Shadowing Practice: On Walking Meditation | Thich Nhat Hanh - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Walk-in meditation
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is a wonderful way of establishing calm in ourselves and getting nourished by the wonders of life in the present moment.
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In France, I also teach children walking meditation with just two words, oui and merci.
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they breathe in they say we we yes yes
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you may like to do like them also when you breathe in you make three steps yes yes yes
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i wanted the children to say yes to learn to say yes to life to the earth we we
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and then when they breathe out they say
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merci merci they say thanks to the earth to life
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and they enjoy it very much
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when we practice walking meditation we coordinate our breathing with the steps we make
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It depends on our lungs that we make 3 steps or 4 steps while breathing in or while breathing out
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Give our lungs the exact number of steps they want It may be that breathing in,
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your lungs want two steps.
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But while breathing out, your lungs want three steps.
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So you may say, yes, yes, thank you, thank you, thank you.
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So listen to the need of your lungs and give them exactly the number of steps they want.
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And while you practice walking meditation focus your attention on the contact between your feet
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and the ground do not dwell here on the level of your brain
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go down and pay attention on the sole of your feet and breathe as if you breathe with your feet
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touch the earth with love with mindfulness, with care, as if you kiss the earth with your feet,
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will be very healing.
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We have done a lot of damage to the earth.
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Now it's time to go back and say thank you to the earth.
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Peace the earth with our youth.
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And we know what to do and what not to do in order to take care of Mother Earth.
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the earth will receive healing from us and we will receive the healing from the earth
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and if every day you can practice walking meditation one time two times you profit a lot
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you

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking using the video "On Walking Meditation" by Thich Nhat Hanh offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in mindfulness while improving your English skills. The context of walking meditation emphasizes harmony with nature, making it ideal for learners who seek to develop their language capabilities while embracing a calming practice. Incorporating the shadowing technique can enhance your experience; as you repeat phrases like "oui, oui" and "merci," you naturally improve your English pronunciation and rhythm. Engaging in this practice regularly not only helps you learn English with YouTube but also cultivates a profound sense of gratitude and awareness of your surroundings.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video showcases several key grammatical structures and expressions that are beneficial for learners:

  • Imperative Form: Phrases like "pay attention" and "give them exactly" are excellent examples of imperatives, which are used to command or request. This form is crucial for effective communication.
  • Present Simple Tense: The speaker frequently uses the present simple to convey ongoing actions, such as "we coordinate our breathing" and "it may be healing." Understanding this tense is essential for expressing habits or general truths.
  • Repetitive Affirmations: The use of "yes, yes" and "thank you" demonstrates how repetition can reinforce learning and gratitude. Such expressions are vital in conversational English to emphasize agreement or appreciation.

By practicing these structures in context, learners can improve English pronunciation and fluency while fostering a deeper connection to the content.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While engaging with Thich Nhat Hanh's soothing voice, learners should pay attention to potential pronunciation challenges:

  • French Words: Words like "oui" and "merci" may be pronounced differently depending on your native language. Focus on mimicking the soft sounds to accurately reflect their pronunciation.
  • Intonation and Rhythm: The way Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes certain phrases can subtly influence meaning. Pay attention to how he achieves calmness and tranquility through his intonation. Reproducing this can enhance your speaking skills.
  • Compound Words: Terms like "walking meditation" can be tricky due to their compound nature. Practice these phrases to ensure smooth speech when using them in conversation.

By identifying and practicing these potential pitfalls, you will enhance your English speaking practice through effective shadow speech techniques, allowing for more fluent conversations in both spoken and written forms.

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.