Shadowing Practice: 'So Much Slime' read by June Squibb - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Welcome to Storyline Online Brought to you by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation I’m June Squibb And today I’m going to read So Much Slime Written by Jason Lefebvre And illustrated by Zac Retz My family loves to make slime.
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My dad says slime is stretchy.
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My mom says slime is scientific.
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But I say slime is super squishy.
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“Oooh!” I shout.
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“I can show my class how to make slime!” “With your teacher’s permission,” Mom cautions.
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“Remember, Matty, slime is simple.
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Just three ingredients: glue, baking soda, and saline.” And Dad adds, “Everything else is just pizzazz!” That night, I stuff my backpack with ALL the slime-making supplies I’ll need.
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The next day, my art teacher agrees to a demonstration, so I set out everything I brought.
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“Slime is simple,” I explain to the class.
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“Just three ingredients.
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First is glue.
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At home we use ONE bottle.
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But I want enough slime for everyone, so I’m using SIX!” “Seems like a lot, Matty,” my teacher warns.
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“Don’t worry,” I reassure her.
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“I know EXACTLY what I’m doing.” Plooooop!
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“Next is baking soda,” I say.
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“One teaspoon for each bottle of glue.” “Then what?” my teacher asks.
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“Slime is simple,” I repeat.
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“Just three ingredients: glue, baking soda, and um….” I scan my supplies trying to remember the third.
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“Oh, yeah! Pizzazz!” I squeeze in food coloring while Julia stirs.
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“Now comes the best part.
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We’ll knead this with our hands – like dough.” So I pour a waterfall of slime onto the table and shout, “COWABUNGA” My teacher shudders.
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“Matty, is it supposed to spread like that?!” “Oh, no!” I shout.
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“I forgot to bring saline!
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That’s what turns this stuff into slime!
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I can’t make slime without saline!” “You forgot the saline?!” my teacher squawks.
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“I don’t have any saline!” This is bad.
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My demo is doomed.
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Instead of squishy slime, I’m up to my wrists in an icky, sticky swamp!
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“How will I ever clean this up?” I groan.
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“Something from the art closet might help,” Grace suggests.
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“Pompoms look like little mops!” Izzy hollers.
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“Maybe these can sop it up!” Izzy, Julia, and Noah lob fuzzy pompoms onto the table.
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But they just land – plip!
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plop! plip!
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– and sink into the spreading sludge.
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Now I’m up to my elbows in the icky, sticky swamp!
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“Sand might solidify it!” Luke shouts, dumping in a bagful.
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Noah, Kaitlyn, and Julia dump sand too, enough to turn a swamp into a desert.
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But the sand creates a wave – SWOOOOOOSH – and soon I’m surfing in the icky, sticky swamp.
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“Look!” Owen says.
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“Felt letters are like tiny towels.
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Maybe these could soak up the swamp.
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A, B… where’s the C?” “There’s no time for A-B-C order!” Noah yells.
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He flings felt letters at me until I’m in the eye of an alphabet storm.
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The letters float for a few seconds but soon start to slip beneath the surface… GLUG GLUG GLUG …and so do I.
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Now I’m up to my shoulders in the icky, sticky swamp.
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“Hey, everybody,” Kaitlyn calls.
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“Hailey and I wonder if we could WHIP this swamp into slime!” Many arms start mixing, but this only makes bubbles!
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They rise and grow until… …the biggest bubble explodes!
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KABOOM!!! My teacher looks ready to explode now too, because the icky, sticky swamp is landing everywhere!
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Just then, the school nurse bursts in.
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“Is everyone okay?
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What’s going on?” “It’s supposed to be slime,” I splutter, “but I forgot the saline!” “I’m all out of saline,” the nurse says, “but prizes make everything better.” Her prizes add plenty of pizzazz, but I’m still stuck in the icky, sticky swamp.
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My demo is a dud.
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A total disaster.
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“Oh, why did I forget the saline?!” I wail.
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“Oooh!” Owen shouts, running out the door.
