Shadowing Practice: Reading Fun - Story 19 - Letter S: "Seven Smelly Squids" by Alyssa Liang - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
It's story time!
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birds sing under the sun.
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Seven sick squirrels sit on the snow.
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Seven silly spiders swing in the sky.
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Seven smelly squids sleep under the slide.
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Let's read!
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S S Slimy Snake Sad
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Seal Small Sunbird Sick
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Squirrel Silly Spider Smelly
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Squid Let's do the activities!
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Say the sound of the letter.
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S Say the name of the letter.
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S S Sound out the words.
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Spider.
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Smelly.
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Squid.
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Say the name of the letter and its sound.
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S. S.
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Follow the letters S and S to help Santa find his socks.
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Trace the letters.
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About This Lesson

In this fun-filled lesson, learners will practice English through the captivating story "Seven Smelly Squids" by Alyssa Liang. This engaging reading session will not only enhance vocabulary but also reinforce the phonetic sound of the letter S. By participating in the activities accompanying the story, learners will refine their pronunciation and listening skills while enjoying whimsical illustrations of animals. This method is effective for those looking to learn English with YouTube as it combines storytelling with interactive practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • slimy - having a wet and slippery texture.
  • squirrel - a small rodent known for its bushy tail.
  • spider - an eight-legged creature often found in webs.
  • smelly - having a strong, unpleasant odor.
  • sleep - to rest with eyes closed.
  • slide - a playground equipment to go down on.

Practice Tips

To fully benefit from this lesson, we recommend using a shadowing app or a dedicated shadowing site. When you listen to the story, try the shadow speak technique: listen carefully to each sentence and then repeat it immediately. This helps you capture the nuances in pronunciation and rhythm. As the video progresses, pause after each line, allowing yourself time to mimic the tone and speed of the narrator. This is especially important while practicing words like “smelly” and “squid,” which can be challenging due to their unique sounds.

Since the pace of the reading is ideal for beginners, make sure to follow along with the text, pausing whenever necessary. Additionally, engaging with the linked activities will allow you to actively participate in the lesson, making it a multifaceted approach to learning. Remember, practice makes perfect, so the more you shadow and speak, the more comfortable you will become with these new phrases and sounds.

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.