Shadowing Practice: Shoes of the World | practice English with Spotlight - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Colin Lowther.
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And I’m Liz Waid.
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Spotlight uses a special  English method of broadcasting.
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It is easier for people to understand,  no matter where in the world they live.
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How much money would you pay for a pair of shoes?
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Christopher Michael Shellis is a jewelry designer.
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He designs beautiful jewelry that people can  wear around their fingers, necks, or wrists.
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In 2011, he designed a very  interesting pair of shoes.
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The shoes were made of solid gold.
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They were covered with over 2,000 shiny diamonds.
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Shellis called the shoes “jewelry  you can wear on your feet”.
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These shoes cost more money than any other shoes  in the world —140,000 Great British Pounds!
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Most people cannot buy expensive shoes like these.
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And many people do not even want them!
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But people everywhere do wear shoes.
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Today’s Spotlight is on shoes.
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A shoe seems like a simple thing - it just  needs to protect a foot from the ground.
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But there are many different kinds  of shoes from all around the world.
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And the history and culture of each place  has influenced the design of its shoes.
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Today, we travel around  the world looking at shoes!
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In the Middle East, religion  has influenced shoe design.
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One popular kind of shoe here is the babouche.
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This design of shoe is a  traditional shoe from Morocco.
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Traditional babouches are made from soft leather.
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They have a pointed toe.
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Some have bead decorations, or a design  made from thin, coloured, thread.
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So how has religion influenced this shoe design?
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People worshipping at a mosque  must remove their shoes.
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They may not wear shoes when they enter.
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So, they want a shoe they can remove easily.
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Babouches cover most of the foot.
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But they do not cover the  heel, or back of the foot.
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This makes the shoe easy to put on and to remove.
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People also like babouches because they  do not make a person’s foot too hot.
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And they are very comfortable.
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Religion and culture have also  influenced the design of shoes in India.
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The paduka is a very old shoe design there.
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Experts believe this design  is over 4,000 years old!
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It is a sandal - it does not cover the whole foot.
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But it goes on the foot easily and keeps it cool.
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Padukas have a simple design.
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A paduka maker cuts a piece of wood into  the rough shape of the bottom of a foot.
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Then, he adds a small knob on the top.
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This knob is a small round piece of wood.
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It sits between a person’s first two toes.
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Under the base of the shoe, there are thin  rounded pieces of wood in the back and front.
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These pieces of wood raise  the shoe off the ground.
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The Hindu religion is common in India.
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Hindus believe they should  not harm any living thing.
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The design of padukas follows this idea.
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The area of the shoe that  touches the ground is very small.
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It is less likely to harm the ground  under it or any insect around it.
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Also, padukas are never made  from leather - animal skin.
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Instead, they are always made  from wood, ivory or metal.
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Today, very religious people usually wear padukas.
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Or people may wear them to  a special ceremony or event.
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Travel with us now to a much colder climate  - the country of Finland, in northern Europe.
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The people here would not wear sandals at all!
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Instead, the Saami people of  Finland wear very warm boots.
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The Saami people keep and raise reindeer.
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Reindeer are very large animals.
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They have antlers – long, hard,  bones that grow from their heads.
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The Saami people keep the reindeer for food.
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But the reindeer also provide the Saami  with the material for their boots!
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Traditional Saami reindeer boots  cover a person’s whole foot.
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And they may cover some of the leg too.
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The Saami make these traditional  boots from reindeer skin leather.
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The hair on the skin helps  make the boots very warm.
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Reindeer hair is shaped like a tube.
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It has air inside.
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This helps keep the reindeer warm.
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It also means that reindeer boots are very warm!
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Traditional reindeer boots have a point or a kind of hook at the end -  the end of the boot points up.
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Many cultures have influenced the design of shoes.
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But shoes also become an  important part of a culture.
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This is the case with  klompen from the Netherlands.
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Each klompen shoe is made  from a solid piece of wood.
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The inside of the shoe is cut  out, so a foot can go in it.
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Many people think of klompen when  they think of the Netherlands.
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The design of klompen shoes is over 800 years old.
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They were originally the shoe of factory workers.
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That is because klompen are  excellent at protecting feet.
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They protect feet from sharp  objects and harmful liquid acids.
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Today, few people wear klompen as a common shoe.
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But people may wear them for working outside.
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And they are a very popular thing people  bring home when they visit the Netherlands!
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Finally, we travel to the island of Japan.
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Here, we see geta.
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Geta are a traditional shoe in Japan.
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A geta sandal is usually made from wood and cloth.
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When wearing a geta, a person’s  foot sits on a long square of wood.
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In the middle of the geta there is a cloth  that forms a shape like a letter “V”.
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This cloth comes up in the center of the sandal.
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It goes between a person’s first and second  toes, and then to the middle of the sandal.
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When a person’s foot is in geta, it  is not in the center of the geta.
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But this also means each geta -  the one for the right foot, and the one for the left foot - looks the same.
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Under the base of the shoe there  are two straight wooden “ha”.
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This word means “teeth” in the Japanese language.
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There are ha in the front and in the back.
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Usually geta are about 3-5 centimetres tall.
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They are a popular shoe  for men and women in Japan.
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It is easy to see how each place and each  culture needs their own kind of shoe.
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Is there a special kind of shoe in your culture?
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Did we leave out a kind of  shoe you want to hear about?
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Tell us what you think.
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You can email us at contact@spotlightenglish. com.
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You can also find us on YouTube,  Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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The writer of this program was Liz Waid.
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The producer was Michio Ozaki.
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The voices you heard were from the  United Kingdom and the United States.
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You can listen to this program again, and read  it, on the internet at www.spotlightenglish.com.
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This program is called, “Shoes of the World”.
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Visit our website to download our free  official app for Android and Apple devices.
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We hope you can join us again for  the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video titled "Shoes of the World" is an excellent resource for learners looking to enhance their English speaking skills through the shadowing technique. By listening to the engaging dialogue between Colin Lowther and Liz Waid, you gain exposure to clear pronunciation and diverse vocabulary associated with footwear. The topic of shoes transcends cultural boundaries, allowing learners to connect personal experiences with global perspectives. This context makes it easier for you to practice speaking English naturally, as it encourages authentic conversation about everyday items that most people can relate to.

