Shadowing Practice: テイラースウィフトのNYU大学卒業スピーチ - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hi, I'm Taylor.
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65 sentences
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Hi, I'm Taylor.
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Last time I was in a stadium this size, I was dancing in heels and wearing a glittery leotard.
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This outfit is much more comfortable.
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I'm 90% sure the main reason I'm here is because I have a song called 22.
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And let me just say, I am elated to be here with you today as we celebrate and graduate New York University's Class of 2022.
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So as a rule, I try not to give anyone unsolicited advice unless they ask for it.
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I guess I have been officially solicited in this situation to impart whatever wisdom I might have to tell you things that have helped me so far in my life.
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The first of which is, life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once.
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Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release.
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What I mean by that is knowing what things to keep and what things to release.
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Oftentimes the good things in your life are lighter anyway, so there's more room for them.
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One toxic relationship can outweigh so many wonderful, simple joys.
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You get to pick what your life has time and room for.
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Be discerning.
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Secondly, learn to live alongside cringe.
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I'd like to say I'm a big advocate for not hiding your enthusiasm for things.
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It seems to me that there is a false stigma around eagerness in our culture of unbothered ambivalence.
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This outlook perpetuates the idea that it's not cool to want it.
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The people who don't try are fundamentally more chic than people who do.
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Never be ashamed of trying.
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The people who wanted it the least were the ones I wanted to date and be friends with in high school.
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The people who want it the most are the people I now hire to work for my company.
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I started writing songs when I was 12, and since then, it's been the compass guiding my life, and in turn, my life guided my writing.
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Everything I do is just an extension of my writing.
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And this might sound like a very songwriter-centric line of discussion, but in a way, I really do think we are all writers and most of us write in a different voice for different situations.
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It's just a continuation of the idea that we are so many things all the time.
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And I know it can be really overwhelming figuring out who to be and when, who you are now and how to act in order to get where you want to go.
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I have some good news.
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It's totally up to you.
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I have some terrifying news.
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It's totally up to you.
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My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life and being embarrassed when you mess up it's part of the human experience.
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Getting back up, dusting yourself off, and seeing who still wants to hang out with you afterward and laugh about it, that's a gift.
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The times I was told no or wasn't included.
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Wasn't chosen, didn't win, didn't make the cut.
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Looking back, it really feels like those moments were as important, if not more crucial, than the moments I was told yes.
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I know I sound like a consummate optimist, but I'm really not.
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I lose perspective all the time.
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Sometimes and everything just feels completely pointless.
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I know the pressure of living your life through the lens of perfectionism.
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And I know that I'm talking to a group of perfectionists because you are here today graduating from NYU.
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So this might be hard for you to hear.
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In your life, you will inevitably misspeak, trust the wrong person, underreact, overreact, hurt the people who didn't deserve it, overthink, not think at all, self-sabotage, create a reality where only your experience exists, ruin perfectly good moments for yourself and others deny any wrongdoing not take the steps to make it right feel very guilty let the guilt eat at you hit rock bottom finally address the pain you caused try to do better next time rinse repeat now you leave the structure and framework of school and chart your own path.
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Every choice you make leads to the next choice, which leads to the next, and I know it's hard to know which path to take.
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There will be times in life where you need to stand up for yourself.
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Times when the right thing is actually to back down and apologize.
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when the right thing is to fight, times when the right thing is to turn and run, times to hold on with all you have, and times to let go with grace.
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Sometimes the right thing to do is to throw out the old schools of thought in the name of progress and reform.
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Sometimes the right thing to do is to sit and listen to the wisdom of those who have come before us.
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How will you know what the right choice is in these crucial moments?
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You won't.
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The scary news is you're on your own now.
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But the cool news is you're on your own now.
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I leave you with this.
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We are led by our gut instincts, our intuition, our desires and fears, our scars and our dreams.
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And you will screw it up sometimes.
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So will I.
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And when I do, you will most likely read about it on the internet.
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Anyway, hard things will happen to us.
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We will recover.
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We will learn from it.
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We will grow more resilient because of it.
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I hope you know how proud I am to share this day with you.
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We're doing this together, so let's just keep dancing like we're the class of 22.
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Thank you.

Context & Background

In an inspiring graduation speech, renowned singer-songwriter Taylor Swift addressed the Class of 2022 at New York University. Her message revolved around personal growth, resilience, and the importance of discerning choices in life. Swift shared insightful anecdotes from her journey and emphasized the value of both mistakes and efforts, encouraging graduates to embrace their unique paths as they transition from education to the real world. With a blend of wisdom and humor, she highlighted the significance of authenticity and the necessity of navigating life's challenges with grace.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once." – This phrase encourages reflection on the burdens we choose to carry.
  • "Never be ashamed of trying." – A motivational reminder to embrace effort and enthusiasm.
  • "Getting back up and seeing who still wants to hang out with you afterward is a gift." – A call to recognize the importance of resilience and support in relationships.
  • "Every choice you make leads to the next choice." – This emphasizes the impact of our decisions on our life's pathway.
  • "Sometimes the right thing to do is to sit and listen." – Encourages the practice of patience and understanding in communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Engaging with Taylor Swift's speech is a valuable way for learners to enhance their English speaking practice. Here’s a structured approach to shadowing the speech:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the speech on YouTube to familiarize yourself with the context and tone. Pay attention to Swift's intonation and pacing.
  2. Listen Closely: Play the speech again, this time focusing on individual phrases. Pause after each sentence to absorb the delivery style.
  3. Repeat Immediately: Using the shadow speech technique, repeat each sentence right after Swift. This will help mimic her pronunciation and rhythm.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone to record your attempts at repeating the phrases. Listening to your recording allows you to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key. Incorporate these phrases into daily conversations to enhance fluency and confidence.

By integrating these steps into your routine, you'll not only learn English with YouTube more effectively but also gain confidence in your speaking abilities. Remember, mastering English takes time, so be patient with yourself as you shadow the speech and embrace the learning journey.

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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