Shadowing Practice: (Reading Practice (Improve your pronunciation in English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Bernadette I'm the type of person who tries to fix things.
139 sentences
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Bernadette I'm the type of person who tries to fix things.
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If I see something wrong,
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I try to make it right.
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It drives me crazy when I see a problem and no one is doing anything about it.
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It's better to fix problems right away.
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I think this is a good quality to have.
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I just started a new job,
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and my boss seems really pleased with my work so far.
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Some people just accept a problem,
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but it doesn't have to be that way.
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It always feels satisfying when I can solve something.
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Young Ho My sister is a real people person,
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but I'm just the opposite.
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I prefer to do things on my own more.
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I like people, of course,
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but I also really enjoy my own time.
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I read a lot, go for walks by myself, things like that.
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I have friends, and we have a lot of fun together,
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but I guess I prefer being on my own.
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Some people think that's a bad thing,
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but I don't think so.
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What is Earth?
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Let's look at Earth.
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Let's look at oceans and rivers, mountains and forests.
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Earth is amazing, and it has lots of amazing places.
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We're in space, and we're looking at Earth.
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What can we see?
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We can see many colors.
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We can see land, water, and clouds.
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Earth is a planet.
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There are many, many planets in space,
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but there's only one Earth.
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Earth is our home.
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Millions of plants, animals, and people live here.
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On the land, there are forests, mountains, and deserts.
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Most of Earth's water is in oceans,
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but there's water in lakes and rivers, too.
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Earth goes around the sun every year.
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Earth also turns every day.
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What is a job?
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A job is the work that you do.
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A teacher does a job.
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A bus driver does a job too.
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Most people do jobs for money,
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but not all jobs are for money.
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Some jobs are inside.
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These people are working in an office.
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They are using telephones and computers.
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Some jobs are outside.
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These people are making a new road.
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They have orange clothes so other people can see them.
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Some people work in the same place every day.
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Some people go to lots of places.
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Flight attendants work on planes.
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They help the passengers.
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Flight attendants wear a uniform so passengers can find them.
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Firefighters wear a uniform to protect their body.
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They can go into very, very hot buildings.
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Human Rights Hero Do you know what human rights are?
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They are basic rights.
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They include things like the right to vote and free speech.
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Many people believe that everyone should have these rights.
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They are important.
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Everyone needs fair treatment.
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Rights must become laws.
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This way, everyone can understand and clearly follow them.
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This keeps social order and peace.
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Sometimes people think about rights in opposite ways.
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People have to struggle for rights when they can't agree.
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Human rights activists are people who struggle for rights.
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One of the most well-known activists is Martin Luther King Jr. Why is he well-known?
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King died struggling for the cause of human rights.
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He led peaceful struggles for human rights in the U.S in the 1960s.
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People who disagreed with King abused him.
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They called him names and threw things at him.
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He peacefully continued the struggle.
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The government eventually changed its laws.
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All people got equal rights.
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King's story gives people around the world hope.
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King's dream lives on with those people.
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They struggle for rights where they live.
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Homeschooling Homeschooling is a choice made by some parents to provide education to their children in their own homes.
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It's popular in the United States,
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and it is becoming more popular in the United Kingdom,
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Australia, South Africa, and Japan.
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There are several advantages to homeschooling.
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For example, parents choose what their children learn.
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Because parents can teach their children one-on-one,
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they often understand the curriculum better and more quickly, too.
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On the other hand, if their children need more time to learn something,
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parents can work with them at a slower pace.
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Parents also like to spend more time together as a family,
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and children feel safe at home.
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A safe environment often leads to better learning.
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There are disadvantages as well.
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Homeschooled students often feel lonely because they don't spend as much time with other kids their age.
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They don't get to talk with classmates about things like parents and homework.
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Parents also feel lonely because they must spend time teaching children and don't get to talk with other adults at work.
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In addition, homeschooled students sometimes cannot play school sports or participate in other activities and programs available to people in a school.
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Only you can decide if homeschooling is right for you and your family.
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Take the time to do the research and consider the pros and cons.
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Electricity Electricity is a type of energy.
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Energy makes things work.
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We use electricity to make machines work.
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We use electric machines in our homes, schools, and offices.
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We can use electricity in trains,
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cars, and some buses, too.
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Electric machines help us to do many things in the kitchen.
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We use a kettle to make water hot.
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We use a refrigerator to keep our food cold.
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And we use a stove to cook our food.
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We use a washing machine to wash our clothes.
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And we use a dishwasher to wash our dishes.
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Electricity in Nature There's electricity in nature.
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In the Arctic and the Antarctic,
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electricity from the sun makes red and green colors in the sky.
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The colors are amazing!
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Lightning is a type of electricity in the sky, too.
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Lightning has lots of energy.
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It's very, very hot.
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When you see lightning in the sky, go into your home.
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Lightning can give you an electric shock.
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That's when electricity goes into your body.
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Then it can kill you.
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How we make electricity We make electricity in power stations.
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We use this electricity to make machines work.
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Many power stations use coal to make electricity.
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We burn the coal to make water hot.
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Hot water makes steam.
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The steam turns a turbine.
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The turbine turns a generator.
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Then the generator makes electricity.
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Some power stations don't use coal.
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This power station uses water from a river.
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The water in the river turns turbines.
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We can use wind to make electricity, too.
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This is a wind farm.
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The wind turns turbines to make electricity.
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Thank you.
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About This Lesson
In this reading practice session, you will enhance your English pronunciation and speaking skills through the exploration of various topics, including problem-solving, personal preferences, and our planet Earth. By listening to the transcript and using effective techniques, you will not only improve your vocabulary but also refine your ability to articulate thoughts clearly and confidently. This lesson emphasizes the importance of using the shadowing technique to mimic native speakers, thereby improving your intonation and rhythm in English.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Fix problems: Addressing issues effectively.
- People person: Someone who enjoys socializing and interacting with others.
- Prefer: To like one thing more than another.
- Oceans and rivers: Large bodies of water that are fundamental to Earth’s ecosystem.
- Job: A role or task performed for payment or purpose.
- Inside and outside jobs: Distinctions between work done in an office versus in a physical environment.
Practice Tips
To maximize your practice, consider using the shadowing app or shadowing site to listen to the transcript while articulating the words aloud. This method allows you to match the speed and tone of the speakers effectively. Focus on the following:
- Start Slow: If you're new to shadow speech, begin with a slower playback speed. Gradually increase it as you gain confidence.
- Repeat Sections: Don’t hesitate to replay segments of the transcript. This repetition is essential for muscle memory in pronunciation.
- Mimic Intonation: Pay close attention to the speakers’ intonation, especially in sentences expressing emotions or opinions. This practice will help you convey your thoughts more naturally.
- Use Context: Make sure to understand the context behind new vocabulary and phrases. Integrating them into your shadow practice will enhance retention.
- Record Yourself: Capture your shadowing attempts. Listening back will provide insight into areas where you can improve.
By incorporating these tips into your practice, you will enhance your speaking skills and confidence in English. Happy learning!
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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