Shadowing Practice: LinkedIn ruined my mental health, so I decided to take a break - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This was my life.
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46 sentences
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This was my life.
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Every day I wake up,
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brush my teeth, get ready for the day,
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and then I spend hours on LinkedIn to apply for jobs.
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Until one day, I just couldn't do it anymore.
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All I saw was successful people becoming more successful.
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I can't stop asking myself,
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if they can do it,
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why can't I do it too?
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Whenever I open LinkedIn, seeing all the messages pouring in,
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I feel left behind.
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I don't necessarily hate LinkedIn,
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but I hate the idea of constantly comparing myself to peers,
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friends, and even strangers.
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I know it's survival bias that we only get to see the bright side of businesses,
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the success and not the failures,
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but it's hard not to think about it when you're surrounded by these ideas.
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So I decided to take a break.
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I'm gonna go camping for the first time and I just made some fried rice.
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I just put whatever I have in the fridge.
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I absolutely had no idea what I was doing.
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I didn't even have the proper gear but I just had a feeling if I don't do it now,
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I will regret it.
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I also know that I can never be fully ready for anything.
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sometimes you just have to take the first step.
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I don't know who needs to hear this,
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but it's okay to take breaks from time to time.
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Sometimes things don't work out and it's honestly a blessing.
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I finally get to try things that I've been always wanting to do.
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Maybe this is a sign for us to embrace what we have,
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enjoy these moments while we can.
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For the past year, I was so busy that I barely had time to cook.
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There were also times that I skipped meals without noticing.
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Recently, I started taking care of my body and I've noticed a difference.
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This has been my comfort meal and it's very easy to make.
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I don't know.
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I don't know.
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I don't know.
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so I
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was watching Queen of Tears.
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This month, I put in a lot of effort to make myself happy,
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either catching up with books or shows that I didn't quite finish in the past,
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or getting outside of my house more to breathe.
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I don't care what other people say,
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there's nothing more important than your health.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In this video, the speaker shares a personal experience about the overwhelming pressure from social media, specifically LinkedIn, and its impact on mental health. They describe their routine of job applications and constant comparisons that led to a decision to take a break. This narrative emphasizes the importance of self-care and the need to step back from societal expectations, illustrating how a much-needed pause can foster personal growth and well-being. The speaker's journey showcases the significance of embracing self-acceptance, trying new things, and prioritizing health, even amidst the chaos of a busy life.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “It’s okay to take breaks from time to time.” - A reminder that rest is essential for mental wellness.
  • “I finally get to try things I’ve always wanted to do.” - Expressing the joy of pursuing personal interests.
  • “I barely had time to cook.” - A reflection on the impact of a busy lifestyle on self-care practices.
  • “There’s nothing more important than your health.” - Reinforcing the foundational principle of prioritizing well-being.
  • “Sometimes you just have to take the first step.” - Encouraging initiative and action in the face of uncertainty.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Improving your English speaking skills through shadowing can be highly effective, especially using dialogues like this one. Here’s a simple guide to tackle the video’s content:

  1. Watch the video: First, listen to the entirety of the video without interruption. This will help you understand the flow of conversation and the speaker's emotions.
  2. Identify key phrases: Make a note of the top phrases listed above. These are valuable for daily communication and will help you in understanding context and usage.
  3. Repeat out loud: Use the shadow speak technique by repeating the phrases after the speaker. Focus on intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation. Doing this repeatedly can enhance your fluency.
  4. Record yourself: After practicing, record your voice. Listen back to identify areas for improvement. This reflection is crucial for your development as you will notice discrepancies in pronunciation and intonation.
  5. Engage with the content: Reflect on personal experiences related to the themes in the video. You can practice speaking about your feelings or experiences regarding job searching and mental health, which will expand your vocabulary and comfort with the language.

By systematically applying this shadowing site methodology, learners can significantly enhance their IELTS speaking practice and gain confidence in using English in daily conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect!

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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