Shadowing Practice: Life Is Here and Now | Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh | #mindfulness - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Mindfulness is a kind of energy that we can generate and all of us are capable of generating this energy.
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That energy allowed us to be aware of what is going on, going on in our body, going on in our feelings, going on in our perceptions, in our mind and around us in the world.
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So mindfulness, you can define it as the kind of energy that allowed us to be aware of what is happening in the here and the now.
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If you are not in the here and the now, you cannot know what is happening.
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So mindfulness is also the capacity to help us to be established in the here and the now.
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And we know that life and all the wonders of life are available only in the here and the now.
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And mindfulness helps us to home to the here and the now and get in touch with life with the wonders of life.
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It's so simple.
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So we have an appointment with life and that appointment takes place in the here and the now.
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I don't want to miss that appointment with life.
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That is why I always try to be home in the here and the now.
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In the here and the now, I get in touch with nature with the refreshing and healing elements of nature that are in me and around me because I need the nourishment and healing.
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So... I have to go home to the here and the now in order to get the nourishment and healing that I need because I have been running all my life looking for something in the future elsewhere.
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And I have missed my appointment with life.
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I have become sick, I suffer.
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That is why I have to learn to go home to the here and the now and get in touch with the elements of life that can be healing and nourishing.
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Then mindfulness help me to go home to the here and the now and get in touch with the wonders of life.
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Context & Background

The video "Life Is Here and Now" features teachings by the renowned mindfulness expert, Thich Nhat Hanh. In this enlightening session, he emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment and being aware of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Mindfulness, as described by Thich Nhat Hanh, is an energy that allows individuals to connect deeply with life and appreciate the wonders that exist in the here and now. This teaching serves as a reminder that life unfolds in the present, and cultivating mindfulness can lead to healing and a more fulfilling existence.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I need to go home to the here and the now.” – A powerful reminder to ground oneself in the present moment.
  • “Mindfulness helps me connect with life.” – Expresses the core message of how mindfulness fosters connection.
  • “I don’t want to miss my appointment with life.” – An encouraging phrase that emphasizes the importance of being present.
  • “I get in touch with the elements of life that are nourishing.” – Highlights the necessity of acknowledging sources of nourishment.
  • “Life and all its wonders are available only in the here and the now.” – A reminder of the beauty of the present moment.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English pronunciation and communication skills through shadowing, consider the following step-by-step guide while practicing with this video:

  1. Watch the Video: First, watch the video without audio. Familiarize yourself with the overall message and context of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings.
  2. Listen to the Audio: Play the video, paying close attention to the speaker's intonation and articulation. Note how he emphasizes key phrases.
  3. Shadow Speak: Use a shadowing app to repeat phrases right after hearing them. Focus on mimicking the rhythm and pronunciation. Phrases like "I need to go home to the here and the now" are great for practice.
  4. Pause and Repeat: Pause the video after every few sentences and repeat them aloud. This aids in reinforcing your pronunciation, making it easier to improve your English speaking skills.
  5. Record Yourself: Record your shadow speaking session and listen to the playback. Compare your pronunciation with Thich Nhat Hanh's to identify areas for improvement, particularly focusing on the phrases listed earlier.

Regular practice using this method not only enhances your English pronunciation but also helps in preparing for specific tasks such as IELTS speaking practice. Embracing this mindful way of learning can lead you to greater fluency and confidence in spoken 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.