Shadowing Practice: Schools Around the World | ESL/ESOL | English Task - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Do you look forward to going to school or do you absolutely dread it?
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Do you look forward to going to school or do you absolutely dread it?
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Or perhaps you'd prefer to go to school somewhere else?
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Schools of every shape and size There are many types of schools in the world.
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Some are expensive private boarding schools,
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like rugby school in England,
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where the game of rugby was invented.
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There are also specialist schools,
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like drama schools, dance schools,
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or the 40 acrobatic schools in Wuchao, China.
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It might sound like fun,
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but as 13-year-old Zhang Li explains,
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Our training starts at 5.30am.
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It's very hard, but these skills will help me earn a living when I leave.
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There are also a wide range of school subjects at different schools.
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At Holden High School in the USA,
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subjects include comic book art, photography, songwriting and yoga. To and from school.
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At a school in the Annapurna Mountains in Nepal,
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classes don't start until 10am
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because a lot of students have to walk for about an
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hour to get there in Japan it isn't unusual for students to spend two hours
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or more getting to school on public transport it's not
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so bad says 15 year old Keiko from Tokyo I sometimes sleep
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or study on the train and it's a great way to catch up with my friends
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Studying hours The average high school day in the UK and the US is six and a half hours.
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Students in Korea and Greece,
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however, are not so lucky.
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After school, they attend extra classes in private schools.
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On a typical day, says Ji Kim from Seoul,
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South Korea, I don't get home until midnight.
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But if I don't study hard,
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I won't get into a good university.
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School rules.
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All schools have rules, but sometimes they are really strict.
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At Eton College, a very famous boys' boarding school in England,
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the students have a smart but very old-fashioned uniform with a long jacket,
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dark trousers and smart shirt.
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In Japan, everyone has to participate in Osoji or the cleaning of the school before they go home.
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Whereas at Summerhill School in England,
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it's the students who make the rules.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the "Schools Around the World" video offers not only an entertaining insight into diverse educational systems but also provides a rich context for shadow speech practice. Speaking about unique traditions and school experiences from various countries, this content allows learners to enhance their English speaking practice by imitating native speakers. By using this video, you can improve your fluency, boost your confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences, all while honing your skills in a real-world context.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video features several key structures that are beneficial for English learners. Here are a few examples:

  • Present simple tense: The speaker often uses the present simple to describe general truths, such as in the sentence: "Schools of every shape and size exist around the world." This structure helps convey facts clearly.
  • Comparative structures: Phrases like "not so bad" are commonly used to express opinions and comparisons. By practicing these, learners can effectively compare experiences or preferences.
  • Impersonal passive voice: The video mentions, "Classes don't start until 10 am," which illustrates how the passive voice is used to focus on actions rather than who performs them. This structure can be helpful in formal or academic contexts.
  • Reported speech: The inclusion of student experiences, such as "I sometimes sleep or study on the train," allows learners to practice how to express others' experiences or opinions in reported speech.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While following along with the video, learners should pay attention to certain pronunciation traps that can affect clarity:

  • Multisyllabic words: Terms like "extra classes," and “acrobatic” can be difficult to pronounce correctly. Focus on breaking them down into syllables to improve clarity.
  • Vowel sounds: Watch out for different accents, especially in words like "college" and "uniform," which can have varying pronunciations depending on the speaker's background. Practicing these sounds will greatly improve English pronunciation.
  • Intonation patterns: Notice the rising and falling tones in the speaker's voice; this can significantly impact how your speech is perceived. Emulating these patterns will enhance your overall delivery.

By immersing yourself in this rich content and actively practicing shadow speaking with the video, you will not only improve your language skills but also gain valuable insights into global education systems. Start today and learn English with YouTube to become a more confident speaker!

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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