Shadowing Practice: Steve Jobs Secrets of Life - Learn English Speaking with Video

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The thing I would say is, when you grow up, you tend to get told that the world is the way it is,
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and your life is just to live your life inside the world, try not to bash into the walls too much, try to have a nice family life,
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have fun, save a little money.
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But life, that's a very limited life.
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Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact,
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and that is everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you.
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And you can change it.
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You can influence it.
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You can build your own things that other people can use.
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And the minute that you understand that you can poke life and actually something will, you know, if you push in, something will pop out the other side, that you can change it, you can mold it.
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That's maybe the most important thing,
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is to shake off this erroneous notion that life is there and you're just going to live in it,
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versus embrace it, change it, improve it, your mark upon it.
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I think that's very important.
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And however you learn that, once you learn it, you'll want to change life
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and make it better because it's kind of messed up in a lot of ways.
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Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by analyzing a thought-provoking segment from the "Steve Jobs Secrets of Life" video. The focus will be on understanding and expressing key concepts about life, personal growth, and the impact of individual actions. By engaging with the material, you will not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your English pronunciation and overall speaking confidence. This practice is designed to help you learn English with YouTube as a dynamic resource for language acquisition.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • life - the existence and experiences of individuals
  • broader - wider, more extensive
  • influence - the capacity to have an effect on someone or something
  • change - to make something different or to modify
  • embrace - to accept or support willingly
  • mark upon it - to make a significant contribution or impact
  • erroneous notion - a mistaken belief or idea
  • one simple fact - an important truth that can change perspective

Practice Tips

To make the most of this English speaking practice, employ the shadow speak technique by listening carefully to the speech and immediately repeating what you hear. Focus on the rhythm and intonation used by the speaker, as these elements are crucial for conveying meaning effectively in English. Here are some tips for practicing:

  • Listen attentively to the video's audio, paying close attention to each phrase and how it is articulated.
  • Start slow: Begin by repeating short segments of the transcript. This will allow you to focus on accuracy before increasing your pacing.
  • Record yourself as you practice, and then compare your pronunciation and pacing to the original speaker's. This is a great way to notice areas for improvement.
  • Use key vocabulary from the lesson in your repetitions. This will help reinforce the learning and improve your ability to use these terms in conversation.
  • Reflect on the content: After shadowing, take a moment to think about the ideas presented in the video. Try expressing these ideas in your own words to further enhance your speaking skills.

By implementing these techniques, you will not only improve English pronunciation but also gain confidence in expressing your thoughts and opinions. Enjoy the journey of learning!

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.