Shadowing Practice: Learn English with ZOOTOPIA — JUDY Meets GARY DE’SNAKE - Learn English Speaking with Video

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There's a snake!
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There's a snake!
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Once again, there's a conspiracy in Zootopia, and it's up to Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to uncover the truth.
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In today's lesson, we'll learn with some scenes where Judy meets Gary the Snake, the first snake to be seen in Zootopia in a century
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and she discovers that snakes are not dangerous as she's been told.
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And here's the best part, to help you not only learn all of the expressions we'll cover in today's scenes but also never forget them,
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we want to give you all the smart flashcards for today's lesson for free.
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You can practice them in our app by clicking the link
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Let's see Judy's first encounter with Gary Please you don't have to hurt him
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Hurt him?
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Hurt him?
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Snakes never hurt anyone.
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We aren't the bad guys.
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They are.
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And this journal holds the secret that will prove it.
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I have to prove it.
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Please.
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This is our only chance to set things right.
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And when I do, my family will finally be able to come home.
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So, Gary is immediately trying to convince Judy that snakes have been misunderstood all along.
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Let's break down the language he uses to make his case.
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Snakes.. never hurt anyone.
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We aren't the bad guys.
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They are.
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In everyday English, bad guys means the villains.
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The people doing harm, breaking rules, or causing trouble.
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The opposite, naturally, is the good guys.
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It's a very casual, informal way of talking about heroes and villains.
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You might recognize this from Billie Eilish's hit song, Bad Guy.
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Here, Billie playfully flips the whole idea.
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She's the one claiming to be the bad guy.
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And then, Gary reveals that the Linksley's journal is the key to Zootopia's biggest mystery.
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When something holds a secret, it means that it contains hidden or crucial information that others don't know about.
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We use the verb hold because the object is keeping something inside, like a container.
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You could say, this old letter holds the answer.
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Or her expression held a secret.
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Listen to these other examples.
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This candle holds the miracle given to our family.
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Use this magic to get your father back.
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I can't, not yet.
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I don't understand.
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This holds a power no human can access.
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I think the clock holds a clue, so I need to get back to the garden and to Hattie.
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And I mentioned the RealLife app earlier.
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It really holds the secret for you to be able to speak confident, natural English.
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Why am I so sure?
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We used our experience to build the only English app you'll ever need.
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insecure English learner to being a confident, natural English speaker, even if you only have 10 to 15 minutes per day.
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Watch a short lesson like this one with Zootopia 2, Practice the new words with smart flashcards, which use science to help you remember new words forever,
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and speak the new words in a real conversation, so you feel confident using them in any situation, and practice pronunciation.
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The great thing is we make it super easy for you to do this on the real life app.
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And in fact, you can use the new words you're learning in a guided
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Just click the link in the description.
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Now, I bet you get frustrated when natives speak fast and you can't understand them, right?
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Well, actually, the problem isn't usually about speed.
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It's about connected speech.
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That's how we natives cut, reduce, and link our words together when speaking fluently.
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Listen again to how Gary says, prove it.
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So, connected speech usually happens when we have content words, nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc., and function words,
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articles, particles, pronouns, auxiliary verbs, etc., together.
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Function words link to content words or other function words, and sometimes even reduce or morph.
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This is a simple example.
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Instead of saying prove and it as two separate words, we say a smooth prove it.
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Prove it.
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Your speaking will only improve with lots of practice.
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So listen to Gary again and try to say that just like him.
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In this journal, holds the secret that will prove it.
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Holds the secret that will prove it.
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And we have another great instance of connected speech that we can practice in the clip where Gary first appears
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Mayor Wind Dancer's exclamation almost sounds like just one word first
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the article a usually just reduces to what's called a schwa sound uh-uh It then links to theirs There's a
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There's a let's put it all together There's a snake There's a snake now you try say
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that just like Wind Dancer There's a snake!
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There's a snake!
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So apparently, something went very wrong, and that's why Gary needs a secret inside the journal.
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This is our only chance to set things right.
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What do you think it means to set things right?
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To fix a mistake or correct an unfair situation?
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To move things to the correct position?
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To tell the truth about something?
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Nice!
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This expression is about restoring justice after something has gone wrong.
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Think about the movie Encanto.
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Bruno spent years in the walls of the house because everyone blamed him for bad things happening.
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His whole journey, and honestly the whole family's journey is about setting things right.
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Here are a couple other examples.
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I gotta go back and set things right.
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We'll set things right.
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Good job up to this point.
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Let's fast forward in the movie.
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Gary escapes, and Judy discovers that snakes are innocent, and the Lynxlies are the real villains.
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As Nick and Judy get closer to uncovering the mystery of how snakes were banished from Zootopia, the Lynxlies have Nick thrown in jail.
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However, Pawbert and Gary are able to rescue Judy just in time.
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This character, Pawbert, is also a Lynxly, but he's the black sheep of his family and has agreed to help Gary.
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A black sheep is a family member who does not fit in with the behavior
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and values of the rest of their family, just like Elphaba from Wicked.
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Now let's check out the scene where Judy wakes up after being saved by this duo.
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You're not dead!
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She's not dead!
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What?
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Sorry, sorry!
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I just got my motorcycle license.
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But out here, no one's gonna catch us.
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Almost to me hideout.
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We shall succeed, Judy Hopps.
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We'll stop the lynx leaves and save your partner.
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I'm sorry, you are...
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Oh, Gary.
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Gary the Snake.
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Welcome to my oasis!
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Ha ha.
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Away from my evil family.
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I like to come here, just kinda veg out.
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Ooh.
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Get with all my cat stuff.
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Wow.
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No!
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That's actually vintage.
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Oh, man.
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You could just not...
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Oh, no, no, please don't.
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Wow, mammals get some best stuff!
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Turn it off, turn it off, turn it off, turn it off!
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Whoa!
