Shadowing Practice: Successful Mindset | 🎙️ 8 Minute English | Beginner - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's podcast.
176 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's podcast.
2
I'm Nathan, your host, here to guide you through practical ideas that can transform the way you see life.
3
Have you ever felt like no matter how much you achieve, it's never enough?
4
Like you're always chasing something just out of reach?
5
In today's episode, we'll explore this topic.
6
We will hear a conversation between Holland, a successful businessman who feels unfulfilled, and Jimmy, a bakery owner who finds joy in his everyday life.
7
What's their secret?
8
And more importantly, how can you stop chasing and start feeling enough?
9
Let's get started to find out right now.
10
I can't wait.
11
Wow, Jimmy, it's been so long.
12
I see you still run your little bakery.
13
How's business?
14
Yeah, I still do.
15
Business is good, but more importantly, life is good.
16
I enjoy every moment of it.
17
That's great to hear.
18
But don't you ever feel stuck?
19
Like, don't you want more?
20
More?
21
What do you mean?
22
You know, more money, a bigger shop, more success.
23
I always feel like I need more to be truly happy.
24
Ah, I see.
25
That's the difference between us, my friend.
26
I believe in an abundant mindset.
27
It means believing that opportunities, success, and happiness are unlimited.
28
You don't have to chase more to feel enough.
29
But if you don't push for more, won't you fall behind?
30
Not at all.
31
An abundant mindset isn't about being lazy or giving up on success.
32
It's about knowing that happiness and success aren't limited resources.
33
There's enough for everyone.
34
I don't know.
35
I feel like if I don't keep pushing, someone else will take what's mine.
36
That's a scarcity mindset, Holland.
37
It makes you feel like there's never enough.
38
Time, money, or opportunities.
39
But that's reality, isn't it?
40
If I don't work harder, I lose.
41
Not necessarily.
42
Think about it.
43
Do you ever feel truly satisfied?
44
Not really.
45
Even when I reach my goals, I just set new ones.
46
I always feel like I'm running but never arriving.
47
That's exactly the problem.
48
I think here are some signs of a scarcity mindset.
49
Firstly, you always worry about losing what you have.
50
Moreover, you feel jealous when someone else succeeds.
51
Finally, you focus on what you don't have instead of appreciating what you do.
52
It seems right to me.
53
That sounds exhausting.
54
It is.
55
But the good news is, you can change it.
56
So what happens if I start thinking abundantly?
57
A lot of things.
58
You begin to see opportunities instead of limits.
59
Also, you focus on solutions instead of problems.
60
In addition, you can build positive relationships instead of competition.
61
Sounds nice, but is it practical?
62
Absolutely.
63
Take my bakery, for example.
64
When I started, I was afraid of competition.
65
But instead of worrying, I built relationships with other bakers.
66
We shared tips, supported each other, and guess what?
67
We all thrived.
68
Oh, I never thought of it that way.
69
But how can I start it?
70
Try with small steps.
71
You can start with practicing gratitude.
72
Write down three things you're grateful for every day.
73
Even small things count.
74
Alright, I'll try to do it every day.
75
What's next?
76
It's sharing with others.
77
Help a friend, mentor someone, or donate.
78
Giving makes you feel richer.
79
And the most important thing is, stop comparing yourself.
80
That sounds hard for me.
81
I know.
82
This is difficult, especially for a perfectionist like you.
83
But, you know, your journey is unique.
84
Focus on your own growth.
85
I just worry about losing everything I've built.
86
That's normal, but holding on to fear keeps you stuck.
87
You need to let go.
88
How?
89
No. Meditation, deep breathing, or even writing your thoughts down helps.
90
When you let go of fear, you make space for new opportunities.
91
But what if someone else gets the success I want?
92
That's a common fear.
93
But let me ask you, have you ever seen someone's success and felt jealous?
94
Yeah, all the time.
95
It's hard not to compare.
96
I get it.
97
But think of it this way.
98
Success isn't a limited resource.
99
Just because someone else wins doesn't mean you lose.
100
Their success proves that it's possible, and that means you can do it too.
101
I never saw it that way, but it still feels tough.
102
Start small.
103
Today, instead of feeling envious, try genuinely congratulating someone.
104
Send a message, leave a comment, or just say, Hey, I'm happy for you.
105
Notice how it changes your mindset.
106
Really?
107
That does sound easier than forcing myself to feel happy right away.
108
Exactly.
109
The more you celebrate others, the more positive and open to opportunities you become.
110
You're right.
111
I'll stop waiting for the perfect moment.
112
It doesn't exist, right?
113
I couldn't agree more.
114
I like that.
