Shadowing Practice: Princess Cinderella - The Masquerade Ball | KONDOSAN English | Bedtime Stories for Kids - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Once upon a time, a masquerade ball was held every year as a tradition at the palace where Cinderella lived.
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Cinderella was so excited about the ball.
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Pofu! What about a white swan costume?
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Yes! That sounds great.
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Hmm...... A swan costume, huh?
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Sera went immediately to her mother, Roza the Witch, to tell her about what she heard.
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Cinderella said she'd wear a swan costume to the ball.
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Is that so?
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Well, I think you'll look better in a swan costume. You should be the one wearing it.
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It was tradition for the Prince to choose the girl who danced the best.
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He would then dance with her at the ball.
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The Prince will never dance with me if Cinderella's there.
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She dances really well.
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Don't worry about that.
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Cinderella won't be at the ball.
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What do you mean?
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Leave that part to me, dear.
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I'm sure it'll look great when it's finished.
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Yes. But I need to go downtown to pick up some materials for the wing.
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This is my chance! Haha.
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Cinderella's carriage was waiting for her at the gate to take her downtown.
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You need to get some sleep.
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While on the road, Cinderella realized something was wrong.
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Hey, coachman!
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This isn't the road to downtown!
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Who are you?
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Where are you taking me?
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What is that?
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Ough, ough..........
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The witch brought Cinderella to a deserted mill.
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By the time you manage to escape, Sera will have already danced with the Prince. Hahaha!
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Pofu was getting worried.
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What's taking Cinderella so long?
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She should have been back by now.
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Then she ran into Sera and Roza the Witch.
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I wonder what they're talking about.
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But what if Cinderella escapes?
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Don't worry.
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She can't get out of there.
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She's locked up in the mill on Cliff Valley.
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The witch kidnapped Cinderella and locked her up!
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Now no one can stop you from dancing with the Prince, dear.
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I'm so lucky my mother is a skilled witch.
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I can't believe this!
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I have to save Cinderella!
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Pofu started running to Cliff Valley.
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There's the mill!
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Regaining her consciousness, Cinderella shouted desperately, hoping someone would hear her.
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Can anyone hear me?
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Help me! Cinderella, I'm here.
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Don't worry, I'll save you.
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Pofu! My dear friend.
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I need to find a way to lift this plank.
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Hey, lovely deer!
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Could you help us?
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Thank you, my friend.
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I'm so glad you are here.
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I don't know who locked me up here.
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How did you find me?
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It was Roza, the Witch who kidnapped you.
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I heard her talking to Sera.
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They don't want you at the ball.
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Is that so?
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Yes, apparently, without you there, nobody can stop Sera from dancing with the Prince.
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Let's go, Pofu!
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We must get to the palace before the masquerade ball starts!
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Meanwhile.....
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Sera wore the swan costume that Cinderella was planning to wear.
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Oh, your costume looks amazing.
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Don't worry, the Prince will choose you.
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Yes, the Prince will finally realize how beautiful I am.
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He'll get confused and then fall out of love with Cinderella. Hahaha.
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Cinderella and Pofu finally got to the palace.
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What are you going to do now?
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I don't have time to get another costume, but I want to go to the ball.
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I think the Prince should hear about this.
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I guess you're right, Pofu.
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Cinderella told the Prince what had happened.
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What did the Prince say?
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He told me to get dressed!
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But you don't have a costume.
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What will you do?
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Dear Pofu, sometimes.... the simplest solution is the best solution.
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The masquerade finally began.
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As tradition had it, couples danced first.
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You're doing great.
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Well done, keep dancing.
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But there was another girl that danced pretty well.
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I wonder who that girl with the mask is.
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She's really good.
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Another tradition was that the Prince would wear a knight's mask, so everyone would know that it was the Prince.
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Come on, Knight!
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Choose the swan!
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And Roza got what she wanted.
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Yes, there you go!
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The Prince picked Sera!
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Meanwhile....
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A man wearing a shepherd costume  asked the girl with the mask to dance with him.
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Oh, the girl with the mask ended up with the shepherd. Haha!
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Then the big moment arrived.
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But something unbelievable happened.
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Oh, wow! No!
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You're not the Prince!
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Oh, how could this be?
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All eyes turned to the other couple.
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Oh..... the shepherd is the Prince!
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Nooo........ Noooo!
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Cinderella! Hooray, our Princess won!

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking through engaging content like "Princess Cinderella - The Masquerade Ball" is an excellent way to learn English with YouTube. The magical story offers learners a wonderful context that makes the language more memorable. With delightful characters and exciting plot twists, this video encourages learners to mimic dialogues and improve their speaking skills. By using techniques such as shadow speaking, you can enhance your pronunciation and intonation while enjoying the tale of Cinderella. Additionally, the interactive nature of fairy tales stimulates imagination, making practice sessions more enjoyable.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

This video provides an excellent way to learn various grammatical structures and expressions commonly used in storytelling:

  • Future intentions: Phrases like “I think you’ll look better...” indicate future plans or thoughts, helping you understand how to express opinions about future events.
  • Questions for clarification: Cinderella's line, “Who are you? Where are you taking me?” demonstrates how to spontaneously seek clarification in conversation, a vital skill for effective communication.
  • Descriptive language: The use of adjectives and adverbs, such as "excited" and "desperately," enriches storytelling and allows learners to practice adding depth to their descriptions.

By focusing on these expressions and structures while shadowing the dialogue, you can significantly improve English pronunciation and enhance your conversational abilities.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you shadow speak along with the characters, be mindful of certain tricky words and pronunciations that might trip you up:

  • Masquerade: Pay attention to the stress on the second syllable: "mas-que-rade." This often confuses learners.
  • Desperately: The emphasis on "des-" and the soft "perately" can be challenging; practice breaking it down into syllables for clarity.
  • Witch: The 'wh' sound should be pronounced firmly, unlike in words where 'w' isn’t as prominent. This can greatly affect clarity in your speech.

By repeating these phrases and focusing on accurate pronunciation, you will not only develop clarity but also gain confidence in your speaking skills. Incorporating videos like this into your study routine can lead to a notable improvement in your English capabilities!

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.