Shadowing Practice: Sam and Percy - Their Full Story [Every Year After] - Learn English Speaking with Video

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258 sentences

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Sam?

No, no, no, it's Charlie.

I have some news.

Bad news.

I don't know if I can face it.

Face what?

My mom passed away a few days ago.

Oh my god!

My whole world is filled with regret because of the choices I made and how things end up with Sam.

Her funeral's in a few days.

Will you come?

Sam was the love of my life and I can't move on, but I know I have to.

Yeah, yeah, I'll, um, sorry, I'll try.

I need to see him.

Okay.

For what it's worth, I know he wants you there, too.

Hey!

Hi!

I'm so sorry to bother you, ma'am, but does the girl who was on the dock live here?

New neighbor?

Yeah.

Yes, that's our daughter Percy.

Oh, cool.

We just want to say hi.

So what do people do up here besides vacation?

I was wondering if you wanted to hang out.

My mom owns the tavern down by the dock.

With you guys? With Sam.

I don't know what that is, but count me in.

Happy to hang?

I mean, if you want to.

Only if you make me one of those friendship bracelets.

I want to.

Cool.

Deal.

And maybe I can show you some of my favorite films.

What am I doing back here?

Are you afraid that we might bump into Charlie and Sam?

Oh, definitely.

This place is not just charming, it's tiny.

I know that this is scary.

Yeah, it is.

Sam.

I know I have to face them.

Face Sam.

You came.

I came.

So, Charlie invited you? When did that happen?

I called her.

She should be here for my mom.

I wanted to be.

She meant so much to me.

Why did you invite her?

It's because my mom asked me to.

This is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

Coming back?

Yeah.

Does Sam know?

Do you know who's coming for the memorial?

Does he hate me?

Yeah, yeah.

We reached out to my aunt and uncles, and I think a few cousins are coming in.

So, just like family or old friends?

You invited Percy?

I'm going to have to put you back.

What the fuck, man?

You know, I have been thinking about Percy.

No, that wasn't your decision to make.

Jesus Christ, Sam.

Dude, I could have sworn I saw her.

It's absolutely nuts, right?

She's at the motel.

She loved mom too.

She would have wanted her to be here.

I didn't tell you because I didn't know if she'd come.

I can't believe you did that without talking to me.

But she didn't.

You know, my life now is, I mean, finger stable.

I like that.

Finished it.

Did you like it?

Percy wasn't just my girlfriend.

She was...

I'm never taking this off.

She was my best friend.

I just don't know what it's going to be like to see her again.

Sam.

You came home.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay, Percy.

It's okay.

There you are.

Hey.

Hi.

It's been a long time, Percy.

Yeah.

100

Percy, this is my girlfriend, Taylor.

101

I know.

102

So, should we talk about last night?

103

Hi.

104

Hey.

105

You and Sam, the girlfriend.

106

You know, I probably should keep going.

107

She seemed cool.

108

I think it's really great that you came back here Okay, I was so anxious Okay, but you you did that and you're still in one piece.

109

I know but it's like now I just want

110

more But you haven't gone a long time You've missed like a lot Sam and I used to be so close.

111

I just I want to feel that again I'm talking about Sam and Charlie Everything they've been through you're gonna feel what?

112

Like I matter to him.

113

So I just want to make sure you're, you know, here for the right reasons.

114

Percy?

115

What's the hell?

116

That was fast.

117

Yeah.

118

Well, I had some help.

119

Get in.

120

Well, I was on the way to the funeral home when I saw a sad looking stick figure lugging these around.

121

Okay, well I would have made it on my own.

122

Speaking of jobs, I didn't get to hear what you've been up to.

123

I keep putting a Goodwill poster on it and keep switching it to save.

124

Your choice.

125

Psycho or...

126

I'm gonna watch Billy Madison.

127

Well, I went to Stanford, which, you know, I never thought I could get into, because it's super competitive, so.

128

Mind you, this is a guy who would rather have a root canal than watch a movie on TV.

129

I feel lucky.

130

Well, I mean, I...

131

It's not luck.

132

I mean, I know how hard you work.

133

See you around, Percy?

134

Yeah.

135

Thanks for the help.

136

Yeah.

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You did know.

138

We both know a lot about each other.

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I should never, I should never have come. So stupid.

140

Why did you go early?

141

I should be able to be here on my own.

142

I'm sorry.

143

Sorry to just pop up here like this.

144

It's fine.

145

Sam got hot.

146

Oh God, he's right there.

147

Please.

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How did you not give me a heads up?

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It is so past time for you to make your move.

150

This is the summer.

151

What are you talking about?

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I told you, Percy and I are just friends.

153

Yeah, I know.

154

You guys used to play dolls and braid each other's hair.

155

Okay, shut up.

156

You spent two years swimming and playing board games and watching your creepo with horror movies. But she is hot.

157

And if you don't get on that, someone else will.

158

It's time to cash in.

159

It was dripping all over.

160

You know, I really appreciate you coming to help with this, Percy.

161

It's a first pass, so if you're not happy with it, I can start over.

162

Lucky you, you know, and a professional little bit writer.

163

You know, I'm going to start over.

164

It's perfect.

165

Oh, I really loved your mom.

166

You're happy with it?

167

It means a lot to do this for her.

168

I'm more than happy, Percy.

169

And I know she'd be really happy that you're the one writing it. Is Percy gone?

170

Yep.

171

Just seeing you guys together felt like a scene out of the past.

172

Hope I'm not interrupting.

173

Jesus.

174

Charlie, writing obituaries is literally Percy's job.

175

Sam and I can't be together.

176

Ever.

177

You know that.

