Shadowing Practice: Rosamund Pike's Closet Picks - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hi everyone, I’m Rosamund Pike and I am feeling unbelievably lucky to be in the Criterion Closet.
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Hi everyone, I’m Rosamund Pike and I am feeling unbelievably lucky to be in the Criterion Closet.
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And I’m going to start with I Am Curious because I am curious.
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And I’m also interested in the depiction of sex and sexuality on screen.
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I think it’s very interesting, the debate, where it’s taking us these days.
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Are we entering an age of prudery?
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I’m interested in the way that wellness is taking over our lives, and yet sex seems to be taking a backseat.
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So that’s my first pick.
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I’m then going to try and head to Italy.
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Yes, I’m going to head to Italy, to Antonioni and L’eclisse because well, actually, sentimentally, my first car was… is – still have it – is a Citroën DS which I bought when I was making Pride & Prejudice, and it was owned by Monica Vitti.
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There’s a postage stamp on the dashboard, which I always sentimentally believe came from an important letter that was sent to her, so… Monica Vitti’s coming with me.
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Oh, you know what?
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I think I gotta go to England.
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I think I’ve got to go to the British realism.
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A Taste of Honey.
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There was something very exciting that happened to British cinema, and I think all the actors of this generation have held a kind of awe for me.
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They obviously were able to make films before all the extra stuff that sort of clouds our vision nowadays.
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They were able to be creative and immersed, and not have to be so self-aware, which is something I crave.
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So, A Taste of Honey is coming with me back to London.
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While I’m here, I’m going to introduce you, if you don’t already know it, to a surrealist gem, which is Daisies. It’s a Czech film by Věra Chytilová.
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I’ve just spent five years living in the Czech Republic, making a television series, The Wheel of Time.
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And the Czechs are fiercely witty and… they have a dark humor that’s actually very aligned with British humor.
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And I think what happened in the Czech New Wave was super exciting and avant-garde.
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And, you know, so much attention is paid to the French New Wave and much less to the Czech New Wave, so I’m putting Daisies in and I’m now going to hunt for a Miloš Forman film, which… Ah, here we go.
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Miloš Forman, Loves of a Blonde, which, of course, you know, a Czech hero.
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And so, in honor to my new lived second country, I’m taking a bit of the Czech Republic with me.
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So I’m in New York, and when I’m in New York, I can never be in New York without thinking of Martin Scorsese.
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I actually watched Goodfellas on the plane on the way over and ended up landing feeling very jumpy, in the way that Scorsese can, in breaking with every… sort of seemingly making a masterpiece and yet breaking form at every turn, and you think, how can you have one person narrate and then just change narrator in the middle?
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I always marvel anew at the way he tells story and the number of characters he handles and the way he… he goes from humor to tenderness and then, you know, puts all this violence, underscored by “Frosty the Snowman.” So it’s made me want to see Mean Streets again.
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So Mean Streets is coming with me, and I’ve heard that Criterion have released some of Scorsese’s early shorts. Now, in the shorts is a short film that stars Scorsese’s mother.
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She plays Tommy’s mother in Goodfellas and in Scorsese Shorts, which is right here, we get a very early glimpse of Scorsese’s work with his mum.
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Well, I think it’s almost time to go.
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So, as a final pick, I’m going to end where I started, with an exploration of the body.
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And I’m going to take Agnès Varda’s magnificent collection.
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I can’t believe that the Criterion Collection have gathered all of her work together in this beautiful edition, complete with essays and all the films and some of the photographs, all collected.
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She was an unbelievable photographer. What an image-maker.
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And I think as a… female working in films, the depiction of womanhood in all its stages, never losing interest, pursuing female identity as it changes, Agnès Varda gave that experience honestly and openly and daringly to all of us.
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So, thank you, Agnès. And you’re coming with me, and thank you for having me.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in a dynamic English speaking practice based on the reflections of Rosamund Pike in her video "Rosamund Pike's Closet Picks." The transcript provides us with a glimpse into her thoughts on various cinematic works, cultural critiques, and personal anecdotes. By following along, you will improve your ability to express opinions, explore cultural references, and utilize descriptive language in English. This session is designed to help you not only enhance your vocabulary but also boost your confidence in speaking, making it a valuable resource for your IELTS speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Curious - Eager to learn or know something.
  • Sentimentally - Dealing with feelings of nostalgia or emotional attachment.
  • Depiction - The action of describing or portraying something, especially in art or literature.
  • Anecdote - A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
  • Auteur - A filmmaker whose individual style and complete control over all elements of production give a film its personal and unique quality.
  • Avant-garde - New and experimental ideas and methods in art, music, or literature.
  • Witty - Showing quick and inventive verbal humor.
  • Honesty - The quality of being truthful and sincere.

Practice Tips

To make the most of your learn English with YouTube experience and effectively implement the shadowing technique, consider the following tips while practicing with Rosamund Pike's video:

  • Start Slowly: Initially, listen to the video at a slower playback speed. This will help you grasp the pronunciation and intonation before mimicking her speech.
  • Focus on Emotion: Pay attention to the emotions conveyed in her tone. Practice expressing similar emotions in your own voice, which is crucial for english speaking practice.
  • Repeat Out Loud: As you watch, pause after each sentence or phrase to repeat it aloud. This is key in applying the shadowing technique effectively.
  • Use Visual Cues: Track her gestures and facial expressions to understand context better. This visual understanding reinforces language learning.
  • Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your shadowing practice. Listen back to evaluate your pronunciation and fluency.
  • Engage with Cultural Content: Discuss the films and themes mentioned in the video with friends or in online forums to enrich your vocabulary and speaking ability.

By following these practices, you will enhance your language skills, making online resources a significant part of your IELTS speaking practice.

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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