Shadowing Practice: MAISA - ENTREVISTA MILLIE BOBBY BROWN - Learn English Speaking with Video

Amelia, I'm so happy to see you again.

I'm so happy to see you.

We're always seeing each other.

Last time when?

Was it in London?

Yeah, in London, maybe in 2019, I guess.

Yeah.

And we were young girls and now we're both women.

I know.

My goodness.

It's great to be back and to be actually still seeing you in our UNICEF world.

It means the world to me to be able to walk alongside someone as brilliant as you.

And being in Brazil.

Yeah.

I'm like, oh my gosh, finally, you came to London.

I'm here.

Yeah.

I'm so happy.

So like we're both UNICEF ambassadors and I wanted to know what drew you to the organization and what keeps you committed?

Oh my goodness, well it doesn't take a lot to keep me committed.

I think you know the work they do stands out for themselves

and keeps me motivated because in what they do they show you what they've done

but they also show you the progress that needs to be made

so that always motivates me to keep committed because I know that there's such a bigger cause out there.

I guess I was so young when I started.

How old were you, by the way?

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, gosh.

13?

Yeah, 13.

Oh, my God.

A young girl.

Yeah, really young.

Really young.

But I always knew, even from a very young age, I loved school.

So I kind of always knew how important my education was to me.

And so when I, you know, my parents were always very transparent with me about the world I lived in,

right, and how privileged I was to be able to be given the tools that I had.

And so when I realized that others lived in a world that didn't provide them those opportunities,

I realized that I had a platform to speak on things that were really important, and UNICEF gave me that platform.

So I was very lucky.

It was just a very organic kind of like, hey, this is what I'm looking to do.

And UNICEF were like, well, we believe in young people.

So it was just a beautiful UNISEN.

So I was very lucky.

What about you?

So, like, I started a couple of years ago, like two years ago or one year ago, and it was always a part of me to speak in the name of youth.

And also seeing that in Brazil we have a lot of, you know, I'm very privileged, but it's sad to see that not everybody gets education.

So to see that UNICEF is looking especially for the youth

and taking care of them and developing programs

and also taking care of young girls that has no access to proper hygiene when it comes to menstrual hygiene.

And education and all of that.

So to see them really go in the field

and doing something makes me committed

and also looking forward to like what can I do to help and to speak and also use our platforms.

Right.

Well, you have such a huge following, right?

I think that's what's so beautiful about UNICEF is that they're like, you have a great following, but let's harness all of those people that you can reach out

and talk to and inspire them and motivate them to make a change in their community.

So, you know, you have a huge following and to be able to talk to your audience and empower them, especially because most, I'm sure, majority of them are young women.

Yeah.

Same with me.

So it's like, oh, gosh, this is such a wonderful chance to strike when the iron is hot, when people are listening to you and to be able to do that with UNICEF is a dream come true.

And also to talk about things that people think that the problems are solved, like cyber building, just because we've been talking about it for way too long, it doesn't mean that it's gone.

Right.

So like UNICEF has always a new way of talking about this stuff and open our eyes.

Right.

To see like, so the problem is still there.

Yeah.

Let's raise our voices and make a change.

Totally.

So talking about Brazil, talking about São Paulo specifically.

Yes.

Can you tell us a little bit about what you're going to do with them here?

I've never been on a field, on the field for UNICEF.

This is my first time.

So, gosh, I'm 21.

I've been an ambassador for eight years, I want to to say, to be able to go out on the field finally

and to be actually witnessing what the education program looks like out here in Brazil is going to be

so impactful and educational for me to be able to actually see what's going on.

Because I've spoken in the UN a lot about children's education and calling on world leaders to invest more in girls' lives.

And of course, I believe in that so much, but to be able to see it will only motivate me more

and educate me more on what's really happening out on the field.

So I am going to the outskirts of San Paolo to witness what the education program looks like out there

and to be able to sit there and to listen, right, to be a listening ear

and to see what we can do to help provide support and to see the families that UNICEF have helped.

I'm really excited and I'm really honored and blessed to be able to go to that community.

