
27
But then, after 142 pages, the manuscript suddenly cut off, right in the middle of a sentence.
28
The story was about a writer going through a serious life crisis.
29
He had lost his ability to write.
30
Patricia felt a strong connection to the main character.
31
They were strangely similar.
32
But why was the story never finished?
33
And who had written it?
34
There was no name anywhere.
35
The next day, Patricia decided to investigate.
36
She started looking for anyone who might help her find the author of the manuscript.
37
It wasn't easy.
38
In fact, it seemed almost impossible.
39
Nobody had any information for her.
40
But during a phone call, someone gave her a clue.
41
They told her to speak with a man named Elias.
42
Maybe he could help. Who was Elias?
43
And was he really someone who could solve this mystery?
44
Patricia had to find out.
45
So she decided to go meet him.
46
She was nervous.
47
She didn't know what to expect.
48
Her mind was full of questions as she stepped into the subway.
49
When she finally arrived at Elias' house, she rang the doorbell.
50
Her heart was beating fast.
51
A grey -haired man with glasses opened the door.
52
Who are you looking for?
53
Hello.
54
Are you Elias?
55
Yes, that's me.
56
Are you from the building management?
57
No, I'm here because of a book.
58
I was told you might be able to help me with an old manuscript.
59
I really need your help.
60
I want to find the author.
61
This book needs to be published.
62
I don't think I can help you, young lady.
63
Please, just give me five minutes to show you the manuscript.
64
All right, but that's all the time I have.
65
After she explained what kind of manuscript it was, something shifted in Elias' mood.
66
He invited her into the living room.
67
Patricia pulled out the copy of The Shadows of Memory and handed it to him.
68
Elias began to read.
69
Suddenly, he didn't seem to be in a rush anymore.
70
He couldn't take his eyes off the pages.
71
Patricia could see that the story meant something to him.
72
But at the same time, she had the feeling that something about the manuscript script was making him uncomfortable.
73
Can you help me find the author?
74
Why do you want to know who wrote it?
75
Because this story moved me deeply.
76
It woke something inside me, something I had forgotten about myself.
77
If I could find the author, I'd ask him so many questions and try to get this book published.
78
The book is unfinished.
79
The author was a good friend of mine.
80
Sadly, he never published any of his work.
81
Patricia froze.
82
How was it possible that Elias knew the author?
83
What strange path had led her to this man?
84
So, you know the author's name and where he lived?
85
Well, my friend, he passed away a long time ago.
86
Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that.
87
Elias couldn't take his eyes off the manuscript.
88
He kept reading, completely absorbed.
89
Patricia noticed how his mood slowly shifted.
90
He looked sad.
91
Something about the story was stirring him up.
92
After a while, he put the pages aside and invited Patricia to sit with him on the sofa across the room.
93
Elias, can I ask you something about your life?
94
What was your job?
95
I was a psychologist, but I used to write novels, too.
96
That was a long time ago.
97
After I lost my daughter, something broke inside me.
98
I fell into a deep crisis.
99
After I lost my daughter, I just couldn't write anymore.
100
Little by little, I also stopped working.
101
Did you ever feel the desire to write again?
102
Elias went quiet, lost in thought.
103
As Patricia watched him, a strange idea hit her.
104
The story in the shadows of memory felt oddly similar to Elias' own life story.
105
Why are you so curious about all this?
106
I don't really know.
107
This manuscript is so beautifully written.
108
If only someone could finish it.
109
Elias let out a deep sigh.
110
I think I need to rest now.
111
Thank you, Elias.
112
I really appreciate you taking the time to see me and letting me show you the manuscript.
113
Take care, Patricia, and thank you for visiting.
114
One more thing, Elias.
115
Do you think you could finish the manuscript?
116
Me?
117
Why would you think that?
118
I don't know.
119
Just a feeling I had, when you were talking about your life.
120
What kind of feeling?
121
Well, that you've been through things like the author and the way you talk.
122
It's so moving.
123
I bet you could tell a story like this.
124
Elias didn't reply.
125
He simply said goodbye and closed the door behind her.
126
That night, Elias couldn't stop thinking about Patricia's words.
127
Could I really finish the story after all this time?
128
He sat down at his old desk.
129
Slowly, almost without realizing it, he began to write.
130
A week later, Elias picked up the phone and called Patricia to talk about the novel.
131
Did you think about what I said when I left?
132
I did, and I decided to finish the book.
133
That's amazing, Elias.
134
When do you plan to start?
135
Well, actually, I already finished it.
136
I stayed up last night and wrote the final chapter.
137
Patricia was speechless.
138
She could hardly wait to read the ending Elias had written.
139
Seven weeks later, the book was finally published.
140
On the cover, it said,
141
The Shadows of Memory, by an unknown author, completed by Elias Carell.
142
Patricia had set up a reading event, and Elias presented the book to the public for the first time.
143
The story, about a writer who lost the ability to write after going through a crisis, deeply moved the audience.
144
People clapped warmly for both the book and for Elias.
145
The next day, the newspapers wrote positive reviews about the novel.
146
Elias couldn't believe how much everyone loved it.
147
He was over the moon.
148
But Patricia noticed that something still seemed to be bothering him.
149
Patricia, you've helped me so much.
150
I think you deserve to know the truth about the book.
151
Patricia looked at him, confused.
152
I was actually the original author of the manuscript you found in the archive.
153
Patricia was speechless.
154
But why did you send the unfinished manuscript to the publisher without your name on it?
155
I gave it to a friend who worked there.
156
I just wanted to show it to him and move on from that part of my life.
157
I never planned to publish it.
158
Somehow, it ended up forgotten in the archive, until you found it.
159
That manuscript was my unfinished autobiography.
160
After my daughter died, I couldn't write any more.
161
I'm so sorry, Elias.
162
No one should have to carry that kind of pain alone.
163
After the book readings were over, Patricia and Elias continued to meet.
164
A deep friendship grew between them.
165
They read unpublished manuscripts together and often talked about what made a book truly great.
166
Eventually, Patricia convinced Elias to publish the second edition of the novel under his real name.
167
After some thought, he agreed.
168
The new release created even more excitement in the literary world.
169
As attention grew around Elias and his story, Patricia stayed in the background.
170
She was simply happy to see the world finally recognizing his talent.
171
Spending time with Elias also led Patricia to an important personal decision.
172
She decided to leave her job at the publishing house and focus on writing a novel.
173
Patricia threw herself into writing, working so hard that she didn't see Elias for months.
174
She missed him and often wished they could sit down and talk about books and writing like before.
175
But her novel demanded focus and discipline.
176
She organised a reading in the same hall where Elias had once launched his book.
177
As she began to read, her eyes landed on a familiar face in the front row.
178
Elias was there, smiling at her.
179
How did he know about the event?
180
The man who had inspired her to become a writer had come to her first reading.
181
As her own novel about her journey with Elias began to attract attention, Patricia received sad news.
182
Elias had passed away at the age of 79.
183
She had lost not only her best friend, but also her mentor.
184
For a while, Patricia withdrew from public life and mourned in silence.
185
But after some time, she made a decision.
186
She created a literary fund to support writers who were going through difficult times or whose talent hadn't been discovered yet.
187
She donated a portion of her book's earnings to start the fund and began collecting donations.
188
She also searched for writers she could help
189
and organised a large charity event that drew a lot of attention and raised a lot of money.
190
As Patricia stood in front of the crowd that evening,
191
she thought to herself, What could be more meaningful than passing on the same gift I once received?
192
Let's look at the important vocabulary and expressions from the story.
193
The novel.
194
A long -written story about people and events that are not real.
195
Patricia had one big passion in life.
196
She loved novels and stories.
197
James read a mystery novel during his vacation,
198
to publish, to print and sell a book, magazine or article.
199
Her job was to read
200
Read all the books sent to the company and decide which ones were good enough to publish.
201
The author was excited to publish her first cookbook.
202
The Archive.
203
A place where old documents or records are stored.
204
Because of her curiosity and love for reading, Patricia often spent hours in the old archives of the company.
205
The museum's archive holds letters from famous artists.
206
The manuscript.
207
The original copy of a book or article before it is published.
208
One day, while browsing through the archive shelves,
209
Patricia found an old yellowed manuscript that caught her eye.
