Shadowing Practice: Let's Practice English Speaking with Shadowing! (C1 Level) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
In this video, you will do some English-speaking practice using the shadowing technique.
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In this video, you will do some English-speaking practice using the shadowing technique.
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I've prepared a C1 level monologue about the decline of the movie industry.
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Your job is to listen and then mimic my pronunciation,
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rhythm, and intonation to improve your speaking fluency and listening comprehension.
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And we'll be going through three phases of speaking practice.
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So if you are ready for a challenge, let's get started.
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First of all, we have here phase one, the passive listen.
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The first step of the lesson today is I'm going to read the full text to you first at a normal pace.
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And your only job right now is to listen carefully and absorb the meaning.
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That's it.
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The full transcript will also be here up on screen.
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So just listen and follow along as I read it.
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Let's get started.
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It is a widely held belief,
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perhaps even a truism, that the golden age of cinema is a relic of the past.
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While some might dismiss this as mere nostalgia,
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a compelling argument can be made that the industry has,
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in many respects, lost its creative footing.
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The proliferation of endless franchise sequels in cinematic universes has,
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to a significant degree, stifled originality,
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prioritizing risk-averse commercial viability over artistic innovation.
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Furthermore, the ubiquitous reliance on computer-generated imagery often comes at the expense of a tangible,
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emotionally resonant narrative.
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We are bombarded with spectacle,
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yet often starved of genuine character development.
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The business model seems to be predicated on a formulaic approach,
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designed to maximize box office returns,
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rather than to genuinely captivate and challenge an audience.
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It is a cyclical phenomenon.
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As long as audiences remain captive to the familiar,
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studios will be disinclined to deviate from the established path.
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The onus, it seems, is on us,
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the viewers, to demand more.
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Very well, that was phase one of our lesson today, the passive listen.
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The purpose here is for you to get my tone of voice,
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where I place the stress,
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how I pronounce the words,
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and become a little bit more familiar with the text you will be practicing now.
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Now we're going to enter into phase two of our Shadowing practice today,
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which is called the Guided Breakdown.
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Now we're going to break it down piece by piece.
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I will read a sentence or phrase at a time,
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and then I'll pause.
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Then it's your turn to repeat it,
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mimicking my voice as closely as you can.
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I'll also highlight and define some key phrases for you to add to your vocabulary.
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So, let's get started.
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The first phrase, listen.
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It is a widely held belief, perhaps even a truism.
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Very well.
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The word truism means a statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting.
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Now on to phrase two.
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A compelling argument can be made that the industry has,
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in many respects, lost its creative footing.
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Now, it's your turn.
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Repeat.
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Good job.
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A compelling argument is an argument that is forceful and convincing.
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It's compelling.
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You can't ignore it.
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Phrase 3.
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Listen.
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The proliferation of endless franchise sequels has,
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to a significant degree, stifled originality.
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Your turn.
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Very well.
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The word proliferation means a rapid increase in the number or amount of something.
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Think about a virus or disease that proliferates.
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Now, the word to stifle,
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that's a verb, and if you stifle something,
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you prevent or stop it from happening or developing.
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So when I say that the way movies are made nowadays stifle originality,
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we can understand suppress originality or prevents people from being truly original nowadays.
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Phrase four.
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Listen.
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Prioritizing risk-averse commercial viability over artistic innovation.
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Your turn.
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Good job.
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Risk-averse means unwilling to take risks or to take on new and challenging tasks.
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So if a person is risk-averse,
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that person does not like to take any risks.
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But here's the thing, when it comes to creativity,
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creating something original like a good movie,
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you need to take risks if you are to be original,
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innovative, or even creative.
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Let's move on now to phrase four.
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Listen closely.
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Furthermore, the ubiquitous reliance on computer-generated imagery often comes at the expense of...
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Your turn.
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Good job.
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The word ubiquitous is a great word.
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It's a highly advanced word.
