Shadowing Practice: Meryl Streep Wins Best Actress: 1983 Oscars - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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It's my high honor to present the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
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No writer, director or producer would have anyone to blame if he had any of these fine ladies starring in his film.
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The nominees are for her hilarious depiction of a woman who passes herself off as a man pretending to be a woman.
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Julie Andrews and Victor Vittoria.
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For her riveting portrayal of the beautiful but tortured actress whose star was a comet that burned out too soon, Jessica Lange in France.
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For her compelling realism as the frustrated wife caught between revolution and bureaucracy, Missy Spacek in Missy.
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For her astonishing versatility in bringing William Styron's victim from the printed page to the screen, Meryl Streep and Sophie's Choice.
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For her beguiling honesty as the winsome factory worker who makes a gentleman out of an officer, Deborah Winger.
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No matter what the decision, they've all made film history, and I commend you all, and the The winner is...
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Marvelous Merrill Speech.
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I'll get that.
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That's my speech.
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No, it's your speech there.
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Okay.
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Short speech.
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It's really...
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It is.
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Oh, boy.
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No matter how much you try to imagine what this is like, it's just so incredibly thrilling right down to your toes.
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I have a lot of people to thank.
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And I'm gonna be one of those people
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that tries to mention a lot of names because I know just two seconds ago my mother and father went completely berserk.
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and I'd like to give some other mothers and fathers that opportunity.
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I'd like to thank William Styron for creating this beautiful character
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and for Ellen Pakula for bringing it to the stage and allowing me to play it.
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I would like to thank Marty Starger at ITC for finding the financing for it, Nestor Almendros, the great cinematographer,
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Albert Wolski, wonderful costumer, and the crew.
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Tommy Priestley, the Gerardos, the de Blau brothers.
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Tommy Preit, Chris Newman, Denny Maitland, Wally Props, Lillian, Alba, Dixie, Roy Hilland.
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I'd like to thank my Polish coach, Elena Baco, my German coaches, Ann Catanio and David Friedman,
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and the 37 members of the American and European castes,
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whom I won't mention all of their names, but for two.
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I feel like I owe them this because everything that I had,
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I got from looking in their eyes and for the great love they gave me for five months.
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I thank Kevin Kline and Peter McNichol.
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And I thank you all very much.

Context & Background

This excerpt features Meryl Streep delivering her acceptance speech for the Best Actress award at the 1983 Oscars, following her remarkable role in "Sophie's Choice." Streep's speech exemplifies the joy and gratitude often expressed by award recipients in high-stakes environments. It also provides a glimpse into the film industry, as she expresses appreciation for her collaborators, illustrating the collective effort behind cinematic success. As English learners, understanding the context in which such speeches occur can enhance your language acquisition and provide cultural insights.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "It's my high honor..." - A formal way to express appreciation or gratitude in professional contexts.
  • "I have a lot of people to thank..." - A phrase used to acknowledge the support of others.
  • "I feel like I owe them this..." - An expression of indebtedness and appreciation.
  • "I’d like to thank..." - Commonly used at events to recognize contributions from others.
  • "This is so incredibly thrilling..." - A way to convey excitement about an experience or achievement.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English pronunciation and speaking confidence through the art of shadow speak, follow this step-by-step guide while working with Meryl Streep’s acceptance speech:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by watching the learn English with YouTube video clip of Streep’s acceptance speech. Familiarize yourself with her tone, emotion, and rhythm.
  2. Listen for Key Phrases: Pay special attention to the top phrases listed above. Listen multiple times until you can repeat them accurately.
  3. Slow it Down: Use playback options to slow down the speech. This will help you understand the pronunciation and intonation better, aiding in your English speaking practice.
  4. Shadow the Speech: Once you're familiar with the phrases, try shadowing—repeat what Streep says as she says it. Focus on mimicking her voice, pace, and emotions to improve your delivery.
  5. Record Yourself: Use your phone or a recording device to capture your shadowing attempts. Listening to yourself provides valuable feedback on your progress in improving English pronunciation.
  6. Practice Consistently: Make shadowing a regular habit. The more you practice, the more natural your speaking will become, allowing you to incorporate this new vocabulary into daily conversations.

By applying these techniques, you'll become more proficient in English and gain confidence in your speaking skills. Happy learning!

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.