Additionally, the cultural insights shared in the video open up opportunities for discussion, enabling learners to formulate their thoughts and articulate opinions in English. Whether you’re at home or with a study group, engaging with this content can significantly improve your fluency through the shadow speech method. By repeating after the speakers, you align your intonation and rhythm with native-like speech patterns.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Within the video, several grammatical structures and expressions frequently appear, providing excellent models for learners:

  • “People everywhere do wear shoes.” - This simple present tense highlights a general truth, useful for making statements about common practices.
  • “They may not wear shoes when they enter.” - The modal verb "may" introduces possibility, a fantastic way to express uncertainty or suggestions in conversation.
  • “How has religion influenced this shoe design?” - This question form showcases the present perfect tense, ideal for discussing past actions that have relevance in the present.

Using these structures in your speech can elevate your English. Practice repeating them in your own sentences, applying the shadowspeak approach by mimicking the speaker's cadence and tone.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While the speakers in the video articulate their words clearly, certain words and expressions may present challenges for English learners:

  • "Babouche" - This term may be unfamiliar and requires special attention to vowel sounds. Make sure to practice the “ah” sound followed by “boosh.”
  • "Paduka" - Pronounced as “pah-doo-kah,” this word features multiple syllables that can be difficult for non-native speakers. Break it down into its components when practicing.

When following along, use the shadow speech method to match the speed and clarity of the speakers as closely as possible. Focusing on these commonly mispronounced words will significantly enhance your overall pronunciation skills.

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.