And I'm so happy that you came, like you're doing this here in Brazil.

It's so special.

I think it's going to be an unforgettable moment for like you and also for them.

Yeah, um, so I've seen you speaking about education,

but like, is there any other UNICEF initiative that is closest to your heart?

Good question.

Well, I mean, I initially always came in with empowering young people.

I had hosted Wild Children's Day.

So that's always been like, you know, the core of it, right?

Because for me, you know, I was very lucky to have a seat at the table very young.

And I couldn't imagine a world where other young people aren't allowed to make decisions

and to receive the same opportunities I've received so while Children's Day

100

and empowering young people was always the core

101

but then as I started to get older I started to realize that specifically young women

102

have their own set of struggles and I'm lucky enough

103

that I didn't have to face any of those I'm very privileged

104

but I realized what does that look like if I didn't have those things

105

And are there women out there that don't have access to, you know, menstrual products and that don't have access to,

106

you know, secondary school and be able to actually go and get a degree in something that they're really passionate about?

107

And then I thought to myself, whoa, this is this is specifically targeting young women.

108

And I think UNICEF do such a beautiful job in highlighting

109

that this is a huge sector of the problems that we're trying to face and figure out.

110

And so I kind of went back to UNICEF a couple of years after, I guess, my ambassadorship.

111

And then I realized, oh, this is I think this is something else I'm really interested in doing with you guys.

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Is this something that I can be a part of?

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And of course, they welcome me with open arms.

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And it's such a taboo topic to talk about.

115

Yeah, it is.

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Menstrual health and menstrual hygiene.

117

And I'm like, I'm not afraid to talk about it.

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Are you kidding me?

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This is part.

120

We don't ask for this.

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and to be able to talk about it

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and to empower girls to talk about it because it's not something that we should be afraid of.

123

And UNICEF gave us that microphone to speak a little bit louder about the things that you typically or societally shouldn't.

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And so those are the things that I've kind of got my hands in

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and those are the things that I feel really, really passionate about.

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What about you?

127

Same.

128

And I just wanted to tell you that here in Brazil, we also struggle with all of that

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but UNICEF has also a lot of programs about that and in the northeast of Brazil they also have

130

programs towards menstrual hygiene and they're basically empowering young women to talk about their problems

131

and then to fix that problems right so it's something really good to see

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that it's not only talking about a topic

133

but also doing something about it

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but that's what UNICEF that's what I love right it's like we can talk about it all we want

135

but do we see the change and UNICEF we talk about it

136

and then you see after the fact the things

137

that we're able to do and the things that they were able to do.

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So I love that, right?

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We're not, it's not just a conversation, it's a plan of action and I personally have always been kind of

140

so motivated to get into that plan of action to see what we can do

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and actually get our hands in it and go, you know what, we need to fix this problem, enough talking, let's do it.

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So it's so nice to be able to share

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that same mutuality in that in that because I think it's huge

144

and to be able to hear your platform here to talk about something like

145

that that feels so taboo

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and scary to some girls to be able to hear you

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know someone as brilliant as you to be able to talk about that is so inspiring so thank you for doing that.

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Thank you.

149

So talking about the fact

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that both of us grew up in front of the cameras we know it's not something easy

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that people have always something to say about our lives.

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How is it like for you to decide like what you want to share

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and what you decide to keep to yourself because I've seen

154

that your relationship with social media has changed throughout the years right how do you balance

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that I think that the number one thing I can

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and say is that when you have a support system and

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when you have resources you are going to be okay

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and you are given the platform to talk about it whether that's openly out there

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or just with your family and friends but having

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that support system is what's gotten me through those hard times of navigating what what my life looks like

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and that's why i love unicef because they they give you those resources

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and that you know that that platform to speak freely about the things

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that you are struggling with

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and um i think the programs out there to protect cyber bullying with unicef is huge right

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because the second you have that support system

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and you're able to go hey i actually need help

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and this isn't okay and i'm scared now

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and this is hurting me um unicef's there to step in to help

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and for me i was lucky enough to have my friends

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and family to step in but i understand

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that that's not the reality of other people and other young people

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that have access to social media and that's where unicef steps in

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and it can be that kind of family and support unit

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that you know so many need yeah when it comes to mental health

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that it's a important topic that unicef also talks about right what do What do you do to take care of yourself?

