Shadowing Practice: Little Monsters - The Storytellers - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

A2
Little Monsters
⏸ Paused
128 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Little Monsters
2
Once upon a time in England, there was a scarecrow.
3
He stood in a field and looked like a man.
4
But he wasn't a real man.
5
The Scarecrow was made of straw.
6
The Scarecrow's head was an old football.
7
His face was painted on.
8
Two eyes, a nose and a smiling mouth.
9
He didn't have hair, but he did have a hat.
10
It was brown and made of felt.
11
A farmer used to wear it, long ago.
12
His clothes had come from the farmer too.
13
A long brown coat with lots of pockets,
14
an old pair of jeans with holes in the legs,
15
a worn out leather belt with a rusty buckle,
16
a red scarf with white stripes.
17
The Scarecrow didn't have shoes because he didn't have feet.
18
A wooden pole kept him standing in the ground.
19
He never moved.
20
The Scarecrow liked being in the field.
21
He saw the sun come up every morning.
22
He watched the clouds drift across the sky.
23
At night, he gazed at the moon and counted the stars.
24
He enjoyed his job.
25
He scared away the crows,
26
the big, clever black birds that made trouble on the farm.
27
They stole the seeds when they were sown.
28
They pecked at the vegetables when the leaves began to grow.
29
The scarecrow knew without him nothing would grow at all.
30
But this year the scarecrow had a problem.
31
The farmer had stuffed him full of new straw.
32
Clean yellow straw.
33
It made a good body.
34
The Scarecrow was very happy.
35
His coat fitted him much better now and he felt smart.
36
The problem was the crows.
37
It was springtime so they were building nests.
38
They were looking for things to use and they had spotted the new straw.
39
It was perfect.
40
Three crows sat on a fence and looked at the scarecrow.
41
Look at him, said one.
42
He has fresh straw in all his pockets.
43
My little ones would love to sleep on that.
44
I'm going to get some.
45
The crow flew across the field and landed on the scarecrow.
46
He pushed his sharp, black beak into the straw and pulled some out.
47
Then he flew off back to his nest.
48
Look at that, said the next crow.
49
It was easy.
50
I'm going to steal some too.
51
The second crow flew to the scarecrow.
52
He took some straw.
53
Then the third crow flew over and stole some more.
54
All day long, the crows flew from their nest to the scarecrow.
55
They stole more and more straw.
56
But the scarecrow couldn't stop them.
57
He couldn't run after them.
58
He couldn't wave his arms.
59
Shouting made no difference.
60
They simply laughed and took more straw.
61
By the end of the day, he was looking thin.
62
Oh no, he said.
63
What am I going to do?
64
If they take more tomorrow,
65
there will be nothing left of me.
66
I can help, said a tiny voice.
67
The scarecrow looked down.
68
There was a mouse sitting on his belt buckle.
69
I can scare the crows away, said the mouse.
70
The scarecrow smiled.
71
That is very kind of you,
72
but I don't think they would be scared.
73
You are very small.
74
That is true, said the mouse.
75
But I have lots of friends,
76
and I have an idea.
77
He climbed up to the scarecrow's ear and whispered something.
78
The scarecrow smiled again.
79
My little friend, he said,
80
I think that might work.
81
The next day came.
82
The three crows flew down to the fence.
83
Ha ha ha!
84
Said the first crow.
85
The straw man is still there.
86
I'm going to take more of his stuffing.
87
He flew to the scarecrow.
88
Just as he landed, yarrr!
89
Twenty mice jumped out of the scarecrow's clothes and roared at him.
90
They waved their arms, pulled faces,
91
did everything they could to appear big and scary.
92
The crow flew back to his friends in horror.
93
Monster!
94
He wailed.
95
A monster attacked me!
96
It was horrible!
97
It had twenty heads!
98
I'm going back there ever!
99
He flew away and he didn't come back.
100
What a baby, said the second crow.
101
I'm not scared.
102
I'm going in.
103
He flew to the scarecrow and, YAAA!
104
The crow sped back to the fence.
105
It's true, he cried.
106
There There really is a monster hiding inside that straw man!
107
I saw it!
108
Grrrr!
109
He flew away and didn't come back.
110
The third crow watched him go.
111
Grrrr!
112
He said.
113
I'm not going there.
114
I have enough straw in my nest.
115
He flew away.
116
Yes! cried the scarecrow.
117
You've done it!
118
They've gone!
119
The mice came out of their hiding holes.
120
They cheered and danced and hugged each other.
121
I wish I could give you all something, said the scarecrow.
122
A gift to say thank you.
123
You can give us something, said the mouse.
124
A home.
125
Your pockets are very warm and comfortable.
126
We would love to stay.
127
Then you shall stay, smiled the scarecrow.
128
My little monsters.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

About This Lesson

In this engaging lesson based on the enchanting story of "Little Monsters," you will practice your English speaking skills through the shadowing technique. As you listen to the tale of a scarecrow in England, you'll improve your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This story not only enhances your vocabulary but also allows you to immerse yourself in an interesting narrative that promotes a deeper understanding of the language. By shadowing, you will mirror the speaker to develop fluency, making it an effective method for anyone looking to learn English with YouTube.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Scarecrow: A figure made to resemble a human, designed to deter birds from crops.
  • Straw: Dried stalks of grain, used here to fill the scarecrow.
  • Pockets: Small bags sewn into clothing.
  • Gazed: To look steadily and intently.
  • Drift: To move slowly, often used to describe clouds in the sky.
  • Peck: To strike or bite with a beak.
  • Nest: A structure built by birds to lay eggs and rear their young.
  • Worn out: Something that has been used so much that it is no longer usable.

Practice Tips

When using the shadow speak technique with this video, it's crucial to pay attention to the rhythm and tone of the narrator. Here are some specific advice points to enhance your practice:

  • Start Slowly: Initially, watch the video at a reduced speed to clearly understand how the words are articulated. Look for phrases that resonate with you.
  • Repeat Aloud: Once you grasp the content, pause after each line or segment and repeat it out loud, mimicking the pronunciation and intonation.
  • Focus on Emotion: Notice the emotional undertones as you practice. The narrator's tone can give you insights about how to express the stories engagingly.
  • Record Yourself: To track your progress, record your own voice while shadowing. Listen back to identify areas where you can improve your pronunciation and flow.
  • Engage with the Story: Visualize the scenes as you shadow the text. This visualization can make your speaking practice feel more like storytelling rather than just repetition.

Incorporating these tips into your English speaking practice will not only enhance your fluency but also create a more enjoyable learning experience. Happy shadowing!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee