Shadowing Practice: Scent Of a Woman-Al Pacino Speech - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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or Mr. Jameson, and I won't punish Mr. Willis.
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108 sentences
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or Mr. Jameson, and I won't punish Mr. Willis.
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He's the only party to this incident who is still worthy of calling himself a bared man.
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I'm going to recommend to the disciplinary committee that you be expelled, Mr. Sims.
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You are a cover-up artist,
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and you are a liar.
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But not a snitch!
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Excuse me?
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No, I don't think I will.
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Mr. Slade.
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This is such a crock of shit.
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Please watch your language, Mr. Slade.
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You are in the Baird School, not a barracks.
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Mr. Sims, I will give you one final opportunity to speak on that.
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Mr. Sims doesn't want it.
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He doesn't need to be labeled still worthy of being a Baird man.
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What the hell is that?
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What is your motto here?
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Boys, inform on your classmates.
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Save your hide.
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Anything short of that, we're gonna burn you at the stake?
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Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan,
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some guys run and some guys stay.
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Here's Charlie facing the fire,
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and there's George hiding in Big Daddy's pocket.
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And what are you doing?
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You're gonna reward George and destroy Charlie.
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Are you finished, Mr. Slade?
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No, I'm just getting warmed up.
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I don't know who went to this place.
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William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bride, William Terrell, whoever.
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Their spirit is dead if they ever had one.
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It's gone.
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You're building a rat ship here.
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A vessel for seagoing snitches.
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And if you think you're preparing these minnows for manhood,
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you better think again.
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Because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills.
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What a sham.
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What kind of a show are you guys putting on here today?
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I mean, the only class in this act is sitting next to me.
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And I'm here to tell you,
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this boy's soul is intact.
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It's non-negotiable.
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You know how I know?
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Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it.
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Only Charlie here wasn't selling.
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Sir, you're out of order.
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Out of order?
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I show you out of order.
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You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask.
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I'd show you, but I'm too old.
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I'm too tired.
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I'm too fucking blind.
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If I were the man I was five years ago,
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I'd take a flamethrower to this place!
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Out of order.
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Who the hell do you think you're talking to?
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I've been around, you know.
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There was a time I could see, and I have seen...
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Boys like these, younger than these,
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their arms torn out, their legs ripped off.
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But there is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit.
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There is no prosthetic for that.
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You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Argon...
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...with his tail between his legs,
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but I say you are executing his soul!
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And why?
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Because he's not a bad man.
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Bad men.
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You hurt this boy, you're gonna be bad bums.
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The lot of you.
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And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you two!
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Stand down, Mr. Slade.
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I'm not finished.
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As I came in here, I heard those words.
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Cradle of leadership.
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Well, when the bow breaks,
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the cradle will fall, and it has fallen here.
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It has fallen.
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Makers are men.
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Creators are leaders.
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Be careful what kind of leaders you're producing here.
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I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong.
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I'm not a judge or jury,
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but I can tell you this.
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He won't sell anybody out to buy his future.
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And that, my friends, is called integrity.
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That's called courage.
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Now, that's the stuff leaders should be made of.
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Now, I have come to the crossroads in my life.
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I always knew what the right path was.
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Without exception, I knew, but I never took it.
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You know why?
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It was too damn hard.
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Now, Now, here's Charlie.
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He's come to the crossroads.
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He has chosen a path.
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It's the right path.
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It's a path made of principle that leads to character.
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Let him continue on his journey.
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You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee.
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It's a valuable future.
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Believe me, don't destroy it.
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Protect it.
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Embrace it.
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It's going to make you proud one day, I promise you.
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How's that the Paul Boyd?
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Thank you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English speaking and listening skills using a powerful excerpt from Al Pacino's renowned speech in "Scent of a Woman." This scene delivers raw emotion and compelling rhetoric, providing an excellent opportunity to improve your English pronunciation and intonation. You will engage in shadowing, where you will repeat phrases and sentences after listening to them, allowing you to grasp the nuances of speech rhythm and emphasis. This exercise not only enhances your speaking skills but also deepens your understanding of how to convey emotion and conviction in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Expelled: To be removed from a place, especially a school.
  • Worthy: Having value or merit; deserving of respect.
  • Cover-up artist: Someone who conceals wrongdoing or dishonest actions.
  • Inform on: To report someone’s wrongdoings to authorities, often seen negatively.
  • Spirit: The non-physical part of a person, often associated with emotions and character.
  • Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
  • Out of order: Not functioning correctly; can also refer to breaking rules or decorum.
  • Class

Practice Tips

When using this transcript for your shadowing practice, focus on the tone and speed of Al Pacino's delivery. His speech is energetic and full of passion, which is essential to replicate in your own voice. Here are some tips to help you:

  • Listen Actively: Before you begin shadowing, listen to the speech once or twice to familiarize yourself with its rhythm and emotional highs and lows.
  • Break It Down: Divide the speech into smaller segments. Shadow short phrases rather than the whole speech at once, allowing you to concentrate on accuracy.
  • Focus on Emotion: Try to understand the feelings behind the words. Al Pacino's speech is not only about what is being said, but how it is said. Emulating his emotional delivery will boost your ability to engage listeners.
  • Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your shadow speech. Playback to compare your pronunciation and tone with the original. This feedback loop will accelerate your learning in english speaking practice.
  • Repetition is Key: Repeat the same phrases multiple times until you feel comfortable with the pronunciation and the flow. Consistency in your practice will improve your English pronunciation over time.

By integrating these techniques into your practice routine, you’ll sharpen your speaking skills while gaining confidence in using English expressively and authentically.

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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