Shadowing Practice: People Line Up to See and Smell 'Corpse Flower' in Australia - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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People lined up to get a look, but mostly a whiff of this flower.
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After hearing their reviews, you may be asking why?
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Pretty gross.
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Think about the last time that you were in the gym with a lot of really sweaty dudes.
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The Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, featured this flower.
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Scientifically, it's named the giant Amorphophallus titanum, but nicknamed Putritia by the locals for its foul stench.
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It only lasted for 24 hours, so anybody curious about the odor had to queue up to experience it for themselves.
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They all say they got what was advertised.
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The smell was like hot garbage.
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Smells like something is rotting, but like a socks.
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The last time Putricia bloomed was 15 years ago, so if you're curious, you may have to wait a while to find out what she smells like.
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For Inside Edition Digital, I'm Mara Montalbano.

Context & Background

This engaging video highlights an unusual spectacle at the Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, where the notorious giant Amorphophallus titanum, affectionately known as Putritia, is on display. The flower is famous not only for its remarkable size but also for its overwhelmingly foul odor, reminiscent of rotting garbage. The interest comes from the infrequent blooming of this flower, which last occurred 15 years ago. As people line up to catch a glimpse and sniff its peculiar scent, they share a comical take on the experience, comparing the smell to the aftermath of an intense workout session. This unique phenomenon offers an excellent opportunity for English learners to explore conversational phrases and expressions related to sensory experiences.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “People lined up” – a common phrase to describe how individuals gather in a queue for a specific reason.
  • “Get a look, but mostly a whiff” – an informal way to express that someone is eager to not only see but also smell something intriguing.
  • “If you’re curious” – useful for expressing one's interest or desire to know more about a topic.
  • “Got what was advertised” – a phrase that indicates receiving what was promised or expected.
  • “You may have to wait a while” – a comforting phrase used to prepare someone for a delay in experiencing something.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English speaking practice through this captivating video, consider following this shadowing guide:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by watching the video without subtitles to immerse yourself in the English being spoken. This will help you grasp the intonation and pace.
  2. Listen and Repeat: Play sections of the video again, pausing after each sentence. As you pause, repeat what you hear, mimicking the speaker's pronunciation and rhythm. Utilize resources like the shadowspeaks platform or other shadowing sites for guided practice.
  3. Focus on Sensory Descriptions: Pay special attention to phrases related to smell and sensations, as they are rich in descriptive language. Practice articulating these when you're shadowing.
  4. Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your spoken version. This method helps you identify areas to improve, especially in pronunciation and fluency.
  5. Review and Compare: Listen to your recording alongside the original audio. Take notes on differences in intonation, pause placement, and pronunciation, and make adjustments to enhance clarity in your speaking.

By integrating these steps, you can successfully leverage entertaining content like this video to learn English with YouTube, ultimately enriching your vocabulary and speaking skills in an engaging way.

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.