115
I'll start small, maybe with gratitude today.
116
That's the spirit.
117
Small steps lead to big changes.
118
You've got this.
119
Let's tune into the questions session to understand the topic better.
120
The first question, do you agree that success isn't a competition?
121
Why or why not?
122
I believe success isn't a competition.
123
Everyone has their own journey, and success is not limited.
124
Helping others and learning from them leads to growth.
125
Instead of competing, focus on becoming the best version of yourself.
126
The second question, how do you deal with competition in your daily life?
127
I focus on self-improvement, instead of comparing myself to others.
128
I see competition as motivation rather than a threat.
129
Building good relationships and staying confident in my own path help me handle it positively.
130
What about you?
131
Please share what you learned from the podcast in the comments section below.
132
I want to hear your thoughts.
133
Let's learn some important vocabulary with me now.
134
Firstly, we have run something.
135
It is not running in a race.
136
The meaning of it is to manage or operate a business.
137
Jimmy runs a small bakery shop downtown.
138
Let's move on to push for more.
139
It is to keep striving for greater success or achievements.
140
Holland is always pushing for more in his career.
141
Next, we have fall behind.
142
Its meaning is not to keep up with progress or competition.
143
If we don't update our skills, we'll fall behind in the industry.
144
What about limited resources?
145
A fixed or restricted amount of something.
146
Many companies struggle due to limited resources.
147
Then we have the phrase scarcity mindset.
148
It's the belief that there is never enough of something.
149
Holland's scarcity mindset made him afraid to share his ideas.
150
Great job.
151
Please watch till the end to understand today's topic clearly.
152
All right, let's play a little game before wrapping this episode.
153
Close your eyes and imagine your dream life.
154
Where are you?
155
Maybe you're on a beach, feeling the warm sun, the soft sand under your feet.
156
No stress, no deadlines, just peace.
157
Sounds nice, right?
158
Now, here's the big question.
159
What's stopping you from living that life?
160
Is it fear?
161
Doubt?
162
A belief that success is always just out of reach?
163
Recognizing these thoughts is the first step to changing them.
164
Finally, shift your mindset.
165
Imagine yourself already succeeding.
166
Feel the confidence, the joy, the ease.
167
When you train your brain to believe it's possible, you start making choices that bring that vision to life.
168
Ready to turn this visualization into action?
169
It's your own game.
170
And that's the end of today's episode.
171
Remember, success and happiness aren't limited.
172
They grow when you shift your mindset.
173
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow for more inspiring talks.
174
And hey, why not take a moment today to appreciate what you already have?
175
Big changes start with small steps.
176
Until next time, keep growing, keep believing, and most importantly, enjoy the journey.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
In this engaging podcast episode hosted by Nathan, listeners are introduced to a thought-provoking dialogue between Holland, a businessman, and Jimmy, a bakery owner. Holland expresses his feelings of dissatisfaction despite his achievements, always seeking more in life. In contrast, Jimmy embodies an abundant mindset, cherishing his present moment and finding joy in simple pleasures. This conversation delves into the nuances of mindset—specifically the difference between a scarcity mentality and an abundance mentality—while shedding light on the importance of appreciating what you have rather than constantly chasing after what you think you need to be happy.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Life is good.” - A simple yet powerful phrase to express contentment.
- “Do you ever feel stuck?” - A thoughtful way to inquire about someone's emotional state.
- “I believe in an abundant mindset.” - A statement to share your positive outlook on opportunities.
- “Are you chasing success?” - A conversational opener to discuss ambitions.
- “There's enough for everyone.” - A reassuring phrase to emphasize sharing and community over competition.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
If you wish to enhance your English-speaking skills through shadowing, here’s a structured approach using this episode:
- Listen Actively: Begin by listening to the podcast episode without distractions to grasp the overall theme and tone of the conversation.
- Segment the Dialogue: Divide the transcript into smaller segments focusing on key phrases, ensuring it's manageable for repeated practice.
- Repeat After the Speaker: Use the shadow speak method. Listen to a line, pause, and then mimic the speaker's intonation and pronunciation. This technique improves your fluency and helps with natural speech patterns.
- Record Yourself: After practicing, record your shadowspeak attempts. Listening to your recordings will provide insight into your pronunciation and fluency.
- Engage in Contextual Practice: Use the learned phrases in real-life contexts. Whether in conversation with friends or practicing for IELTS speaking practice, actively employing these phrases will solidify your learning.
Shadowing, or utilizing shadowspeaks, is an effective method to create familiarity with everyday English usage, especially in key emotional contexts like ambition and contentment. Embrace this method and witness improvements in your descriptive language and overall confidence when speaking.
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