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“I know where to find saline in school!” Owen is back in a flash.
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“Saline from the science lab!” he shrieks, squirting a stream across the room.
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My classmates gasp as the swamp magically morphs into spectacular, squishy slime.
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Everyone helps knead.
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“Slime is simple,” the science teacher recites.
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“Just three ingredients: glue, baking soda, and…” “SALINE!” we all shout.
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Just then, I see my parents and the principal at the door.
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“Hi, Matty!” Mom calls.
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“You forgot the saline at home!” “I know,” I say, “but look!
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My friends saved the slime!” “Impressive slime, kiddo,” Dad declares, lifting me into the air.
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“It’s filled with pizzazz – just like you!” Everyone is amazed.
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We roll the slime around.
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The big blobs pick up the extra bits, so cleanup is fast and fun.
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Soon our classroom is spotless.
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As the final bell rings, my teacher hands out containers.
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And just as I planned, there’s enough slime for everyone.
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My slime demo was a SUPER SUCCESS after all!
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When we get home, Dad hands me a package.
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“What’s this?” I ask.
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“Read the card,” Mom says.
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Dear Matty, Use this journal to track your imaginative experiments.
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I glued in one of my favorite slime recipes to get you started.
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Yours truly, Principal Stuckey “Cool,” I say.
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“Now I’ll never forget an ingredient!” We follow Principal Stuckey’s recipe right away to make stretchy… scientific… super squishy… …glow-in-the-dark slime!!
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I love this book ‘cause it tells me that even if I make a mess, I can clean it up and it’ll be beautiful.
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That’s good to know.
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Even if something goes wrong that with help, with friends, with teachers, with mothers and dads, that you can make them all right.
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Thank you for watching Storyline Online.
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Make sure to check out all of our stories.
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Keep watching, and keep reading.
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Context & Background
In this engaging reading of So Much Slime, actress June Squibb introduces a lively storyline centered around children experimenting with slime. The protagonist, Matty, embarks on a mission to demonstrate the art of slime-making to his classmates. Throughout the narrative, themes of creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving emerge, as Matty faces an unfortunate setback when he forgets a crucial ingredient. This playful tale not only entertains but also offers a treasure trove of expressions and vocabulary ideal for English learners aiming for fluency.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Slime is simple." - A straightforward statement that can be used in daily conversation to express simplicity.
- "Don’t worry, I know EXACTLY what I'm doing." - A phrase useful for when you want to assure others about your capabilities.
- "How will I ever clean this up?" - A common expression of frustration that can apply to various situations beyond slime.
- "Let's mix it up!" - A fun way to suggest trying new things or experimenting.
- "Can you help me with this?" - A useful phrase for asking for assistance, fostering collaboration.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your English pronunciation and fluency, shadowing the reading of So Much Slime, as performed by June Squibb, can be particularly beneficial. Follow this step-by-step guide for effective shadow speech practice:
- Listen Actively: Play the video and listen carefully to the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the narrative. Familiarize yourself with Matty’s excitement and the urgency of the dialogue.
- Start with Repetition: Replay sections of the video and repeat phrases out loud, mimicking Squibb's enunciation. Focus on the expressions highlighted above for daily communication.
- Break it Down: Divide the transcript into smaller segments. Shadow each segment with pauses in between to allow for reflection and practice. Gradually increase the length of the segments as you gain confidence.
- Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your shadowing practice. Comparing your pronunciation with the original will aid in identifying areas for improvement.
- Incorporate Shadowing in Conversations: Use the phrases you’ve practiced in your daily interactions, particularly in contexts like classroom discussions or casual talks with peers. This boosts your confidence in speaking and helps solidify your learning.
By employing these strategies, you will not only improve your English pronunciation but also engage in effective English speaking practice that mirrors real-life dialogue. Shadowing can significantly aid in preparing for tests like the IELTS speaking practice, enhancing both your vocabulary and practical communication skills.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is doomed · is amazed |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might help · might solidify |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best · the biggest |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start mixing · Keep watching |
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.