Shadowing Practice: Matilda. Aprende ingles español con películas - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I'm a child.
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56 sentences
1
I'm a child.
2
I'm Hortensia.
3
Hi.
4
She doesn't really hit children with that riding crop, does she?
5
No, it's mostly for scare.
6
What she does is worse.
7
Like yesterday, the second grade, the judge will make a weekly visit to every classroom.
8
Show the teachers a thing or two about handling kids.
9
And Julius Routminkle ate two M&Ms during her lesson.
10
And she caught him?
11
Of course.
12
Was Julius okay?
13
After being thrown out the window?
14
Of course he wasn't okay.
15
He lived, if that's what you mean.
16
The trunchbull used to be in the Olympics.
17
Shot put, javelin, hammer throw.
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The hammer throws her specialty.
19
So she does this all the time?
20
It's better than being put in the chokie.
21
Chokie?
22
Yeah, the chokie.
23
It's a tall, narrow hole in a wall behind a door.
24
You have to stand in a drippy pipe with jagged edges, and the walls are broken glass and nails sticking around.
25
Get inside, you fistering ball of pus!
26
She puts kids in there?
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I've been in twice.
28
Sometimes she leaves you in there all day.
29
Didn't you tell your parents?
30
They didn't believe me.
31
I mean, would your parents believe it?
32
Sixty lines after school.
33
I must obey Miss Franschbo.
34
No.
35
Out of my way.
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Here she comes.
37
Ah, fresh meat.
38
Amanda Thrip.
39
Yes, Miss Trunchbull.
40
What are those?
41
What's what, Miss Trunchbull?
42
Hanging down by your ears.
43
You mean my pigtails?
44
Are you a pig, Amanda?
45
No, Miss Trunchbull.
46
Do I allow pigs in my school?
47
My mommy thinks they're sweet.
48
Your mommy is a twit.
49
You'll chop those off before school tomorrow or I will come around.
50
Butt!
51
Butt!
52
Did you say butt?
53
Aristotle?
54
What?
55
Definitely.
56
I'll give you butt!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice their English speaking skills through engaging dialogues from the movie "Matilda." By shadowing the characters’ lines, you will be immersing yourself in vibrant conversations, helping to enhance your understanding of both vocabulary and phrasing in context. The scenes revolve around various subjects, such as childhood experiences and interactions with authority figures, providing rich material for improving your English pronunciation and fluency. As you immerse yourself in the dialogues, you'll also gain insights into character emotions, enhancing your expressive capabilities in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Hortensia: A character's name, important for recognizing individual speech.
  • Riding crop: A tool often associated with authority, relevant in the context of discipline.
  • Chokie: A term used to describe a severe punishment in the school setting.
  • Fistering ball of pus: A colorful insult highlighting character conflict.
  • Pigtails: A hairstyle, significant in conveying youth and innocence.
  • Twit: An informal term for someone foolish, useful in character interaction.
  • Olympics: A reference to sports, adding layers to character backgrounds.
  • After school lines: A method of punishment, key to understanding school dynamics.

Practice Tips

To effectively utilize this lesson for improving English pronunciation through shadowspeak, follow the steps below. First, listen closely to the dialogue, paying attention to the speed and tone of the characters. The dialogues, while lively, carry emotional weight that you should reflect in your practice. Begin by repeating phrases immediately after hearing them, mimicking the character's expression to develop your own emotional delivery.

Since the conversation has whimsical yet serious undertones, adjust your voice to match the mood—experiment with variations in pitch and volume. This will not only help with improving English pronunciation but also with conveying meanings through tone. The use of shadow speech in this context will allow you to become familiar with the rhythm and musicality of the language.

Don’t hesitate to pause the video after each line to repeat it multiple times to refine your articulation. Use shadow speech techniques to absorb the pronunciation of individual words and phrases, helping make each word second nature. Practice consistently, and you'll find that immersing yourself in this interactive experience greatly enhances your English speaking abilities.

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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