Shadowing Practice: Read More in English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Guess what?
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Guess what?
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Today is International Book Day,
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or as they say here in Spain,
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El Dia del Libro, the day of the book,
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which always makes me laugh.
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It sounds like a disaster movie,
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the day of the book,
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when the books will come and invade earth and kill all of us for not reading enough.
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Do we read enough?
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Do we read too much?
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I don't know.
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I'm definitely a bookworm.
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I love going into bookshops,
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browsing the shelves and the books,
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and I can't leave without buying something.
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Recently, I bought this one,
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ultra-processed people, all about the dangers of ultra-processed food.
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Also, I couldn't help resist picking up a book about AI,
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Gary Marcus, leading figure in AI.
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I'm really interested in AI.
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But of course, I do love novels as well.
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I really enjoy a good thriller,
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murder mystery kind of novel.
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Listen for the lie, aim it in terror.
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I guess whatever you like,
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whether you like novels, biographies,
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fiction or non-fiction, and whether you prefer paper books like me or digital books,
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maybe you enjoy reading on the screen or ebooks.
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Whatever takes your fancy, today is a good day to go and buy a book.
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International Book Day.
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Now, a lot of students,
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not a lot, now and again,
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one or two students ask me,
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which books are good for my level?
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Now, that's really difficult, right?
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Because A, I don't know your level.
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And B, how do you choose the right book for you?
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Well, in some English schools,
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there's a thing called the rule of five.
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And you use your five fingers.
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I'm going to adapt it for adults, right?
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And for adults who are non-native speakers and here's how it works.
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Take a book, open the book on any page and read the first five lines more or less.
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As you read, every time you don't understand a word,
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you put up a finger.
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So as you're reading, more words come up.
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Now, if you read and you've got,
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so you're reading five lines,
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five words you don't understand,
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it's going to be too difficult.
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Don't try reading that book.
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You'll spend the whole time looking up words and not enjoying the book.
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If it's zero words, you don't understand, i.e. you understand everything.
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It might be too easy,
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but it could be good.
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It would be a really good read for improving your fluency, your reading fluency.
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When you read things that are too easy,
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you can read quickly and it's a great skill to develop.
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and you can focus on the story,
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the plot, the backdrop, everything.
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The backstory, I mean.
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So if you discover, okay,
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one or two words you don't understand, that's about right.
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That's about the right level.
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There'll be a bit of a challenge,
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but you'll be able to manage.
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If you cannot understand three or four or five words,
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it's going to be too many.
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It's probably too difficult.
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So that's a quick rule of five to help you choose a book if it's right for you.
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I'm going to leave you with a little reading.
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I'm going to read an extract from,
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I thought it was real blood, like what?
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I'm going to read you an extract from this one,
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Listen for the Lie.
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I have read it, it's quite a strong book.
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I do recommend it, but it's not for the faint-hearted.
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It is about murder and it is quite bloody,
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but the story is about Lucy, the main character.
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Let me read you a short extract.
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I'm sorry Lucy
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but we have to let you go he says to the
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surprise of no one I nod we're downsizing unfortunately he looks
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at the spot just past my shoulder instead of at my
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face having assistance double up Chelsea's going to assist both me and Raymond I'm sorry I understand.
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I get to my feet.
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Jerry looks relieved that I'm not going to make a scene.
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Through the ill-advised glass wall of the office,
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I can see a security guard already standing at my desk.
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I guess we're not getting the sorry you were fired and being surprised that you're a murderer drinks.
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My desk is not as clean as Jerry's and I have to take a minute to gather up my mug,
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water bottle, purse and several tubes of lip balm.
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The security guard hovers the entire time.
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He marches me through the now silent office to the elevator where everyone either watches or pretends not to see.
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Chelsea looks pissed.
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I step into the elevator.
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The door slides shut.
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The security guard leans closer to me with a grin.
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One of his front teeth overlaps the other.
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So, did you do it?
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Did you kill her?
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I sigh.
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I don't know.
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Seriously?
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That's the truth?
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The elevator door opens again with a ding.
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I step out and look at him over my shoulder.
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The truth doesn't matter.
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find out what happens listen to the lie by Amy Tintero
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it is Dia del Libro international book day have a fantastic day go
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and find a book do a bit of reading it's good for your health mental health yeah not physical health
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but mental health at least and your English or whatever have a lovely day all the best now

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the video titled "Read More in English" provides a unique opportunity to practice your English speaking skills. The speaker discusses International Book Day, sharing personal anecdotes about reading preferences and book shopping experiences. This real-life context is beneficial as it mirrors everyday conversations, enabling you to learn how to express your own interests and opinions. By speaking out loud while repeating phrases or responding to the speaker's points, you can effectively use the shadowing technique. This method helps you to improve your English pronunciation and fluency, as mimicking the speaker’s intonation and rhythm enhances retention and understanding.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

  • Question Phrasing: The speaker frequently uses questions like "Do we read enough?" which encourages self-reflection among listeners. Practicing this structure can help you in forming your own questions in conversation.
  • Descriptive Language: Phrases such as "I couldn't help resist" showcase the use of idiomatic expressions, offering you a chance to learn how to articulate desires and regrets effectively. Try to incorporate similar expressions when discussing your preferences.
  • Conditional Statements: The conditional question, "if you read and you've got...", illustrates how to discuss hypothetical situations, an essential skill in English conversation. Understanding and using conditionals can enhance your storytelling ability.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching and listening to the video, you might encounter some pronunciation challenges. For instance, phrases like "International Book Day" may trip up non-native speakers due to the rapid articulation of sounds. Pay attention to how the speaker transitions between words; practicing these phrases can help you improve English pronunciation. Additionally, the word "ultra-processed" contains multiple syllable stress points that can be difficult to master. Focus on this word and other similar multi-syllable terms, as they are common in both conversation and writing.

Utilizing the shadow speak technique while navigating through these phrases will aid in cementing proper pronunciation and increasing your confidence in speaking. Remember, consistent practice leads to noticeable improvements!

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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