Shadowing Practice: reading 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Billy the Dragon Billy is a dragon.
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He doesn't go to school.
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His friends go to school.
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What lessons have you got today? asks Billy.
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We've got art, ICT, maths, PE, science and music, say his friends.
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I've got nothing.
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thinks Billy.
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Goodbye Billy, see you later, say his friends.
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Goodbye, have a nice day, says Billy.
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He's sad.
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Billy can see his friends at school.
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They draw in art, they count in maths, they do experiments in science,
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They run and jump in PE.
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Billy is at home.
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He draws a flower.
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He counts his toes.
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He runs and jumps.
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He does an experiment.
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Oh dear, that's not good, Billy.
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Billy hasn't got violin practice or piano practice.
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He hasn't got a piano or a violin.
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He plays the drums.
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Oh dear, that's not very good, Billy.
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His friends come home from school.
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Billy, are you okay? they ask.
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No, I'm not happy, says Billy.
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Can I come to school with you tomorrow?
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Yes, of course you can, they say.
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The next day, Billy goes to school.
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He likes being with his friends.
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He learns lots of new things.
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He does a very good experiment in science.
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Well done, Billy, says the teacher.
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I like school, says Billy.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "reading 1" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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 →