Shadowing Practice: Pixar in a Box: Introduction to Storytelling - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hey Pete.
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45 sentences
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Hey Pete.
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Oh hey Val.
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How's it going?
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You know what, I'm having a really bad day.
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What happened?
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See what Val's saying when she says what happened is, tell me a story.
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And that's actually what this season of Pixar in a Box is all about.
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To make a movie here at Pixar takes years, but it all starts with a story.
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Humans have been telling stories since we could speak, probably even before.
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We tell stories around the campfire.
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We write plays.
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We write novels, short stories.
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We make movies.
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We take photographs, tweet to each other.
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The list goes on.
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The power of story is that it has an ability to connect with people on an emotional level.
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One of the things you hear all the time, this advice, is write what you know.
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Now, as a kid, I was like, I don't want to write about suburban Minnesota.
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That's boring.
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I want to write about explosions and monsters and car chases.
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Well, what that actually means is, yeah, go ahead and write about monsters and explosions and car chases, but put something into it that talks about your own life, how you feel.
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Do you feel scared?
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Do you feel alone?
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Something from your own life will make that story come alive and not just be a boring car chase.
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When I started directing Monsters Incorporated, the way I would pitch it is, it's about a monster who scares kids for a living.
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That's his job.
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He clocks in, he clocks out, he eats donuts and talks about union dues.
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And we thought that was a pretty funny idea.
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And sure enough, when I would tell it to people, they would smile.
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But when we told the story as a film, people started getting bored and restless.
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And they're like, I don't understand what this movie is about.
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Well, what I finally figured out was that it's actually not about a monster who scares kids.
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It's about a man becoming a father.
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And that was what was happening to me.
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So why write about what you know?
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Well, it's because probably what happened to you made you feel some particular way.
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And what you're trying to do, really, when you tell a story is to get the audience to have that same feeling.
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One of the big revelations for me telling stories is how much work they are, really.
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I always thought you'd just tell the story once and it would be perfect, and geniuses like Walt Disney or Miyazaki, this brilliance comes out of their head once and there it is.
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Well, the truth is, our stories don't always come out exactly perfectly the first time, or the second time, or the third time, or the fourth time, up to the 30th time.
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And so you keep going again and again and again, and only after retelling the story many, many times, does it really sparkle.
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This season of Pixar in a Box is about how we at Pixar tell our stories, in hopes that it will inspire you to tell yours.
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But seriously, what happened?
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Oh, so the first thing, I get to my desk, right?
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It's 8 o'clock in the morning.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by engaging with the world of storytelling as introduced in "Pixar in a Box." Here, you will learn how to draw emotional connections and personal experiences into your narratives. This video emphasizes the importance of storytelling and personal reflection in effective communication. By analyzing the storytelling techniques used in Pixar films, you'll gain insight into how to craft engaging stories and apply these lessons to your English speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Storytelling: The act of conveying events through words, images, and sounds.
  • Connection: Linking emotions or experiences between the storyteller and the audience.
  • Write what you know: A common piece of advice suggesting that writers should draw from personal experiences.
  • Emotional level: The ability to engage someone’s feelings and emotions through storytelling.
  • Engaging: Attracting interest or attention; captivating.
  • Retelling: The act of narrating a story again, often to refine or enhance it.
  • Sparkle: To shine or stand out; in storytelling, this refers to the compelling nature of well-crafted stories.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing technique with this video, follow these focused steps:

  • Watch and Listen: Start by watching the video once without pausing. Pay attention to the speaker's tone, pace, and articulation to understand the flow of natural English conversation.
  • Repeat: On your second viewing, pause after each sentence or key phrase and repeat what you hear. This mimics the speaker's intonation and rhythm, helping you to improve your English pronunciation.
  • Focus on Emotion: Notice the emotional undertones of the story. When you shadow the speaker, try to convey the same feelings in your voice. This practice will enhance your expressiveness and connection when communicating in English.
  • Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture yourself while shadowing. Listening back will allow you to identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time.
  • Engage with the Content: After mastering the video, write a short story inspired by your own experiences, incorporating the vocabulary you've learned. This personal touch will reinforce your skills in learn English with YouTube content.

By consistently applying these techniques, you'll develop a stronger command of English and build your storytelling abilities, preparing you for various speaking situations.

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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