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I mean, I think it goes back to, I love to journal.

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I mean, I love writing things down.

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Me too.

179

Yeah, right?

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It's great to journal because I think, you know, so much happens in our brains

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and to be able to compartmentalize and be able to store things in certain parts and go, you know what, this isn't serving me.

182

This kind of information, this content isn't right for me, but I'm going to bring in something positive that happened to me today

183

and I'm going to write that down writing down what you're grateful for.

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You know, I love journaling.

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Again, using my support unit and talking things out.

186

A friend of mine who I love, Florence Pugh, she actually, she reached out to me the other day and she said,

187

I want you to learn something and it's going to the end of your thought process, right?

188

So a really negative thought comes in about something someone said to you or you say, you know, or you hear something or you intake this content that's not serving you.

189

you go to the end of the thought.

190

So you start thinking, well, why was that said?

191

What are they going through?

192

Or was this, was this, is this actually true?

193

Do I know this about myself?

194

Do my friends and family think that about myself?

195

And then you start going to the end of the thought and you thought, and you realize this isn't, this isn't real.

196

This is just a thought.

197

And it's not about you.

198

Yeah.

199

It's not about you.

200

Right.

201

And then you can kind of go, oh, wait, hold on.

202

I've just come around in one big circle and I've ended up right back, but on the other side of it and you go this isn't about me

203

and and um that is a huge technique

204

that i've just recently learned that's brilliant it is

205

but you know what i'm still learning and that's why i love this

206

because i get to look on peers like florence who has a huge platform um

207

and to be able to to hear that um from someone i really respect

208

and admire which again is that support unit right

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that i was going back to i went back to it

210

and i was like wow this is so important to me so

211

so using techniques to help me understand my brain more is

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huge what about what do you do um i try to

213

you know i do yoga okay i think it helps meditation

214

and also journaling i like to organize my thoughts there

215

so like i write what i want to do what i've done

216

and also like you know free thoughts sometimes i have an idea

217

and i don't want to forget it so i just write it even

218

if it's a bad thing and then three three days go by and And then I read again and I was like, it's not a problem anymore.

219

It's gone.

220

So I think that that has helped me a lot.

221

But also talking to friends and talking to people who I know that love me.

222

But this is something that I was thinking, talking to you.

223

It's so magical, the fact that you started so young with UNICEF, because we can see how much you've matured.

224

And that now you have a new way of speaking of the same things that you've always believed in.

225

So now you have more knowledge and new ways to help.

226

It's still learning, right?

227

Yeah, it's still learning.

228

We're still so young and so UNICEF has been, you know, oh my gosh, the most, the leading organization, right, for so many years before us.

229

So their knowledge, their expertise, as much as they're still learning and growing, their knowledge is kind of always what I revert back to.

230

Like, okay, you know, they have the statistics, they know what's going on thoroughly and so we're able to go back as young people and go, hey, but what about this? come up with ideas

231

but they're able to kind of support you with the information

232

and the things they've seen over all those years

233

that they've been working on it

234

so um it's just it's such a beautiful it's such a beautiful thing

235

that we're able to come together and

236

and do with with each other for each other

237

and for women like us i think it's it's so impactful

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and last but not least Millie um can you leave a message for the Brazilian youth especially people

239

that love you that grew up with you just like me yeah

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and that definitely are very inspired by this interview oh well i hope i hope

241

that um you are inspired by this interview

242

and something i live by is women inspire women so

243

if you are in your community if you're in your room

244

if you're um walking down the street or at school today you know reminder

245

that women inspire women so go to you know look to the girl to your left ask

246

if she's okay hold her hand if she's going through something be

247

that find that sisterhood in your community and be

248

that change don't be afraid and you know you're

249

so beautiful thank you so much for being such a great role model to your Brazilian outlet

250

and honestly to the world so I'm so proud to be here with you

251

and I love you Brazil

252

and I'm very very very grateful to be here thank you

253

Millie now I have a gift for you oh my goodness hello Millie my name is Tainara Tainara.

