Shadowing Practice: Lownu Mends the Sky | Classic Tales Level 1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

A1
This is China in the old days.
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123 sentences
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This is China in the old days.
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Every day the sky is blue, blue, blue, blue.
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And every night, the sky is black.
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Black, black, black.
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One day, a piece of blue falls.
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It falls out of the sky.
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Look, says the big girl What is it?
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It's a piece of the sky,
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says the big boy Look,
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another one Look, says the little boy There's a hole No, two holes.
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Two holes in the sky.
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Another piece falls.
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Another piece of blue.
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And another one.
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Look, I can see the night sky, says the little girl.
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But it's day.
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Let's tell Lao Nhu.
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Yes, yes, quick.
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Let's tell Lao Nhu.
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Hmm, says Lao Nhu.
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Go and find the pieces,
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all the pieces of blue.
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Find all the pieces, says Lao Nu, and bring them here.
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Here's a piece, says the little boy.
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Here's another, says the little girl.
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Here's one, says the big boy.
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Here's another, says the big girl.
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And the baby says, Blue!
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The children find ten pieces.
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One, two, three, four, Five, say the children.
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Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
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Here are the pieces, say the children.
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The pieces of blue sky.
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How many holes are there, asks Laonu.
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They count.
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
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6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
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16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
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Oh, no!
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Twenty!
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But we only have ten pieces, say the children.
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One, two, three, four, five,
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six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
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We can have these leaves, says Lao Nu.
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Look, here are ten.
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No, says the little boy.
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They're green.
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The sky is blue.
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The little boy cries.
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I want the day sky to be blue.
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Blue!
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Blue!
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All blue again!" "'Don't cry,' says Laonoo.
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"'Give me the pieces of blue.
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Go and play.
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I want to think.
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Night comes.
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Laonu puts her blue dress on the table and her silver apron.
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She cuts pieces.
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Pieces from the blue dress Pieces from the silver apron She puts them together Good,
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says Laonu Now I have twenty pieces Twenty pieces to mend the sky Laonu counts the holes
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
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6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
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11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
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16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
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Laonu has all the pieces,
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and she has a spoon.
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Now she goes up the tree, the tall, tall tree.
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Up she goes, up, up, up.
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I'm up in the sky, she says.
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It's time to mend the sky.
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Laonu puts a piece on the spoon.
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Then flip!
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The piece flies.
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It flies across the sky.
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And flap!
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It goes in a hole.
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Yes, says Laonu.
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Now another one.
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Flip.
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Flap.
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She does it again.
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Flip.
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A piece of blue flies.
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It flies across the sky.
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Then, flap!
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It goes in a hole.
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Yes, says Lao Nu.
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It's in.
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Now, it's time for another one.
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All night, Lao Nu mends the sky.
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Flip!
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Flap.
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Flip.
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Flap.
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Flip.
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Flap.
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Day comes.
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The sky is blue again.
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Blue, blue, blue.
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The sky is blue, say the children.
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Oh, Blue again.
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Thank you, Laonu.
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Laonu smiles.
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Go and play, she says.
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Come back later.
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Have supper with me.
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That night, the children come.
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They have supper with Laonu.
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And now, she says, It's time for you to go home.
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It is dark, but the path is bright.
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The path is very bright tonight, say the children.
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Why is it bright, Laonu?
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Look up, says Laonu.
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What are they, Laonu? ask the children.
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I call them stars, says Laonu.
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And the big one is the moon.
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Stars, say the children.
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The moon.
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Oh, Laonu, the night sky looks much better now.
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Because it's more beautiful.
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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video, "Lownu Mends the Sky | Classic Tales Level 1," provides a vivid and imaginative context to enhance your English speaking skills. Set in ancient China, the narrative revolves around children discovering pieces of the sky. Such creative storytelling not only captivates attention but also encourages learners to practice speaking in a fun, engaging way.

By utilizing this video in your shadowing practice, you can mimic the natural intonations and rhythms of the speakers. The interactions between the characters present a rich tapestry of dialogue that reflects everyday situations, making it ideal for practicing conversational English. As you learn English with YouTube, you’ll develop confidence and fluency through these relatable scenarios.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several key phrases and grammatical structures are utilized that can benefit your speaking skills:

  • "What is it?" - A common question form that can help learners frame inquiries effectively in everyday conversations.
  • "Look, says [character]." - This structure is an excellent way to introduce dialogue in storytelling, showcasing how to seamlessly integrate speech into narration.
  • "We only have ten pieces." - The use of quantifiers like “only” aids in expressing limitations or amounts, a critical skill for clearer communication.
  • "Count with me: one, two, three..." - This simple yet effective phrase encourages learners to practice counting, which is a fundamental aspect of language acquisition.

By repeating these phrases using the shadowing technique, you can reinforce both your pronunciation and comprehension skills.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you engage with "Lownu Mends the Sky," be aware of certain pronunciation challenges:

  • The word "pieces" - This can often confuse learners, particularly the ‘-ce’ ending. Practice focusing on the transition from the ‘p’ sound to the ‘ee’ sound, ensuring clarity in speech.
  • "Blue" and "black" - These words have differing vowel sounds that may be subtle. Pay attention to the distinct sounds to avoid mixing them up, which is crucial for precise communication.
  • The phrase "Let's tell Lao Nhu" - Here, the flowing connection of words can be tricky. Practice saying it quickly to achieve a natural, conversational tone.

Utilizing a shadowing app can assist in isolating these tricky words and phrases, allowing you to practice them in various contexts until they flow naturally in your speech.

By focusing on these key elements, learners can effectively enhance their English speaking abilities through imaginative storytelling and practical application. Whether you choose to practice alone or with a partner, make the most of this engaging material to improve your communication skills.

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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