210
The writer showed me the manuscript of his new story.
211
The author, a person who writes books or articles.
212
She started looking for anyone who might help her find the author of the manuscript.
213
The author signed books for fans after the event.
214
To give someone a clue, to share a small piece of information that helps solve a problem or mystery,
215
nobody had any information for her.
216
But during a phone call, someone gave her a clue.
217
The map gave them a clue about where the treasure was hidden. To present.
218
To show or introduce something to a group of people.
219
Patricia had set up a reading event, and Elias presented the book to the public for the first time.
220
She will present her science project to the class tomorrow.
221
The audience.
222
A group of people who watch or listen to something, like a show or speech.
223
The story about a writer who lost the ability to write after going through a crisis, deeply moved the audience.
224
The audience clapped loudly after the performance, to be over the moon, to be extremely happy.
225
Elias couldn't believe how much everyone loved it.
226
He was over the moon.
227
She was over the moon when she got the job offer.
228
The talent.
229
A natural skill or ability.
230
She was simply happy to see the world finally recognizing his talent.
231
He has a real talent for drawing.
232
The mentor.
233
a person who gives guidance and advice to someone with less experience.
234
She had lost not only her best friend, but also her mentor.
235
My art teacher became my mentor and helped me improve my skills.
236
The Fund.
237
Money collected and saved for a special purpose.
238
She created a literary fund to support writers who were going through difficult times or whose talent hadn't been discovered yet.
239
The school started a fund to buy new computers.
240
Now listen to the story again, without subtitles, and focus only on listening.
241
This is the story of Patricia, a woman whose special talent nobody knew about, until something incredible happened.
242
But we'll get to that later.
243
Patricia had one big passion in life.
244
She loved novels and stories.
245
Since she was a child, she had spent most of her time reading and writing poems and short stories.
246
Whenever she found an exciting book, she couldn't put it down.
247
At work, Patricia was quiet and didn't attract much attention.
248
She'd been working at a small publishing house since she was 24 as an editor.
249
Her job was to read all the books sent to the company and decide which ones were good enough to publish.
250
Most of the books didn't really interest her.
251
Because of her curiosity and love for reading, Patricia often spent hours in the old archives of the company.
252
That dusty room was full of hundreds of old books and manuscripts,
253
most of which had never seen the light of day.
254
One day, while browsing through the archive shelves, Patricia found an old yellowed manuscript that caught her eye.
255
The title read, The Shadows of Memory.
256
Curious, she started to read it.
257
In all her years at the publishing house, Patricia had never come across a story like this.
258
It was gripping, emotional, and deeply moving.
259
It touched something in her heart.
260
She read late into the night and couldn't stop, even though she was tired.
261
But then, after 142 pages, the manuscript suddenly cut off, right in the middle of a sentence.
262
The story was about a writer going through a serious life crisis.
263
He had lost his ability to write.
264
Patricia felt a strong connection to the main character.
265
They were strangely similar.
266
But why was the story never finished?
267
And who had written it?
268
There was no name anywhere.
269
The next day, Patricia decided to investigate.
270
She started looking for anyone who might help her find the author of the manuscript.
271
It wasn't easy.
272
In fact, it seemed almost impossible.
273
Nobody had any information for her.
274
But during a phone call, someone gave her a clue.
275
They told her to speak with a man named Elias.
276
Maybe he could help. Who was Elias?
277
And was he really someone who could solve this mystery?
278
Patricia had to find out.
279
So she decided to go meet him.
280
She was nervous.
281
She didn't know what to expect.
282
Her mind was full of questions as she stepped into the subway.
283
When she finally arrived at Elias' house, she rang the doorbell.
284
Her heart was beating fast.
285
A gray -haired man with glasses opened the door.
286
Who are you looking for?
287
Hello.
288
Are you Elias?
289
Yes, that's me.
290
Are you from the building management?
291
No, I'm here because of a book.
292
I was told you might be able to help me with an old manuscript.
293
I really need your help.
294
I want to find the author.
295
This book needs to be published.
296
I don't think I can help you, young lady.
297
Please, just give me five minutes to show you the manuscript.
298
All right, but that's all the time I have.
299
After she explained what kind of manuscript it was, something shifted in Elias' mood.
300
He invited her into the living room.
301
Patricia pulled out the copy of The Shadows of Memory and handed it to him.
302
Elias began to read.
303
Suddenly, he didn't seem to be in a rush anymore.
304
He couldn't take his eyes off the pages.
305
Patricia could see that the story meant something to him.
306
But at the same time, she had the feeling that something about the manuscript was making him uncomfortable.
307
Can you help me find the author?
308
Why do you want to know who wrote it?
309
Because this story moved me deeply.
310
It woke something inside me, something I had forgotten about myself.
311
If I could find the author, I'd ask him so many questions and try to get this book published.
312
The book is unfinished.
313
The author was a good friend of mine.
314
Sadly, he never published any of his work.
315
Patricia froze.
316
How was it possible that Elias knew the author?
317
What strange path had led her to this man?
318
So, you know the author's name and where he lived?
319
Well, my friend, he passed away a long time ago.
320
Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that.
321
Elias couldn't take his eyes off the manuscript.
322
He kept reading, completely absorbed.
323
Patricia noticed how his mood slowly shifted.
324
He looked sad.
325
Something about the story was stirring him up.
326
After a while, he put the pages aside and invited Patricia to sit with him on the sofa across the room.
327
Elias, can I ask you something about your life?
328
What was your job?
329
I was a psychologist, but I used to write novels, too.
330
That was a long time ago.
331
After I lost my daughter, something broke inside me.
332
I fell into a deep crisis.
333
After I lost my daughter, I just couldn't write anymore.
334
Little by little I also stopped working.
335
Did you ever feel the desire to write again?
336
Elias went quiet, lost in thought.
337
As Patricia watched him, a strange idea hit her.
338
The story in the shadows of memory felt oddly similar to Elias's own life story.
339
Why are you so curious about all this?
340
I don't really know.
341
This manuscript is so beautifully written.
342
If only someone could finish it.
343
Elias let out a deep sigh.
344
I think I need to rest now.
345
Thank you, Elias.
346
I really appreciate you taking the time to see me and letting me show you the manuscript.
347
Take care, Patricia, and thank you for visiting.
348
One more thing, Elias.
349
Do you think you could finish the manuscript?
350
Me?
351
Why would you think that?
352
I don't know.
353
Just a feeling I had when you were talking about your life.
354
What kind of feeling?
355
Well, that you've been through things like the author and the way you talk is so moving.
356
I bet you could tell a story like this.
357
Elias didn't reply.
358
He simply said goodbye and closed the door behind her.
359
That night, Elias couldn't stop thinking about Patricia's words.
360
Could I really finish the story, after all this time?
361
He sat down at his old desk.
362
Slowly, almost without realizing it, he began to write.
363
A week later, Elias picked up the phone and called Patricia to talk about the novel.
364
Did you think about what I said when I left?
365
I did, and I decided to finish the book.
366
That's amazing, Elias.
367
When do you plan to start?
368
Well, actually, I already finished it.
369
I stayed up last night and wrote the final chapter.
370
Patricia was speechless.
371
She could hardly wait to read the ending Elias had written.
372
Seven weeks later, the book was finally published.
373
On the cover, it said,
374
The Shadows of Memory, by an unknown author, completed by Elias Carell.
375
Patricia had set up a reading event, and Elias presented the book to the public for the first time.
376
The story, about a writer who lost the ability to write after going through a crisis, deeply moved the audience.
377
People clapped warmly for both the book and for Elias.
378
The next day, the newspapers wrote positive reviews about the novel.
379
Elias couldn't believe how much everyone loved it.
380
He was over the moon.
381
But Patricia noticed that something still seemed to be bothering him.
382
Patricia, you've helped me so much.
383
I think you deserve to know the truth about the book.
384
Patricia looked at him, confused.
385
I was actually the original author of the manuscript you found in the archive.
386
Patricia was speechless.
387
But why did you send the unfinished manuscript to the publisher without your name on it?
388
I gave it to a friend who worked there.
389
I just wanted to show it to him and move on from that part of my life.
390
I never planned to publish it.
391
Somehow it ended up forgotten in the archive, until you found it.
392
That manuscript was my unfinished autobiography.
