Shadowing Practice: Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim has accused LA landlords of cashing in on the fires. #LA #BBCNews - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Since we offered our services for free,
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23 sentences
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Since we offered our services for free,
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we've received dozens and dozens of calls from people who have lost their homes in the fires.
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We're doing our best.
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It's all hands on deck.
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It's really difficult because there are thousands of people who are displaced.
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But we're having landlords taking advantage of the situation.
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I had a client, we sent him to our house that was asking $13,000 a month.
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He offered $20,000 a month and he offered to pay six months up front.
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And the landlord said, no, I want $23,000 a month.
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You know, there are price gouging logs in California that are just being ignored right now.
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And this isn't the time to be taking advantage of situations.
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And it's also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster.
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It's emotional for everyone.
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I mean, I think everyone just has tears in their eyes all day long.
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Not literally from the smoke,
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but also just because it's emotional to see people struggling like this.
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And we'll rebuild better with stronger foundations than ever before.
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And I mean that figuratively, but probably also literally.
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So I'm not worried about Los Angeles coming back,
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you know, better and stronger.
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But at the same time,
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I hope that we can learn,
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you know, difficult and important lessons.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will focus on improving your English speaking skills through the practice of shadow speaking, using a timely and emotionally charged topic related to housing issues in Los Angeles. You will listen to a segment from a video discussing the challenges faced by people displaced by fires and the unethical behaviors of some landlords. By engaging with the content, you will enhance your vocabulary, become familiar with real-life conversational contexts, and practice articulating your thoughts on sensitive issues. This lesson provides a great opportunity for you to learn English with YouTube while developing your ability to express empathy and critical thinking in conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Price gouging - the act of raising prices unfairly high during a time of crisis.
  • Displaced - being forced to leave one's home, typically due to a disaster.
  • Emotional - relating to feelings and expressions of strong emotions.
  • Offers - proposals made in situations, often related to prices or terms.
  • Rebuild - to construct something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.
  • Stronger foundations - a metaphor indicating improvements or more secure conditions in the future.
  • Difficult lessons - challenging experiences from which we can learn important insights.

Practice Tips

To make the most of your English speaking practice, begin by watching the video segment slowly, focusing on each word. As you listen, try to repeat phrases and sentences right after hearing them—this is the essence of shadowing. Start with a slower playback speed if needed, and gradually increase to normal speed as you become more comfortable. Pay close attention to the speaker's emotional tone; they convey strong feelings about the situation, which can help you learn not only vocabulary but also how to express emotions in your speech. Use this shadowing site to practice by emulating the intonation and rhythm of the speaker. Set a goal to practice at least 15 minutes daily. Remember, consistent shadow speak will boost your confidence in speaking English and help you articulate your thoughts on pressing social issues more effectively.

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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