Shadowing Practice: Never, ever give up Diana Nyad #5 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The highs were high, the awe.
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I'm not a religious person
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but I tell
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you to be
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in the azure blue of the Gulf Stream, .
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gulf stream as if as you're breathing to be in the azure blue of the gulf stream as
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if as you're breathing to be in the azure blue of the gulf stream as if as you're breathing
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being the azure blue of the gulf stream as if as you're breathing
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You are looking down miles and miles.
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You are looking down miles and miles and miles.
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You are looking down miles and miles and miles.
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You're looking down miles and miles and miles.
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To feel the majesty of this blue planet we live on, it's awe-inspiring.
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To feel the majesty of this blue planet we live on,
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it's awe-inspiring to feel the majesty of this blue planet we
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live on it's it's it's awe-inspiring to feel the majesty of
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this blue planet we live on it's it's it's awe-inspiring to feel the majesty of this blue planet we live on.
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It's awe-inspiring.
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You feel the majesty of this blue planet we live on.
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It's awe-inspiring.
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I have a playlist of about 85 songs and especially in the middle of the night.
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of about 85 songs and especially in the middle of the night.
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I have a playlist of about 85 songs and especially in the middle of the night.
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And that night because we use no lights.
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Lights attract jellyfish, lights attract shark.
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And that night because we use no lights.
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Lights attract jellyfish, lights attract shark That night because we use no lights lights attract jellyfish lights attract shark
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Lights attract beat fish that attract sharks lights attract beat fish that attract sharks lights attract
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Lights attract bait fish that attract sharks.
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So, we go in the pitch black of the night.
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You've never seen black.
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This black.
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seen black this black.
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So we go in the pitch black of the night.
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You've never seen black this black.
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So we go in the pitch black of the night.
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You've never seen black this black.
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So we go in the pitch black of the night.
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You've never seen black this black.
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We go in the pitch black of the night.
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You've never seen black, this black.
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You can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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You can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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You can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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You can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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You can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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I can't see the front of your hand and the people on the boat.
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Bonnie and my team on the boat, they just hear the slapping of the arm.
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my team on the boat.
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They just hear the slapping of the arms.
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Bonnie and my team on the boat.
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They just hear the slapping of the arms.
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On?t.
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In my team on the boat.
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They just hear the slapping of the arms.
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and they know where I am because there's no visual at all
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and they know where I am because there's no visual at all.
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Then where I am because there's no visual at all. And
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I'm there kinda how new playlist with out there,
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Out there kind of tripping out on my little playlist.
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And I'm out there kind of tripping out on my little playlist of a newsie, which is just kind of a podcast that I really and how to do this for the television film,
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and I feel like I'm not alone.
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I feel like I'm dead.
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I'll make no point out on my playlist.
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I've got tight rubber caps, I don't hear a thing.
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I've got tight rubber caps, I don't hear a thing.
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I've got tight rubber caps, I don't hear a thing.
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I've got goggles and I'm turning my head 50 times a minute.
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I'm singing.
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I've got goggles and I'm turning my head 50 times a minute.
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I'm singing.
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I've got goggles and I'm turning my head 50 times a minute.
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I'm singing.
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Imagine there's no heaven.
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Imagine there's no heaven.
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Imagine there's no heaven.
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Imagine there's no heaven Imagine there's no heaven Imagine there's no heaven
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It's easy if you try It's easy if you try It's easy if you try.
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It's easy if you try.
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It's easy if you try.
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And I could sing that song a thousand times in a row.
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And I could sing that song a thousand times in a row.
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And I could sing that song a thousand times in a row.
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And I could sing that song a thousand times in a row.
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Now there's a talent unto itself.
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Now there's a talent unto itself.
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Now there's a talent unto itself.
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And each time I get done with.
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And each time I get done with...

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will immerse yourself in an inspiring narrative that showcases determination and the beauty of nature. Utilizing a captivating story told by Diana Nyad, you will practice essential English-speaking skills through shadowing. This method will help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation, making your spoken English more fluent and expressive. By listening closely to Nyad's reflections on the Gulf Stream, the majesty of our planet, and the challenges she faced during her remarkable swim, you will enhance your listening comprehension while expanding your vocabulary. Learn English with YouTube as you embrace the motivational message of perseverance.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Azure blue: A bright blue color reminiscent of a clear sky or ocean.
  • Awe-inspiring: Something that fills you with a sense of wonder and amazement.
  • Pitch black: Completely dark; without any light.
  • Slapping of the arms: Refers to the sound made when arms strike the water, especially while swimming.
  • Majesty: Great dignity, beauty, or grandeur.
  • Attract: To draw in or cause to come closer.
  • Bait fish: Small fish that are used to lure larger fish.
  • Shadowspeak: The technique of imitating speech to practice language skills more effectively.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience, try using a shadowing app that allows you to listen and imitate Diana Nyad as she speaks. Focus on her pacing; the transcript shows that her tone fluctuates between reflective and energized. Start by listening to short segments of the video, then pause and repeat after her, mimicking not only her words but also the emotion in her voice. Given that this video features a slower pace due to reflective moments, it's a prime opportunity for IELTS speaking practice. Remember to pay attention to how she pauses at significant points, creating a dramatic effect. By practicing this technique known as "shadow speech," you will improve your fluency and enable more natural conversational skills. Eventually, increase the length of the segments you practice until you feel comfortable shadowing entire sections. Embrace the journey of learning, and never give up on your English-speaking goals!

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.