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And if something is ubiquitous, it's everywhere.
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It can be seen, it can be found everywhere to the point that it has become trivial.
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Now, what's interesting also in this phrase is the connected speech here,
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because I say reliance on computer generated imagery.
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Listen, computer generated imagery, computer generated imagery.
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Between generated and imagery, there is a sound going on there.
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When I connect the sounds, look, computer generated imagery.
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Generated, generated, generated imagery, generated imagery.
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Like that.
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Computer generated imagery.
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Let's move on now to phrase six.
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Listen closely.
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We are bombarded with spectacle,
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yet often starved of genuine character development.
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Your turn.
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So if you are bombarded with something,
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there's a lot of that coming your way, coming your direction.
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So it's like you're receiving a constant stream of something.
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When I say we are bombarded with spectacle,
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it feels like movies nowadays,
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they are a spectacle of visual special effects.
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We are bombarded with visual effects but the story,
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the character development, they're really poor.
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They're not really well developed.
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Another great C1 advanced word here is starved of.
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Starved of, you see?
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Starved of genuine character development.
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If you starve of something,
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it means that you lack something,
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even though you need it.
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Think about starving for food.
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When you are starving, you are very hungry,
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so you need to eat.
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But here, we are starved of genuine character development in movies.
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we need to see great well-written characters on screen,
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but those are becoming more and more rare.
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Moving on to phrase seven now,
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the business model seems to be predicated on a formulaic approach.
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Your turn.
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Great job.
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If I say that something is predicated on something else,
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it means that it's based on that something else.
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It's based on a particular idea or belief.
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And something formulaic is something that follows a built formula,
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a previously created patterned formula.
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All right.
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So if you think about it,
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movies nowadays, that's what they are.
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They follow a predictable, often boring and unoriginal formula.
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So, the storylines are formulaic.
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Nothing is original anymore.
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Phrase 8.
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Listen.
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It is a cyclical phenomenon.
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As long as audiences remain captive to the familiar,
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studios will be disinclined to deviate from the established path.
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Your turn.
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Repeat.
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Good job.
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So if something is cyclical, it moves in cycles.
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It is happening or occurring repeatedly in a fixed pattern or cycle,
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like I just said.
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And if you are disinclined to do something,
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you are reluctant to do it.
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You are unwilling to do it.
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I mean, as formulaic as these movies nowadays are, they are cash grabs.
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They are quick cash grabs.
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They bring tons of money to the studios.
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So apparently that's what people want nowadays.
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So why would the studios worry about originality?
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So they are disinclined to allow space for original storylines, original movies.
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just let's keep doing the same thing because you know it's bringing us money
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the word deviate is also a great advanced word
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if you deviate from a plan you move away from it you depart from an established course
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or normal way of doing things
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and now finally phrase nine listen the onus it seems is
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on us the viewers to demand more your
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turn repeat very nice owners means responsibility the responsibility
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or duty even to do something
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so the owners is on us the responsibility is on us the viewers to demand more better quality movies movies
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that are actually interesting to watch with interesting storylines and great character development and performances.
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All right.
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Very well.
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So we have just finished phase two of our shadowing practice.
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Remember, phase one, you just listen to me reading the entire paragraph to get an idea of the words in the message.
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Phase two, we did a little shadowing here,
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but you were listening to me phrase by phrase and repeating right after.
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And I also defined some vocabulary here for you.
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Now let's go to phase three,
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which is the full shadowing experience or the full shadowing practice.
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Now it's time to put it all together.
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I'm gonna read the full script again,
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and I want you to speak along with me now, simultaneously.
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Alright?
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Try to match my tone, speed, and rhythm.
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Don't worry about being perfect.
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Just feel the flow of the language,
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and, well, let's have some fun and begin.
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It is a widely held belief,
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perhaps even a truism, that the golden age of cinema is a relic of the past.
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While some might dismiss this as mere nostalgia,
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a compelling argument can be made that the industry has,
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in many respects, lost its creative footing.
