Shadowing Practice: Practice SPEAKING English — with TAYLOR SWIFT Speech - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Ah yeah!
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Ah yeah!
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So how many times have you felt frustrated because you could understand English
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but then you felt like when it came time to speak it you didn't feel natural or confident?
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On today's lesson you will develop the confidence
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that you need to feel natural when you speak English with the incredibly talented Taylor Swift.
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We'll be learning along with the commencement speech that she gave in 2022 at New York University.
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So if you're ready, Let's get started.
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All right, so we're going to practice with an exercise called imitation.
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Now the idea of imitation is to try to improve the different details of your speaking by mimicking exactly how someone else,
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usually a native speaker, speaks the language.
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You really want to pay attention to things like intonation,
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the melody, pronunciation of individual words, and so on.
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Let me demonstrate how we'll be imitating Taylor in this lesson with an exercise that's kind of like karaoke.
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My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.
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My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.
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So here's how this lesson is going to go.
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First, we'll watch the entire clip with subtitles.
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Then, we'll learn how to pronounce the most difficult sounds in her speech.
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And finally, at the end,
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we'll practice karaoke-ing along with her.
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It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure.
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And ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.
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This has not been my experience.
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my experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life
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and being embarrassed
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when you mess up it's part of the human experience getting back up dusting yourself off
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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,
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if not more crucial, than the moments I was told yes.
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Not being invited to the parties and sleepovers in my hometown made me feel hopelessly lonely.
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But because I felt alone,
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I would sit in my room and write the songs that would get me a ticket somewhere else.
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Let's start with the word the.
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It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure.
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So the word the can be pronounced in two different ways.
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The or the.
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So how do we know which one to use and when?
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Well, in American English, it's usually pronounced as the because articles like the,
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a, an, are function words.
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This means that we reduce them in natural speech.
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The exception to this is when we want to add emphasis,
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so then we will fully pronounce words that we would normally reduce in our natural speech.
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So for example, if I ask you to hand me a pencil,
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I would say, could you hand me the pencil?
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But imagine you hand me a pen instead.
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Then I might emphasize to help you understand my need better.
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No not the pen, the pencil.
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Now let's practice saying the word failure.
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It was all centered around the idea that mistakes equal failure.
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So the first sound is fey,
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similar to the word fey.
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The sound is created by combining the letter F with a long A sound as in 8 or B.
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The verse part is L which is the L sound as in love or light.
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The second part is Y which is a combination of two sounds.
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The Y sound is similar to the Y sound in yes or yellow.
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The ER sound is the schwa sound which is a neutral vowel sound similar to the ER sound in butter or teacher.
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Remember in American English, the R is rhotic,
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which means we pronounce it fully.
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The stress or emphasis is on the first syllable, fail.
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Now let's say it together.
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Failure.
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Failure.
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And ultimately, the loss of any chance at a happy or rewarding life.
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As Taylor Swift is from the US,
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she obviously uses the North American pronunciation.
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One common feature of this is the pronunciation of the A sound,
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which we'll hear when Taylor pronounces words such as chance, afterwards, and laugh.
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In American English, the A in chance,
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afterwards, and laugh is pronounced as a short A sound,
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similar to the A sound in cat or ham.
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This can be compared to British English where these words are pronounced as a long A sound,
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similar to the A sound in father or car.
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As you can see, pronunciation is an essential part of becoming a fluent speaker.
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Fluent speakers are easily understood by others because they have really worked at and mastered the rhythm,
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intonation, stress, linking, and other details of the language that help them to sound natural when they speak.
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So remember, the more that you practice with exercises like we're doing today,
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the better that you'll become at it.
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By the By the way,
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so many of you have told me that you really want to start practicing speaking English every day,
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but you simply don't have anyone in your life that you can practice speaking with on a regular basis.
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So we decided to go ahead and solve this problem for you by creating the RealLife app.
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Now the RealLife app is fantastic because it's the only place where anytime,
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anywhere you can simply press a button and we'll instantly connect you to another English speaker in another part of the world.
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not only can you practice your speaking anytime,
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anywhere, even just during your coffee break,
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but you can also discover other cultures.
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It's really like you were virtually traveling around the world,
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but without leaving the comfort of your home.
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What's more, you can also advance your English listening with our weekly podcast lessons
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and learn the vocabulary and never forget it with exclusive flashcards.
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So what are you waiting for?
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It's absolutely free to start.
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You can look up of RealLife English in the Apple App Store,
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Google Play Store, or simply click up here or down in the description below to learn more.
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Now let's pay attention to how Taylor pronounces the T in part of,
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getting, about it, invited, parties, and sit in.
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And being embarrassed when you mess up,
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it's part of the human experience.
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Getting back up, dusting yourself off,
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and seeing who still wants to hang out with you afterward and laugh about it,
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that's a gift.
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Not being invited to the parties and sleepovers in my hometown made me feel hopelessly lonely.
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But because I felt alone,
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I would sit in my room and write the songs that would get me a ticket somewhere else.
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Taylor pronounces this with an American T sound so it sounds like a da.
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To make this sound the tip of your tongue touches behind your teeth and it's a really quick movement da da da.
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It's actually the same sound that we have with the R in Spanish or some other Latin languages.
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The American T is voiced meaning that
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if you touch your throat you would actually feel it vibrating as you're making the sound.
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This is a very common feature of American pronunciation.
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Now you might be asking yourself,
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how will I know when I need to use the American T?
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Now the rule of the American T is that they occur between vowels and the second vowel is in an unstressed syllable.