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Sorry, sorry!
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I just got my motorcycle license.
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A license is an official document that gives you legal permission to do something.
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A driver's license lets you drive a car, a pilot's license lets you fly a plane, a fishing license lets you fish lets you fish.
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Pauvert isn't a great motorcycle driver yet because he just got his license.
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Pauvert is a silly character so he playfully says this next line.
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Almost to me hideout!
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Okay, did you catch that?
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Gary says, me hideout, instead of my hideout.
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It's pirate speech.
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A bit like how Captain Jack Sparrow would speak.
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Pirates replace my with me.
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Me ship.
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Me treasure.
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Me hideout.
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And pirates often have a hideout.
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A secret place to hide from people who are after them or to find tranquility.
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Just like Batman's Batcave.
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Now let's check out some interesting grammar that Gary used.
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In modern English, we almost always use will to talk about the future.
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We will succeed.
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But shall is an older, more formal way of expressing the same thing.
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We can use it when we want to sound more dramatic.
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Here are a couple more examples. And next,
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Judy uses a really useful social expression.
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So this is a very polite, smooth way to ask someone's name.
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The I'm sorry at the start isn't a real apology.
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It's more like a way of saying excuse me or forgive me for not knowing.
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It signals politeness before asking something slightly awkward.
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For example, imagine you're lost in a new city.
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You might ask a local, I'm sorry, but do you know where the train station is?
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Welcome to my oasis!
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Literally, an oasis is a green, fertile spot in the middle of a desert.
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But we use it figuratively all the time to mean any peaceful place that exists within a stressful situation.
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And I love the phrasal verb that Paubert used next.
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Away from my evil family.
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I like to come here, just kinda veg out.
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Get with all my cat stuff.
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What do you think veg out means?
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To eat lots of vegetables and be healthy?
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To completely relax and do absolutely nothing?
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To redecorate your space?
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Yes, this is a very casual, informal expression.
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When you veg out, you usually do something mindless, like watching TV, scrolling on your phone, or staring at the ceiling.
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Veg comes from vegetable, because when you veg out, you're about as active as a vegetable on the couch.
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Similarly, we can call a lazy person a couch potato.
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You know what, I don't feel like going out.
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I'd rather just veg out in front of the television, like that.
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The human being is called a couch potato.
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Next, Gary goes a little crazy with all of Pawbert's cool objects.
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No!
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That's actually vintage!
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When something is vintage, it's old, but in a good, desirable way.
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It refers to things from the past that are now considered stylish, special, or collectible.
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Vintage clothing, vintage cars, vintage furniture.
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It's the opposite of old junk.
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This word actually comes from wine making.
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A vintage wine is one from a particularly great year.
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The older and better the year, the more valuable the bottle.
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Wow, mammals get the best stuff!
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Gary is a snake, which means he's a reptile, not a mammal.
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So what exactly are mammals?
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They're warm-blooded animals that feed their young with milk.
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Humans, dogs, cats, rabbits, all mammals.
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Reptiles, like snakes, on the other hand, are cold-blooded.
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Gary is just a little envious here of Pawbird's toys.
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Let's wrap up with a final bit of connected speech.
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You almost always see connected speech with phrasal verbs like this.
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The T in it is between two vowels.
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So we convert it to a tap T and connect it to off.
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It off.
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It off.
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And then all three words flow together as if they were just one.
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Turn it off.
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Turn it off.
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Listen again and try to say it just like Paubert.
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Awesome work today!
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Now comes the most important part of the lesson, your test.
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You'll watch all the scenes again, this time without subtitles, and answer some quiz questions.
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Ready?
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I have to prove it, please.
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Fill in the blank.
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After years of rivalry, the two brothers finally sat down to talk and decided and decided to set things right.
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This is our only chance to set things right.
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And when I do, my family will finally be able to come home.
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You're not dead!
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She's not dead!
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What?
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Sorry, sorry.
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I just got my motorcycle license.
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But out here, no one's gonna catch us.
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Almost to me hideout!
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Gary says, We shall succeed, Judy Hopps.
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Which sentence has the most similar feeling to this one?
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We will get there soon.
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We are going to try our best.
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We will overcome this.
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Or stop the lynxlings and save your partner.
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You've just been introduced to someone at a networking event, but you miss their name.
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Which is the most polite and natural way to ask.
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Wait, who are you again?
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I'm sorry, you are?
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What did you say your name was?
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True or false?
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To veg out means to spend your free time doing something healthy.
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False.
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It means to relax completely and do nothing.
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Get with all my cat stuff.
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No!
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That's actually vintage.
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You could just not...
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No, no, please don't!
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Wow, mammals, this is the best stuff!
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Turn it off!
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Turn it off!
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Turn it off!
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Turn it off!
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Oh yeah, if you haven't seen Zootopia 2 yet I'd say you're pretty prepared to watch it in English
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and uncover Gary's secret And if you want to be able to understand fast speaking natives without getting lost, without missing the jokes, and without subtitles,
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every single week we make two new lessons like this one with your favorite series, movies, celebrities, and more So just hit that subscribe button
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and the bell down below to join over 11 million learners who are doing this every single week.
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And if you're ready to really take your English to the next level with this lesson, then your best experience is on the RealLife app.
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You can try it for free with the link down in the description.
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Or if you're sticking with us here on YouTube, then you might want to check out this lesson next.
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I know you like trains.
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Come on, come on, come on.
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She's the jiggler.
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Yes, I know.
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Hurry.
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I got this.
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Jiggler, jiggler, jiggler.
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Pops and wolves, you are not authorized.
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Stand down and wait for backup.
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Ah!