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The proliferation of endless franchise sequels in cinematic universes has,
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to a significant degree, stifled originality,
198
prioritizing risk-averse commercial viability over artistic innovation.
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Furthermore, the ubiquitous reliance on computer-generated imagery often comes at the expense of a tangible,
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emotionally resonant narrative.
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We are bombarded with spectacle,
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yet often starved of genuine character development.
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The business model seems to be predicated on a formulaic approach,
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designed to maximize box office returns,
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rather than to genuinely captivate and challenge an audience.
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It is a cyclical phenomenon.
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As long as audiences remain captive to the familiar,
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studios will be disinclined to deviate from the established path.
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The onus, it seems, is on us,
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the viewers, to demand more.
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And there you have it.
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How did you do?
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Hope you did well, and hope you found it useful.
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Now, let's just quickly, briefly recap here the vocabulary and some phrases we covered today.
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All of these words that we learned today are more advanced,
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are more targeted at C1 and even C2 levels.
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So remember, it is a wildly held belief.
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Truism.
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That's a great word.
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A compelling argument.
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Proliferation.
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Stifle.
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Risk averse.
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Ubiquitous.
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Bombarded with.
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Starved of.
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predicated on, formulaic, cyclical or cyclical phenomenon, disinclined, deviate, onus.
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All right?
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So make sure you add those words to your vocabulary.
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I really encourage you to re-watch this video multiple times and practice these lines again,
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focusing on the sections you found most challenging.
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And I also suggest try practicing without looking at the words and the phrases sometimes.
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Focus on the listening as well.
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Just listening to what I'm saying and trying to shadow by listening.
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So try both approaches.
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All right.
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But now I have a question for you.
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Do you agree that movies are getting worse?
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What is the last film you saw that genuinely captivated you?
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Let me know in the comment section below.
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I am curious to know.
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I hope you found this lesson useful and if you want to keep practicing your English speaking through shadowing,
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you might want to check out this next video.
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Context & Background
The art of film has shaped cultural narratives across generations, yet the video addresses a pressing issue in the cinematic landscape: the decline of originality in filmmaking. This insightful monologue at a C1 level invites advanced English learners to engage with complex vocabulary and nuanced arguments. By practicing the shadowing technique, viewers can not only enhance their language skills but also develop a deeper understanding of critical discussions surrounding media. The speaker’s goal is to guide learners through an immersive experience, helping them to refine their English pronunciation and articulation, ultimately improving their overall fluency.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- A widely held belief: Used to express a commonly accepted notion.
- Golden age of cinema: Refers to a peak period in film artistry and innovation.
- Proliferation of endless: Indicates a rapid increase in something, usually with a negative connotation.
- Risk-averse: Describes a tendency to avoid risks, especially in decision-making.
- Onus is on us: Suggests that the responsibility lies with a particular group, in this case, the viewers.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To fully benefit from the shadowing site presented in the video, follow this structured approach:
- Phase One: Passive Listening
Start by listening to the full monologue without repetition. Focus on the speaker’s tone, rhythm, and intonation. Absorb the meaning as you follow along with the transcript displayed on-screen. This step helps familiarize you with the flow of the language. - Phase Two: Guided Breakdown
Engage in the guided shadowing practice, where the speaker breaks down the monologue into manageable phrases. Mark key phrases that stand out to you and repeat them out loud, mimicking the speaker's pronunciation and cadence closely. This phase is crucial for improving English pronunciation. - Phase Three: Independent Shadowing
After gaining confidence from the guided session, attempt to shadow the entire monologue independently. Reiterate the phrases without assistance. Focus on achieving a natural pace, which will further enhance your speaking fluency.
Utilize these techniques consistently on your journey to mastering shadowspeak. As you challenge yourself with increasingly complex content, remember that your efforts will cultivate both your vocabulary and speaking abilities, making you a more agile communicator in English.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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