254

I am an indigenous girl from the Cambeba people of the Amazon region

255

and a UNICEF youth advocate with great affection and joy I've crafted this necklace especially for you.

256

Oh my goodness this is look how beautiful she is wow

257

oh my goodness I feel very lucky this is like my

258

first my first gift from Brazil I guess from especially a necklace this is it's a special gift Oh my goodness,

259

this is beautiful.

260

And this is made out of, I'm just reading, seeds of dyed acai, collected in our rainforest.

261

Are you kidding me? So beautiful.

262

The attention to detail, this is so beautiful.

263

Oh my goodness.

264

Thank you so much.

265

I wish I could hug her and say thank you so much.

266

This is so beautiful.

267

Thank you.

268

I'm very excited.

269

Oh my gosh, I'm going to wear this.

270

You're going to wear it?

271

Yeah, I know.

272

Should I help you?

273

Yes, please.

274

Okay, I'm just going to.

275

I had to lift up my hair that I don't have.

276

I just cut it yesterday.

277

Looking flawless.

278

Okay.

279

I'll set.

280

I feel like she wants me to spread them out.

281

Here we go.

282

This is perfect.

283

This is so beautiful.

284

Thank you so much.

285

I'm very grateful.

286

Thank you.

287

Thank you.

288

Bye.

289

Thank you.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “MAISA - ENTREVISTA MILLIE BOBBY BROWN”. This video has 288 sentences and 3157 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:35. The speaker talks fast, about 190 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
gosh	/ɡɑːʃ/	A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
goodness noun	/ˈɡʊdnəs/	The state or characteristic of being good.
inspire verb	/ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/	To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by…
menstrual adjective	/ˈmɛn.stɹu.əl/	Of or relating to the menses.
empower verb	/ɪmˈpaʊ.ə/	To give permission, power, or the legal right to do something.
motivate verb	/ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/	To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
hygiene noun	/ˈhaɪˌd͡ʒiːn/	The science of health, its promotion and preservation.
privilege noun	/ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/	A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment.
impactful adjective	/ˈɪmpæktfəl/	Having impact.
taboo noun	/təˈbuː/	An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
necklace noun	/ˈnɛkləs/	An article of jewelry that is worn around the neck, most often made of a string of precious metal, pearls, gems, beads or shells, and sometimes having a…
cyber adjective	/ˈsaɪ.bəɹ/	Of, or having to do with, the Internet; alternative form of cyber-.
passionate adjective	/ˈpæʃənɪt/	Fired with intense feeling.
ambassadorship noun		The post or office of ambassador.
compartmentalize verb	/kəmˌpɑɹtˈmɛntəlˌaɪz/	To separate something into different categories, or compartments.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
go back to verb		To stem from; to originate in.
go through verb		To travel from one end of something to the other.
come together verb	/ˈkʌm tʊˈɡɛðɚ/	To assemble; to congregate; to combine.
come up with verb		To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it.
end up verb		To bring to a conclusion.
figure out verb		To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
go back verb		To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time.
lift up verb		To elevate to a higher position.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Amelia, I'm so happy to see you again.
How old were you, by the way?
Do I know this about myself?
Do my friends and family think that about myself?
You're going to wear it?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	we've been talking · they've been working
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	they've done · I've never been · I've been
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	be made · be given · are solved

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 89 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: northeast /noːˈθɪjst/, thoroughly /ˈθʌɹ.ə.li/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, passionate /ˈpæʃənɪt/, affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/, meditation /mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/
Long words — get the stress right: compartmentalize /kəmˌpɑɹtˈmɛntəlˌaɪz/, mutuality /ˌmjuːtjuˈælɪti/, unforgettable /ˌʌnfə(ɹ)ˈɡɛtəbəl/, indigenous /ɪnˈdɪd͡ʒənəs/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like gosh, goodness, inspire.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: MAISA - ENTREVISTA MILLIE BOBBY BROWN - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?