Shadowing Practice: solo hiking in a rainstorm (with waterfalls) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hello and welcome back to the channel.
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Unless you're new, then welcome.
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Today we are going to be doing something a little unconventional, and I'm not talking about deadlifts.
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We are going to be hiking in the rain.
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If you couldn't already tell by the sound of the rain.
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I've got my heavy duty jacket and some other gear to keep my things as dry as possible because, as always, preparedness is very important.
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In Hawaii, we are currently in the middle of a rainstorm, so the past several days have been extremely rainy.
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I don't want to negate the severity of the situation by going out and frolicking in nature, because I know many people have been impacted by the weather,
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but as far as I know, no one's been injured.
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I have seen a few like tree uprootings, definitely some road closures because of the flooding, and a lot of power outages.
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I even stopped by one of my favorite beaches and it was like unrecognizable.
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I actually couldn't believe how different it looked.
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And I have footage because it's like actually crazy.
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Now you might be thinking, why the heck would you go outside right now?
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And I have some reasons number one I like the rain number two the rain means less people
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and number three I have a very specific motive there is
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motive to the madness I have done this hike before
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but there's a specific mountain range at a certain point of the trail
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that when it's rainy enough all of the crevices of the mountain fill with waterfalls
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so it's like a whole almost panoramic waterfall view
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of the Kualau Mountains and I really just want to be there while it's full of waterfalls.
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I think that would be so cool
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and I don't really have much else to do
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and the weather is kind of keeping everybody inside
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so I don't know I'm just gonna defy the norms
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and of course be safe but enjoy myself and I don't really mind getting wet.
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I do have some gear to hopefully minimize that.
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Yeah I I can't really think of a better way to spend the day, so that's what we're doing.
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Also, I have some jumper cables just out in the backseat.
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I need to put those away.
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But my car wasn't starting yesterday, so don't worry.
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We replaced the battery.
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I won't be getting stuck anywhere.
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But that was fun.
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I learned how to jump a car.
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Life skills.
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Okay, I've got my protective cover on the camera, but as you can see,
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the whole trail has become a massive stream.
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We're going to see how this goes.
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Actually it looks like...
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Okay, change of plans.
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We are switching to the waterproof camera and leaving the precious full frame in the car where it's safe.
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But I'm not giving up.
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We're making up for a little bit of lost time because there is a two hour parking limit, so we're going to be picking up the pace a little bit.
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The rain slowed down a bit, but the water is still booming regardless.
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It's all trailing down into the valley to Monowee Lake Falls.
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I can only imagine what that looks like.
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Oh!
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I wore
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my beater boots today.
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They're actually my retired hiking boots, but I figured they'd probably get destroyed today.
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So one last mission for these bad boys.
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That's the clearest I've seen it.
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Whoa.
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Look at the color of the water.
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The ocean water.
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Oh, man.
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Mount Olamana.
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So my Hawaii people know, I'm sure, Maunawele Falls.
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It's like the biggest waterfall we have.
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And you can actually jump into the pool because it's deep enough.
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But I'm here to say we are 100% not doing that today.
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I'm not even going to go all the way into the valley because the lower you get,
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the more strong the water is going to be as it all pools down into one area.
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My only goal today is that I want to see the panoramic waterfalls.
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And that's where I draw the line.
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I think we're approaching the two mile mark, which means we're getting really close and I'm getting so excited.
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Oh my gosh.
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Oh my god. Can you see that? So many stream crossings.
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My boots are full of water.
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There's like a pool.
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I got two personal foot pools.
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There's another peak.
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The waterfalls are looking so beautiful.
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I am noticing, despite the stream crossings looking pretty thick and powerful,
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there's almost always a safer way around that can still get you where you need to go.
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Wow.
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Oh my gosh.
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I am having the time of my life.
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What was I even saying?
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Oh yeah, sometimes the best path is not the most obvious path.
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And that applies to life.
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Beyond the trail.
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It's kind of like the perfect window right now.
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Where I think it's clear enough to really get a good view of the waterfalls.
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So I hope we're not too far.
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I could cry.
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Oh my God.
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This is the best view I've gotten so far.
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Wow.
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Oh my gosh.
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We weren't even seeing half of it.
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Okay.
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Wow.
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This might be peak view.
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Okay.
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Time to say bye to the beautiful view.
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I think that's the best we're going to get today.
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That's a lot better than I was expecting, to be honest.
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I think if I continue on into the descent, we'll probably get a better view,
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at least of more waterfalls but I'm kind of already at risk for getting towed right now
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and that would be really not fun if I get towed
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so we're minimizing
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that possibility by heading back now it has already been two
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hours I didn't realize I would be hiking this far
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but I am aware of the consequences and I couldn't not commit to seeing that.
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No regrets.
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I accept the consequences of my actions.
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This is actually the trail right now.
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Lots of fallen trees too.
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Oh boy.
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Okay.
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As long as I don't rip my pants, no problem.
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White Claw?
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Really, bruvs?
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If you're going to drink, at least take your trash out with you.
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I don't drink White Claw, for the record.
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I can hear the cars.
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So we're reaching the end.
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Moment of truth.
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Do I still have a car?
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My car!
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Yay!
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Now that I'm back and I know that I still have a car, I think it's safe to say that was a massive success.
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I got the view I was looking for.
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and it really is crazy to see the difference from when I got here.
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Like when I first got here couldn't even see that mountain couldn't even see those trees right there.
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So weather really cleared up for the better in my favor perfect timing but with enough rain to still get the waterfall.
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So that is all for today's video.
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Thank you for watching.
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I hope you enjoyed.
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Don't forget to lift, laugh, and love, and I'll see you in the next video.
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Bye!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice listening and speaking skills by engaging with a YouTube video that showcases solo hiking during a rainstorm. You will learn how to describe outdoor activities, express thoughts on weather conditions, and share personal experiences related to nature. By watching and shadowing the speaker, you can improve your English pronunciation and gain fluency in discussing topics like adventure travel and preparation for outdoor activities. This lesson aims to enhance your English speaking practice through conversational methods, ideal for learners seeking to learn English with YouTube.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Heavy duty jacket - A durable outer layer for protecting against harsh weather.
  • Preparedness - The state of being ready for something, especially emergencies.
  • Rainstorm - A storm with heavy rain, often causing flooding and other issues.
  • Uprootings - When trees are pulled out from the ground, usually due to strong winds or heavy rain.
  • Waterfalls - Natural features where water flows over a vertical drop, often creating picturesque views.
  • Crevices - Narrow openings or cracks, especially in rock or mountain formations.
  • Life skills - Essential skills that one needs to handle daily tasks and challenges.
  • Boiling water - Describing fast-moving or swirling water, often heard in nature settings.

Practice Tips

To get the most out of this lesson, follow these shadowing tips while watching the video. First, pay attention to the pace of the speaker. The tone is conversational and somewhat informal, which is great for learning casual expressions in English. As you shadow, try mimicking the speaker's enthusiasm and intonation to improve English pronunciation.

Start by listening to small sections of the video; pause and repeat after the speaker to practice your pronunciation. This method can be particularly useful for mastering the vocabulary listed, as you'll be integrating them into your own speech. Utilize the shadowing site you prefer, ensuring you focus on matching the rhythm and flow of the sentences.

Feel free to record yourself to track your progress over time. This will not only aid in building confidence during English speaking practice but also allow you to notice areas needing improvement. Remember, the goal is to internalize the language while enjoying the content—connecting nature and adventure with your English learning journey!

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.