Shadowing Practice: Mulder & Scully " How are you Dana?" (1x13) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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54 sentences
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1
Last time you were that engrossed, it turned out you were reading the adult videos.
2
I didn't think he'd be in today.
3
Thank you.
4
How are you, Dana?
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Dana, I'm fine, thank you.
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What are you working on?
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Two days ago, a couple was kidnapped at Jackson University.
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Elizabeth Hawley, and James Summers, both 19.
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Last year another couple was kidnapped to the day, except that abduction occurred at Duke University.
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One week later they found both students' bodies dead.
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They were kept alive, tortured during that period.
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No arrests were ever made.
13
Police believed it to be a one -time offender, but now it appears to be a serial incident.
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Anyway, if he holds true to form, we have five days to find those kids.
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That's a grim deadline.
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Well, here's another grim deadline.
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In one week, Luther Lee Boggs will take a seat in the North Carolina gas chamber.
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How is he related?
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He claims to have information relating to the kidnapping.
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He described Hawley's bracelet down to the last detail.
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This is information that only family members could have known. or the kidnapper.
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Boggs feels that if his talents help save these kids, then his sentence should be reduced to life in prison.
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His talents?
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He claims to have obtained this information through psychic transmissions.
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Mulder, do I detect a hint of skepticism?
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Perhaps.
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Bogg has been there before. in the chamber.
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My profile helped send him there.
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He was actually strapped to the chair before receiving an executive stay.
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He claims that this experience activated in him the ability to channel spirits and demons.
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I believe in psychic ability without a doubt.
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But not in this case.
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Not Boggs.
34
So you believe that Boggs is orchestrating the kidnapping from the inside?
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A scam to save his life?
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At the age of six, Luther Boggs slaughtered every pet animal in his housing project.
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When he was 30, he strangled five family members over Thanksgiving dinner
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and then sat down to watch the fourth quarter of the Detroit Green Bay game.
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Some killers are products of society.
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Some act out past abuses.
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Boggs kills because he likes it.
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And they've requested you speak with them?
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Actually, he's requested to speak to me.
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Why you?
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He read my profile on him and he feels like I'm the only one who truly understands what he is.
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Anyway, I leave for Raleigh this afternoon.
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I'll go with you.
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The funeral's at noon.
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I think you should take some time.
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I need to work.
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I'm sorry about your father.
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I'll see you later.
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Okay.
54
Yeah.

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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

Engaging with the dialogue from this video clip featuring Mulder and Scully provides a fascinating context for practicing English. By immersing yourself in the narrative surrounding their intense conversation about a kidnapping case, you not only sharpen your listening skills but also enhance your speaking abilities. The specific choice of vocabulary and the context of the characters' interactions make it an excellent material for the shadowing technique.

Practicing your speaking with this video helps you mimic natural speech patterns, improving your fluency and comprehension. Using such a dynamic context allows learners to connect emotionally with the content, making it easier to remember phrases and expressions. Furthermore, this method is particularly beneficial for IELTS speaking practice, where conveying emotions and subtlety is key to success.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The dialogue includes several grammatical structures and expressions worth noting:

  • Conditional Clauses: Phrases like "If he holds true to form" illustrate how to communicate hypothetical situations. This structure is essential for discussing predictions or conditions in English.
  • Direct Questions: The use of questions such as "How are you, Dana?" provides learners with examples of how to engage in conversation and show concern for others, which is critical in everyday interactions.
  • Descriptive Language: Expressions like "gruesome deadline" convey urgency and significance. Learning how to use descriptive adjectives will enhance your vocabulary and provide depth to your speaking.
  • Reported Speech: Phrases such as "He claims to have information" exemplify how to report on someone else’s statements effectively, which is vital for storytelling in English.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking along with the video, be mindful of specific words and phrases that may be challenging:

  • "kidnapped": Ensure to stress the second syllable to assist with clarity.
  • "psychic": The 'c' here can trip learners up; practice the 'sigh' sound preceding the 'k' for proper pronunciation.
  • "actually": This word often gets pronounced quickly, leading to mumbling. Slow it down and articulate each syllable to avoid misunderstanding.

By focusing on these pronunciation aspects while utilizing the shadow speech approach, you can significantly improve your spoken English skills. The shadowspeaks method allows you to hear and replicate the intonation and rhythm of native speakers effectively, making your speech sound more natural.

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwas kidnapped · were kept · were ever made
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas been · they've requested

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 →