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Part of, getting, about it, invited, parties, sit in.
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Now let's pay attention to how Taylor pronounces the T in wasn't included,
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didn't make the cut, and important.
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Taylor pronounces
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these words with a glottal T sound.
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So to make the glottal T sound,
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start by positioning your mouth and tongue as you would when pronouncing the regular T sound.
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Instead of releasing the air by pushing your tongue up against the alveolar ridge,
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create a small burst of air by closing your vocal cords and then quickly releasing them again.
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This creates a distinct pop sound like a small cough
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or the sound that we hear between the syllables when we say uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh.
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This is a really challenging sound, let's practice together.
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Wasn't included.
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Wasn't included.
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Didn't make the cut.
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Didn't make the cut.
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Important.
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Important.
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All right, next let's practice saying the word crucial.
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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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The first sound is pru, similar to cruel.
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The u sound is created by combining the kr sound with the long u sound as in moon or group.
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The second sound is shul.
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It consists of two parts.
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The first part is sh which is the sh sound as in shu or sheep.
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The second part is all which is the uh sound,
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that schwa sound we saw earlier,
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combined with a dark l which is like we hear in the words world or cool.
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Well, light L sound like we saw in failure is produced at the front of the mouth.
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A dark L sound is produced at the back of the throat.
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So when you put it all together,
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crucial is pronounced as crucial with the emphasis on the first syllable.
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Finally, let's look at the stress and intonation in two words sleepover and hometown.
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Not being invited to the parties and sleepovers in my hometown made me feel hopelessly lonely.
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The word sleepover, the primary stress falls on the first syllable sleep.
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So the word is pronounced as sleepover, sleepover.
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The other syllables, o and ver are pronounced with less stress, sleepover.
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When saying sleepover, the pitch typically rises slightly on the stressed syllable sleep
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and then falls gradually on the following syllables o and ver.
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Sleepover.
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Sleepover.
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In the words hometown, the primary stress falls on the first syllable, home.
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So the word is pronounced as hometown.
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Hometown.
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The second syllable town is pronounced with less stress.
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Hometown.
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Hometown.
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So how are you doing so far with today's speaking lessons?
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Let us know which series,
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movie, or famous celebrity like Taylor Swift you would like to practice your speaking with next.
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So this time, we won't do the imitation together,
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but I would like you to actually practice everything that you've learned today.
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As a bonus tip, I highly recommend that you record yourself on your phone
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and that way you can listen back and compare it to the original so you can really evaluate how you're doing here.
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If you want, you can go back now and listen to the whole speech again by using the chapters in this video.
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Are you ready?
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Let's go!
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has not been my experience.
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My experience has been that my mistakes led to the past in my life.
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And being embarrassed when you mess up is part of the human experience.
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Getting back up, dusting yourself off,
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and seeing who still wants to hang out with you afterward and laugh about it,
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that's a good.
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The times I was told no,
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or wasn't indicated, wasn't chosen,
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didn't win, didn't make the cut,
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looking back, it really feels like those moments were as important,
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if not more peaceful, than the moments I was told yes.
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Not being guided to the parties and sleepovers in my hometown made me feel hopelessly lonely.
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But because I felt alone,
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I would sit in my room and write the songs that would get me a ticket from the house.
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I really hope that you enjoyed today's lesson.
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You got a lot out of it and that your speaking got a little bit better than before you watched the lesson.
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So if you want to keep improving your speaking,
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I recommend you check out this lesson next.
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Let's watch a clip.
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You want to start?
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Context & Background
In today's fast-paced world, many English learners find themselves understanding the language yet struggling to express themselves confidently. This feeling of frustration can significantly hinder one's ability to engage in meaningful conversations. The commencement speech by pop icon Taylor Swift at New York University in 2022 serves as an excellent resource for practicing English speaking skills. By analyzing her engaging narrative on mistakes and personal growth, learners can not only enhance their confidence but also enrich their vocabulary and pronunciation. Emulating Taylor's eloquence is an enriching way to immerse oneself in real-life English through a relatable and inspiring context.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.” - This phrase highlights the importance of viewing mistakes as opportunities for personal growth.
- “Getting back up, dusting yourself off...” - A reminder of resilience in the face of challenges.
- “Those moments were as important, if not more crucial, than the moments I was told yes.” - Emphasizes the value of adversity and rejection in shaping success.
- “Not being invited made me feel hopelessly lonely.” - Conveys feelings of exclusion, a relatable experience for many.
- “I would sit in my room and write the songs that would get me a ticket somewhere else.” - Highlights the power of creativity in overcoming isolation.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
Using the shadowing technique can be incredibly beneficial for English learners who wish to improve their speaking skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide based on Taylor Swift’s speech:
- Watch the video: Begin by viewing the entire clip with subtitles. This will allow you to grasp the context and flow of her speech.
- Focus on pronunciation: Identify and practice the pronunciation of challenging words and phrases. For instance, the word “the” can be emphasized differently based on context. Learn when to pronounce it as “the” versus “thee”.
- Imitate the speaker: Start shadow speaking by mimicking Taylor’s intonation and melody. Repeat phrases aloud, aiming to match her rhythm and expressiveness.
- Record yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowing practice. Listening to your playback can help you identify areas for improvement.
- Engage in conversational practice: After mastering the phrases, try using them in daily conversations. This will significantly enhance your skills, especially useful for IELTS speaking practice.
By using this method, you can effectively practice English and gain confidence in your speaking abilities. So, take advantage of the opportunity to learn English with YouTube and make language learning a fun and engaging experience!
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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