Shadowing Practice: Rachel Pizzolato as Chun Li at Wondercon in Anaheim, CA - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Can you see me?
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Can you see her?
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Peter.
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Hi.
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Peter, I'm cold.
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Why are you cold?
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Because I'm wearing nothing.
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Well, you're wearing something.
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I mean, this is an outfit, isn't it?
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This is minimalistic.
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Well, what do you do in swim week?
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Yeah, I guess swim week is the same thing.
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Even less, right?
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Yeah, but no, I'm not in a cold convention center.
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I'm surrounded by people.
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You want me to tell them to turn the heat up?
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Yes.
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Okay, do we know who to ask to turn the...
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I don't know.
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It's kind of a big space.
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It is a big space, and I need heat, please.
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You need heat.
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Ooh, okay.
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So you are wearing?
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I'm wearing Chun-Li.
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Okay.
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Can we have a turn in your Chun-Li?
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So is this your concept, or you just kind of are wearing it?
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So I feel like Elektra is more me, just because she's a little bit cooler skill-wise.
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Yeah.
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But this, I think I look like her in the face and everything.
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I tried to find characters that I looked like kind of and like body and everything.
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So this is one of your go-to looks?
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Pretty much.
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A lot of people like it so now it's the go-to.
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They love the ones where it's like up high and then like the drape in the front.
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So I've been trying to find stuff like that.
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But I'm gonna mix it up sometime because we only have like the three or four.
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But we are kind of blue together.
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We are kind of blue.
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But I feel like I should mix it up because everyone's seen it.
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You know?
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Likewise.
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Gotta mix it.
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Yeah.
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In the blue.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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So we're here at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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Yeah.
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And how many times have you been to these kind of events?
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Oh, Comic-Con?
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I go a lot.
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Like, every single one of them.
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LA, WonderCon, Fan Expo, San Diego Comic-Con.
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I go every year.
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Which you like the best?
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I feel like San Diego is the best just because it's Comic-Con.
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It's the original.
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But I do like New Orleans Fan Expo because they're like my family, and I get a booth, and I do the moderations it's like you know i feel
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like that's a little bit more you have a lot of local
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and i have a lot of local people yeah here is
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not as much yeah not as much gotcha gotcha yeah so um one other question
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what was your best experience of this past fashion week oh
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uh definitely anthony rubio i love anthony rubio with the dogs
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oh yes of course yeah you're a big dog it's my favorite it's my favorite
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so um do you like the dogs you like the clothes i like both
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but i feel like the The dogs won me over.
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There you go.
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The dog.
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So social media handles are?
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Yeah, social media at Beauty and Brains with a Twist.
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Wow, Instagram is Beauty and Brains with a Twist.
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Twitter is Braintwist2112.
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YouTube, Rachel Pizzolatto.
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Snapchat, it's Rachel Pizz.
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What else are we missing?
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TikTok, Rachel underscore Pizzolatto.
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And website, BeautyandBrainswithaTwist.com.
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That was a lot.
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How do you post to all those every day and maintain your sanity?
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I don't.
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There you go.
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I just thought I'd ask.
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Brain fart.
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Well, thanks so much for joining.
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Thank you for watching and watching New York Fashion Times.
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Thank you.

Why This Video Is Perfect for Practicing Everyday English

This casual conversation at a convention is a goldmine for learning natural, conversational English. The speakers use short, relatable sentences, slang, and real-world interactions—exactly the kind of language you’ll use in daily life. It’s not scripted, so you’ll hear how people actually sound when they chat, pause, and joke around. Plus, the topic (costumes, staying warm, mixing up styles) is easy to follow, making it ideal for shadowing practice. If you’re using a shadowing site or shadowing app, this dialogue will help you master rhythm and intonation in no time!

Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases

  • “I mean, this is an outfit, isn’t it?” – The phrase “I mean” softens the statement, making it sound less direct. Native speakers use this to clarify or add emphasis. The tag question “isn’t it?” invites agreement, a common way to keep a conversation flowing.
  • “A lot of people like it so now it’s the go-to.” – “Go-to” is a popular slang term meaning “reliable choice.” Notice how the sentence skips “it is” (contraction) and uses “so” to show cause and effect—this is how we speak quickly in real life, not in formal writing.
  • “Gotta mix it up.” – “Gotta” is a casual contraction of “got to,” and “mix it up” means “change things.” This short, punchy phrase shows how native speakers simplify language for speed and friendliness. Practice saying it with the same relaxed tone!

Your Simple Shadowing Routine for This Video

Ready to practice? Use a shadowspeak tool or just your phone. Here’s how: 1. Watch the video once to understand the context. 2. Play a 5-second clip, pause, and repeat it immediately—try to match the speed, tone, and even the pauses. 3. Record yourself and compare it to the original. Did you catch the “I mean” or “gotta”? 4. Do this for 10 minutes a day, and soon you’ll notice your speech sounds more natural. Tools like shadowspeaks apps can even help you track progress! Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s sounding like a real person. Keep going, and you’ll nail it!

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.