Context & Background

In the animated film Zootopia, we are introduced to an intriguing encounter between Judy Hopps, a determined rabbit police officer, and Gary the Snake, the first snake character to appear in the film in a century. This meeting challenges the misconceptions held about snakes, as Judy learns that they can be friendly and misunderstood creatures rather than dangerous beings. Through their dialogue, audiences witness themes of prejudice and the quest for truth, with Gary attempting to prove that snakes can be allies rather than foes. This context sets the stage for an engaging English lesson, enriching learners’ vocabulary and comprehension through relatable scenarios.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Snakes never hurt anyone.” - This phrase conveys reassurance and challenges stereotypes.
  • “We aren’t the bad guys.” - A statement that emphasizes innocence and counters negative perceptions.
  • “This journal holds the secret.” - A captivating way to indicate that valuable information is contained within something.
  • “I have to prove it.” - A phrase expressing determination and the necessity to demonstrate the truth.
  • “This holds a power no human can access.” - Suggests that certain things have unique qualities or significance, often related to mystery.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To improve your speaking capabilities using the dialogue from Zootopia, follow this shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Watch the scene where Judy meets Gary and attentively listen to their exchange. Pay close attention to the tone and pronunciation of key phrases.
  2. Rewind and Repeat: Pause after each sentence or phrase and repeat what you hear. This is an essential part of shadowspeak, enabling you to mimic the intonation and rhythm of native speakers.
  3. Break It Down: Tackle challenging areas by breaking down phrases to their core components. For example, dissect "We aren’t the bad guys" and practice saying it slowly before picking up speed.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or another recording device to capture your voice as you repeat the phrases. Compare your pronunciation and delivery with that of the characters.
  5. Flashcard Practice: Create smart flashcards for the highlighted phrases to quiz yourself regularly. Incorporate them into your daily conversations to further engrain them into your vocabulary.

Utilizing these phrases and the structured shadowing method will not only enhance your speaking skills but also prepare you for IELTS speaking practice. Consistent engagement with the content will build your confidence in speaking English naturally.

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.