Shadowing Practice: Shadowing English with Selena Gomez "Trust Yourself" | American Accent | Shadowing Exercises - Learn English Speaking with Video

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When I was 11, the point being is when I was 7, When I was 11, the point being is when I was 7,
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When I was 11, the point being is when I was 7, I wanted to be an actress.
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I wanted to be an actress.
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I wanted to be an actress.
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And I wanted to live my dream.
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And I wanted to live my dream.
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And I wanted to live my dream.
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And when I was 11, I had a casting director And when I was 11, I had a casting director.
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And when I was 11, I had a casting director.
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Tell me that I wasn't strong enough to carry my own show.
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Tell me that I wasn't strong enough to carry my own show.
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Tell me that I wasn't strong enough to carry my own show.
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And I'm sure all of you have been told...
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And I'm sure all of you have been told And I'm sure all of you have been told...
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that you don't have what it takes and that you don't have what it takes and...
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But you don't have what it takes and That you may not be good enough.
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that you may not be good enough.
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that you may not be good enough.
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You don't have enough people supporting you.
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You don't have enough people supporting you.
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You don't have enough people supporting you.
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And you're being told all of these things.
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And you're being told all of these things And you're being told all of these things.
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And deep down it's all you want to do.
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And deep down it's all you want to do.
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And deep down it's all you want to do.
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You want to be a part of something great.
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You want to be a part of something great.
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You want to be a part of something great.
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You want to make something great.
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You want to make something great.
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You want to make something great.
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And it does more than knock the wind out of you.
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And it does more than knock the wind out of you.
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And it does more than knock the wind out of you.
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- It crushes you when people try to tell you
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It crushes you when people try to tell you It crushes you when people try to tell you
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that you're not good enough.
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that you're not good enough.
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that you're not good enough.
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And it almost did for me.
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And it almost did for me.
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And it almost did for me.
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But there was my mom next to me.
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But there was my mom next to me.
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But there was my mom next to me.
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stronger than ever and she said stronger than ever and she said stronger than ever and she said
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The most important thing is to always trust in myself.
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The most important thing is to always trust in myself.
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The most important thing is to always trust in myself.
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If I have.. if I'm doing something because I love it, If I have.. if I'm doing something because I love it,
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If I have.. if I'm doing something because I love it,
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I should do it because I love it.
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I should do it because I love it.
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I should do it because I love it.
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And I believe I can do it.
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And I believe I can do it.
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And I believe I can do it.
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So she told me to keep going.
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So she told me to keep going.
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So she told me to keep going.
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She told me and she taught me to turn the other cheek.
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She told me and she taught me to turn the other cheek.
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She told me and she taught me to turn the other cheek.
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And let the credits, or let the critics be critics.
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And let the credits, or let the critics be critics.
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And let the credits, or let the critics be critics.
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And let us just trust ourselves.
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And let us just trust ourselves.
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- And let us just trust ourselves.
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When I was 11 the point being is
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when I was 7 I wanted to be an actress and I wanted to live my dream and
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And when I was 11, I had a casting director tell me that I wasn't strong enough to carry my own show. And...
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I'm sure all of you have been told
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that you don't have what it takes and
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that you may not be good enough
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and you don't have enough people supporting you
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and you're being told all of these things when deep down it's all you want to do.
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You want to be a part of something great.
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You want to make something great.
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And it does more than knock the wind out of you, it crushes you when people try to tell you that you're not good enough.
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And it almost did for me, but there was my mom next to me,
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stronger than ever, and she said the most important thing is to always trust in myself.
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If I have.. if I'm doing something because I love it,
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I should do it because I love it and I believe I can do it So she told me to keep going.
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Thank you.
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She told me and she taught me to turn the other cheek And let the critics be critics.
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And let us Just trust ourselves.

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Context & Background

In the inspiring video featuring Selena Gomez, she opens up about her early aspirations and the challenges she faced on her journey to becoming an actress. This narrative emphasizes the importance of self-belief and perseverance in the face of doubt—something many learners of English can relate to. As Gomez reflects on being told she wasn't "strong enough" or "good enough," it serves as a motivational reminder to embrace confidence. This context sets the stage for learners to appreciate the communicative power of her words and the emotional nuances of the English language.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

Drawing from Selena's dialogue, here are five key phrases that can enhance your day-to-day English communication:

  • I wanted to live my dream. - A sentence that expresses aspiration and ambition.
  • Tell me that I wasn't strong enough. - A phrase that conveys a challenge to others’ perceptions.
  • You don't have what it takes. - A common expression related to self-doubt and criticism.
  • Deep down it's all you want to do. - Use this when discussing personal passion or ambition.
  • The most important thing is to always trust in myself. - A powerful affirmation of self-confidence.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use the shadowing technique while practicing with this video, follow these steps:

  1. Choose Your Tools: Consider using a shadowing app or simply your video playback feature on YouTube. This will allow you to pause, rewind, and replay sections that challenge you.
  2. Listen Actively: Watch the video once without attempting to repeat anything. Focus on the tone, emotion, and rhythm of Selena’s speech. This is crucial for capturing her American accent and speaking style.
  3. Practice Phrases: Select the five phrases listed above. Listen to each phrase carefully, then try to repeat them aloud. This will aid in developing your natural flow and pronunciation.
  4. Shadow Speak: As you listen again, begin to speak along with Selena, imitating her intonation and pacing. Remember to focus on the emotions behind her words—it’s not just about the sounds, but the message itself.
  5. Reflect and Review: After practicing, take a moment to reflect on what was challenging and what you learned. Consider recording yourself to track your progress. This reflection is key to enhancing your shadowspeak skills.

By engaging with this content, you're taking vital steps to learn English with YouTube as a fun and interactive method. Embrace the process, and remember to always trust in your ability to improve your English speaking skills!

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does ithave been told · being told
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhave been told
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good ideashould do
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certainmay not be

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 →