178

Just be careful.

179

Well, nothing's gonna happen while his gorgeous kid surgeon fiance is here.

180

Percy and I were over a long time ago.

181

I'm with Taylor now.

182

Exactly.

183

You guys are happy?

184

Yes, we are.

185

I miss this.

186

Yeah, I do too.

187

You know, uh, tonight I was thinking about making pierogi.

188

Hey.

189

I don't know if you're busy or...

190

How would I be busy?

191

You're playing Dolly.

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Yeah, you may have plans.

193

Yes, I'd love to.

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Great, I'll see you at the tavern at 6 then.

195

Watching you kiss that guy, I...

196

I felt jealous.

197

Really?

198

I don't want to feel that way.

199

My friendship or whatever.

200

It's so different.

201

It's so special.

202

I guess I was afraid of losing that.

203

I don't want to lose it either.

204

So let's not mess it up.

205

What is going on?

206

I almost did something so, so stupid and I know if I stay one fucking moment longer, I know I will.

207

What were you thinking?

208

Tyler, please.

209

I don't know.

210

I screwed up Sam's life once.

211

I can't do it again.

212

I can't believe she's gone.

213

Yeah, I know.

214

He has a girlfriend.

215

He does.

216

Why did I even go there?

217

When I'm with her, I don't think.

218

Because this place has you all twisted.

219

Yeah. At all.

220

Now that we're all here, let's begin.

221

She made a monumental decision alone and then blindsided us.

222

Cavern and all of its contents will be left solely to Persephone Fraser.

223

What mom did was...

224

unexpected.

225

Sam, Sam, I had no idea.

226

I swear.

227

I don't want it, I promise.

228

And I'm not exactly thrilled that she left our family business to my ex-girlfriend, but why do you care?

229

Help me!

230

Yeah, Percy!

231

Keep going!

232

He's so pretty.

233

Did you just say I was pretty?

234

How are we doing this?

235

Hell yeah.

236

Wait, I said that out loud?

237

You said you are totally out of it.

238

You're my best friend.

239

Tim, is this the I just want to be friends thing?

240

Because I thought we were past that.

241

I have so much pressure on me right now.

242

I can't go to college without a scholarship.

243

I have to focus.

244

I'm tired of the mixed signals.

245

Mixed signals?

246

Yes!

247

You showing up here.

248

I can't do this anymore.

249

I can't do this anymore, any of it.

250

My heart can't take it anymore.

251

It's confusing and hurtful and deeply unfair.

252

I don't know what I was thinking.

253

You were right about Mom.

254

She didn't always make the best decisions.

255

I'm sorry.

256

It won't happen again.

257

Percy being here.. is bad for me.

258

Okay.

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81 sentences

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Sam and Percy - Their Full Story”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Sam, Percy, mom. This video has 258 sentences and 1521 words to shadow. The speech runs for 11:01. The speaker talks at a steady 138 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 44 of its 258 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
tavern noun	/ˈtævəɹn/	A restaurant or bar.
dock noun	/dɑk/	A fixed structure attached to shore to which a vessel is secured when in port; usually for loading and unloading.
blindside verb	/ˈblaɪndˌsaɪd/	To attack (a person) on his or her blind side.
cavern noun	/ˈkæv.ɚn/	A large cave.
fiancé noun	/fiˈɑnseɪ/	A man who is engaged to be married; the man to whom one is engaged; an intended.
hurtful adjective	/ˈhɜɹtfʊl/	Tending to impair or damage; injurious; occasioning loss or injury.
monumental adjective	/ˌmɑnjəˈmɛntəl/	In the manner of a monument.
obituary noun	/əˈbɪt͡ʃəˌwɛɹi/	A brief notice of a person's death, especially one published in a newspaper or other publication; also (obsolete), the section of a newspaper where notices of…
pierogi noun	/pəˈɹoːɡi/	A square- or crescent-shaped dumpling of unleavened dough, stuffed with sauerkraut, cheese, mashed potatoes, cabbage, onion, meat, or any combination of these…
drip verb	/ˈdɹɪp/	To fall one drop at a time.
motel noun	/moʊˈtɛl/	A type of hotel or lodging establishment, often located near a major highway, which typically features a series of rooms whose entrances are immediately…
interrupt verb	/ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/	To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.
confuse verb	/kənˈfjuːz/	to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand
neighbour noun	/ˈneɪbɚ/	A person living on adjacent or nearby land; a person situated adjacently or nearby; anything (of the same type of thing as the subject) in an adjacent or…
bracelet noun	/ˈbɹeɪslət/	A band or chain worn around the wrist as jewelry/jewellery or an ornament.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
come back verb		To return to a place.
start over verb		to begin again; to return to the beginning
do up verb		To fasten (a piece of clothing, etc.); to tighten (a nut etc.)
pass away verb		To die.
pop up verb		To come up with a "pop" sound.
show up verb		To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically.
shut up	/ʃʌt ʌp/	Stop talking (usually in the form of making annoying, irrelevant, or false comments, during a period of peace and quiet, or when one is not allowed to talk)…

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

What am I doing back here?
Why did you invite her?
Do you know who's coming for the memorial?
Why did you go early?
How did you not give me a heads up?

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
“Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true	used to be · used to play
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	It's been · haven't gone · they've been
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is filled · will be left

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 67 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: anxious /ˈæŋkʃəs/, scholarship /ˈskɑːləɹʃɪp/
Long words — get the stress right: monumental /ˌmɑnjəˈmɛntəl/, obituary /əˈbɪt͡ʃəˌwɛɹi/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like tavern, dock, blindside.

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: Sam and Percy - Their Full Story [Every Year After] - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?