Shadowing Practice: Rory and Paris' speech at the Bicentennial - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Rory, where's Paris?

I don't know.

I haven't seen her, and I called her house.

Oh, dear.

Well, I hope you know both parts.

Okay, great.

You are going to be wonderful, trust me.

Now, did anyone ever tell you to picture the audience in their underwear?

Yes.

Well, don't do it.

I did it once, and I had nightmares for a week.

Bulgarians in Speedos.

Say no more.

Hey, they're rounding us up.

Is she here yet?

No. Oh, there she is. Where?

Oh, thank you, God.

Okay, be great.

We'll see you afterward.

Where have you been, Paris?

you okay and it is with great pleasure

that i introduce two young ladies

that epitomize the very best of what chiltern has to offer paris are you okay ladies

and gentlemen i give you paris gela and rory

gilmore apply

yourself get all the education you can but then do something don't just stand there make it happen lee iacocca

education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one malcolm forbes

education is an admirable thing but it is well to remember from time to time

that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

Oscar Wilde.

These are only three of many countless views on the expansion of the human mind.

I personally believe in all of them.

And fortunately for me, so does Chilton.

An institution not just because of age and standing, but because of ideas.

Because it encourages ideas and it will accept nothing less than everything you have to give.

This is the place where our lives start.

You know, it's funny.

I, me standing here before you right now, I've thought about nothing else for four years but this school,

this big, important school with all of its history and tradition and really super teachers,

and I dedicated myself to it completely, heart and soul, believing in its power,

believing in its ability to get me where I needed to go, Harvard.

thought of nothing else.

Many of you out there can attest to that fact.

I was on my way and nothing could stop me.

And here's the really funny thing.

After four years of slaving away, I go home today and I found this.

I'm not going to Harvard.

I got the tiny envelope.

The one that reads, sorry Paris, we're not interested.

Try again next year.

Love, Harvard.

And the thing that's really funny here is, who in the world deserves to go to Harvard more than me?

Have you seen how hard I've worked over these past four years?

I mean, can anyone here believe that I'm not going to Harvard?

I can't.

I'm not going to Harvard.

I am not going to Harvard.

I had sex, but I'm not going to Harvard.

Okay.

And I have to tell you that if you asked me

which of those two events I thought would be the least likely to happen.

It would not be the not going to Harvard.

Thank you, and good night.

I'm being punished.

I had sex, so now I don't get to go to Harvard.

Paris, come on.

She's never had sex.

She'll probably go to Harvard.

She's a shoo -in.

Pack your chastity about Gilmore.

You're going to Harvard.

Come on.

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Who Will Benefit from This Video?

If you’re an intermediate English learner aiming to boost your speaking skills—especially for IELTS speaking practice or real-life conversations—this video is a goldmine. It’s perfect for those who want to learn English with videos, as it blends casual dialogue with a formal speech, exposing you to varied tones. Whether you’re working on fluency, understanding context, or mastering natural reactions, the mix of panic, relief, and heartfelt storytelling in the conversation makes it ideal for shadowing (or shadowspeaks) practice.

Words & Idioms to Add to Your Toolkit

Epitomize: To be a perfect example of something. "She epitomizes hard work" means she’s the best example of hard work.
Slaving away: Working extremely hard for a long time. "I’ve been slaving away on this project" shows dedication (and maybe exhaustion!).
Tiny envelope: A casual phrase for a rejection letter (since good news often comes in larger envelopes). "I got the tiny envelope from the university" means I was rejected.
Say no more: A way to stop someone from explaining, because you already understand. If a friend says, "I had a terrible day," you might reply, "Say no more—let’s get coffee."

Tips for Nailing the Pronunciation

To improve English pronunciation with this video, focus on two key areas. First, the emotional shifts in Paris’ speech: her initial confidence ("I dedicated myself completely") vs. her vulnerability ("I’m not going to Harvard"). Notice how her tone drops and slows when sharing the rejection—copying this helps you convey feeling in English. Second, practice the rhythm of quick, casual dialogue, like "Where have you been, Paris?" The short, stressed words ("where," "been") and relaxed pronunciation of "you okay" (sounding like "y’okay") are great for shadow speak practice. Pause, repeat, and mimic the pauses between sentences—they make your speech sound more natural, a must for IELTS success!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	haven't seen · have you been · I've thought
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	can be taught · being punished

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 →

Shadowing Practice: Rory and Paris' speech at the Bicentennial - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Who Will Benefit from This Video?

Words & Idioms to Add to Your Toolkit

Tips for Nailing the Pronunciation

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?

【日英字幕】2026ハーバード卒業演説自身のハーバード学生生活から人生の教訓まで、ユーモアを交えて語るコナン流感動の卒業スピーチ