Shadowing Practice: Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Tâm Eloquence - Model Speaking from an IELTS 9.0 Speaker - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hi, everyone. My name is Nguyen Lam Thao Tam from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Today, I'm competing for EF challenge on the topic : Do you believe everything is impossible?
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Hi, everyone. My name is Nguyen Lam Thao Tam from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Today, I'm competing for EF challenge on the topic : Do you believe everything is impossible?
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Do you realize that we live and grow by stories of others the stories of exceptional intelligence of amazing achievements, of how Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, of how Isaac Newton discovered the three laws of physics We go though our lives listening to these motivational stories and yet Have you ever stopped to imagine that up there in the life could be you and you too could do the impossible?
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Now I don't want to tell you about the stories of others the stories of the great the stories of success and achievement We must go pass a hundred times over I Want to tell you about our little survey have done at my school calif es on dreams In four days I invited students ages from 11 to 18 to answer an Online question poll asking them about aspirations in just four days. I've managed to get 250 plus responses that could be split into three categories very positively Seventy-four percent of my respondents said that yes They have what it takes to complete their journey when asked what the dreams were it was arranged from learning an instrument Becoming a businessman to becoming president and be featured on Forbes that celebrities count on my heartstrings when he said he wanted to build a system of Villas around the world so that The less fortunate could stay at it as a care home after he passed away Such a great gesture and such a good idea [of] us And it seems so imposible that the 12 years old have thought of it this crispy show that was good heart good thoughts and believe we could bring such as positivity to the world Our next twenty percent however that that they didin't have when it takes to complete what they wanted The three options for [wise] was lack of patient lack of support and the dream is not being [unrealistic] The last six percent however completely different they say that they have no dream whatsoever at all This would be due to the educational system ,where I live Viet Nam and Asia at large. It's very how to say umh bias Towards academic achievement, so that we over use rote learning and Tedious extra classes .This results and lack of time and lack of energy The three reasons for why they put their dreams or don't have any : They too busy to think of one they don't think during aggressive fairies and they just think studying too much is enough already You can't complete greatness without know without energy and without trust fight for an even schedule and balance to self out When you four years old you should still because your parents told you to When you're nine years old you should still because your teachers told you to [when] you're 12 years old, you should still because all your friends are doing it And for the rest of your life, you should still because that's all you have ever known it is true that the ones around [this] affect our actions and it's our main motor support but never be afraid to set yourself apart Be reasonable that the unique and remember asking [for] help is always [okay] Impossible it's gets hard. Have you ever read a work of fiction and wanted to become the main hero who saves a day?
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Have you ever?
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Listen to Someone's feet and it felt so inspired you just wanted to do something for this world you can Be impossible is less impossible than you think start writing your own story I'll be here waiting and eager to listen
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Why practice speaking with this video?

The video featuring Nguyễn Lâm Thảo Tâm presents a highly engaging context for English speaking practice. By listening to an IELTS 9.0 speaker, learners are exposed to a high standard of spoken English, which can serve as an excellent model. Thao Tam discusses profound themes like aspirations, societal expectations, and the power of belief. Practicing with this content allows learners to not only refine their language skills but also to internalize inspiring ideas and expressions that resonate with their own experiences.

Utilizing the shadowing technique, learners can replicate Thao Tam’s pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm, thereby enhancing their fluency and confidence in speaking. The emotional depth of her message about overcoming limitations and setting personal goals makes this video an ideal choice for IELTS speaking practice. It encourages learners to articulate their dreams, which can lead to more meaningful conversations in English.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the transcript, Thao Tam employs several key grammatical structures and expressions that are valuable for learners:

  • Conditional sentences: Phrases like "If you can do the impossible" highlight how to express conditions effectively.
  • Direct speech: Instances where she quotes experiences or thoughts of her peers showcase how to incorporate dialogue into conversations, such as "Such a great gesture!"
  • Passive voice: The phrase "are influenced by" can help learners understand how to emphasize the action rather than the subject, a useful structure in formal contexts.
  • Comparative statements: Expressions like "more impossible than you think" demonstrate how to compare ideas and feelings, which is crucial in persuasive speaking.

Understanding these structures in context will allow learners to integrate them into their own conversations, enhancing their ability to express complex ideas fluently.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As learners practice their speaking skills with this video, they should pay special attention to tricky pronunciations and accents that may arise:

  • Words like "impossible" and "achievements": The stress on syllables can be challenging; practicing these with the shadowing technique can aid in mastering their pronunciation.
  • “Believe” and “realize”: These may have subtle vowel sounds that change meaning if mispronounced. Paying attention to Thao Tam's enunciation will help learners improve their clarity.
  • Connecting words: Thao Tam’s fluid speech highlights the importance of linking sounds between words, a key element for sounding natural in English. Phrases should be practiced in smooth segments rather than in isolation.

Using tools such as shadow speech can help learners mimic these patterns effectively, ensuring they don’t fall into common pronunciation traps and allowing them to communicate more confidently in conversations.

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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