Shadowing Practice: Pride and Prejudice (2005) Mr. Collins' proposal - Learn English Speaking with Video

Mary, please.

Thank you, Mr. Hill.

Come on.

Mrs. Bennet, I was hoping, if it would not trouble you, that I might solicit a private audience with Miss Elizabeth in the course of the morning.

Oh, yes, certainly.

Lizzie will be very happy indeed.

Everyone out.

Mr. Collins would like a private audience with your sister.

No, wait, please.

I beg you, Mr. Collins can have nothing to say to me that anybody meet not here.

No nonsense, Lizzie.

I desire you will stay where you are.

Bring everyone else to the drawing room.

Mr. Bennet? But...

Now?

Jane.

Dear Mrs. Elizabeth, I'm sure my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken.

Almost as soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion of my future life.

but before i am run away with my feelings perhaps i may state my reasons for marrying firstly

that it is the duty of a clergyman to set the example of matrimony in his parish

secondly that i am convinced it will add greatly to my happiness

and thirdly that it is at the urging of my esteemed patroness lady catherine

that i select a wife my object in coming to Longbourn

was to choose such a one from among Mr Bennet's daughters for I am to inherit the estate

and such an alliance will surely suit everyone and now nothing remains

but for me to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection mr. Collins and

that no reproach on the subject of fortune will cross my

lips once we're married you are too hasty sir you You forget that I have given no answer.

I must add that Lady Catherine will thoroughly approve when I speak to her of your modesty, economy, and other amiable qualities.

Sir, I am honored by your proposal, but I regret that I must decline it.

I know ladies don't seek to seem too easy.

Mr. Collins, I am perfectly serious.

You could not make me happy, and I'm convinced I'm the last woman in the world who could make you happy.

I've let it myself, cousin, that your refusal is merely a natural delicacy.

Besides, you should take into account that despite your manifold attractions, it's by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you.

Mr. Collins!

So I must conclude that you simply seek to increase my love by suspense.

Sir.

According to the usual practice of elegant females.

Sir.

I am not the sort of female to torment a respectable man.

Please understand me.

I cannot accept you. That strong, foolish child.

Don't worry, Mr. Collins.

We'll have this little hiccup dealt with immediately.

Lizzie!

Mr. Bennett.

Mr. Bennett we're all in an uproar you must come

and make lizzie marry mr collins mr collins has proposed to lizzie

but she vowed she will not have him and now the danger is mr collins may not have lizzie Well, what am I to do?

Well, come and talk to her.

Now!

Tell her you insist upon them marrying.

Papa, please.

You will have this house.

I can't marry her.

And save your sisters from destitution.

I can't.

Go back now and say you've changed your mind.

No. Think of your family.

You cannot make me.

Mr. Bennet, say something!

So, your mother insists on you marrying Mr. Collins.

Yes, or else you'll never see her again.

Well, Lizzie, from this day onward, you must be a stranger to one of your parents.

Who will maintain you when your father is dead?

Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.

Mr. Bennet!

Thank you, Papa.

Ungrateful child!

I shall never speak to you again!

Not that I take pleasure in talking.

People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no pleasure in talking to you anymore!

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Learn English with Videos: Analyzing Mr. Collins' Proposal from Pride and Prejudice

Context & Background

The video features a tense dialogue from the 2005 film *Pride and Prejudice*, where Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman, proposes to Elizabeth Bennet. The scene is rich with 19th-century formal language, emotional tension, and social pressure, making it ideal for practicing both historical and conversational English. Elizabeth's firm refusal and her mother's frantic pleas highlight contrasting communication styles—polite yet direct vs. urgent and emotional.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

"solicit a private audience": To ask for a one-on-one conversation (e.g., "May I solicit a private audience to discuss the project?").
"run away with my feelings": To let emotions override reason (e.g., "I didn't mean to run away with my feelings during the argument").
"set the example": To model good behavior (e.g., "Teachers should set the example for punctuality").
"headstrong, foolish child": A harsh term for someone stubborn (note: use cautiously in modern contexts).
"little hiccup": A small problem (e.g., "We had a little hiccup with the travel plans, but it's fixed").

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing—repeating lines aloud immediately after the speaker—is a powerful way to improve pronunciation and fluency. Here's how to use this video for shadow speak practice:

Watch and listen: First, watch the scene without pausing to absorb the tone and pace. Notice how Mr. Collins speaks formally (slow, deliberate) vs. Mrs. Bennet (fast, panicked).
Pause and repeat: Use a shadowing app to pause after each line. Mimic the intonation—raise your voice for questions ("What am I to do?") and lower it for firm refusals ("I cannot accept you").
Focus on stress: Emphasize key words like "duty" (Mr. Collins) or "never" (Elizabeth) to convey meaning. This helps with natural phrasing.
Practice dialogue: Pair with a partner to role-play. Switch between Elizabeth's calm resolve and Mrs. Bennet's urgency to master emotional delivery.
Record and compare: Record yourself and compare to the video. Note differences in pace or stress—this sharpens your ear for native speech patterns.

Whether using a shadowing app or practicing with a friend, this scene offers a fun, engaging way to boost your English speaking skills. Start with short lines, then build to longer exchanges—soon, you'll be shadowing like a pro!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	have been · have given · I've let
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	be mistaken · be made

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Pride and Prejudice (2005) Mr. Collins' proposal - Learn English Speaking with Video

Pride and Prejudice: Mr Darcy Proposing Elizabeth

Reading Pride and Prejudice Part 1

Mr. Bingley's Adorable Proposal | Pride & Prejudice

Mr. Darcy pays an awkward visit - Pride & Prejudice (1995) sub ES/PT-BR

Pride and Prejudice - Charlotte is engaged to Mr. Collins

Received Pronunciation (RP)

Judi Dench | Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 (Live at the London Palladium)

Mr. Collins comes to Longbourn - Pride & Prejudice (1995) subs ES/PT-BR