393
After my daughter died, I couldn't write any more.
394
I'm so sorry, Elias.
395
No one should have to carry that kind of pain alone.
396
After the book readings were over, Patricia and Elias continued to meet.
397
A deep friendship grew between them.
398
They read unpublished manuscripts together and often talked about what made a book truly great.
399
Eventually, Patricia convinced Elias to publish the second edition of the novel under his real name.
400
After some thought, he agreed.
401
The new release created even more excitement in the literary world.
402
As attention grew around Elias and his story, Patricia stayed in the background.
403
She was simply happy to see the world finally recognizing his talent.
404
Spending time with Elias also led Patricia to an important personal decision.
405
She decided to leave her job at the publishing house and focus on writing a novel.
406
Patricia threw herself into writing, working so hard that she didn't see Elias for months.
407
She missed him and often wished they could sit down and talk about books and writing like before.
408
But her novel demanded focus and discipline.
409
She organized a reading in the same hall where Elias had once launched his book.
410
As she began to read, her eyes landed on a familiar face in the front row.
411
Elias was there, smiling at her.
412
How did he know about the event?
413
The man who had inspired her to become a writer had come to her first reading.
414
As her own novel about her journey with Elias began to attract attention, Patricia received sad news.
415
Elias had passed away at the age of 79.
416
She had lost not only her best friend, but also her mentor.
417
For a while, Patricia withdrew from public life and mourned in silence.
418
But after some time, she made a decision.
419
She created a literary fund to support writers who were going through difficult times or whose talent hadn't been discovered yet.
420
She donated a portion of her book's earnings to start the fund and began collecting donations.
421
She also searched for writers she could help,
422
and organised a large charity event that drew a lot of attention and raised a lot of money.
423
As Patricia stood in front of the crowd that evening,
424
she thought to herself, What could be more meaningful than passing on the same gift I once received?
425
Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn English with Interesting Stories”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Elias, Patricia, manuscript, author, novel. This video has 425 sentences and 4000 words to shadow. The speech runs for 36:22. The speaker talks at a steady 110 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| manuscript noun | /ˈmæn.jəˌskɹɪpt/ | A book, composition or any other document, written by hand (or manually typewritten), not mechanically reproduced. |
| publish verb | /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ | To issue (something, such as printed work) for distribution and/or sale. |
| archive noun | /ˈɑɹˌkaɪv/ | A repository or other place for storing material (such as documents and records) no longer in current use, and usually having historical value. |
| shadow noun | /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ | A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| unfinished adjective | /ʌnˈfɪnɪʃt/ | Not completed; unresolved. |
| literary adjective | /ˈlɪt.(ə.)ɹə.ɹi/ | Relating to literature. |
| clue noun | /kluː/ | Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion. |
| mentor noun | /ˈmɛn.tɔː/ | A wise and trusted counselor or teacher. |
| curious adjective | /ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/ | Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying. |
| mystery noun | /ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/ | Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown. |
| mood noun | /muːd/ | A mental or emotional state, composure. |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| attract verb | /əˈtɹækt/ | To pull toward without touching. |
| passion noun | /ˈpæʃən/ | A true desire sustained or prolonged. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
| come across verb | To change sides; to cross over to work for the opposition. | |
| cut off verb | /ˌkʌt ˈɔf/ [ˌkɐɾ ˈɔf] | To remove by cutting. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| let out verb | To release. | |
| pass away verb | To die. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Who are you looking for?
- Are you from the building management?
- Can you help me find the author?
- Why do you want to know who wrote it?
- Elias, can I ask you something about your life?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If I could find the author, I'd ask |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to write |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was told · be published · is unfinished |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | anyone who might · someone who could · friend who worked |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 57 contractions and reduced forms, such as couldn't, didn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bother /ˈbɑðɚ/, withdraw /wɪðˈdɹɔ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/, shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, unfinished /ʌnˈfɪnɪʃt/, passion /ˈpæʃən/, shelf /ʃɛlf/
- Long words — get the stress right: literary /ˈlɪt.(ə.)ɹə.ɹi/, curiosity /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/, investigate /ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪt/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, beautifully /ˈbju.tɪ.fə.li/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like manuscript, publish, archive.
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.