Shadowing Practice: Sue’s Struggling with College | The Middle - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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My point is she just needed some time to settle in.
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If anybody's going to be happy in college, it's Sue.
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Yeah.
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Well, so, Sue's happy, Axel's Axel, Brick's in bed, and I don't have any heartburn.
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I'm thinking maybe...
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Are you saying that's on the table?
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Because I can brush my teeth.
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Oh, it's on the table.
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Oh, damn!
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Hee -hee -hee!
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Hi.
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Why are you back in your room?
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It was horrible, Mom.
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I mean, it was great at first, but then after he was done playing, everyone started talking about politics.
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Mom, do you know there are people who don't love America?
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Yeah, I've heard that.
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Ann, did you know that some policemen are mean?
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I didn't even know that could happen.
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I couldn't sit there and listen to everyone badmouth our country, so I just ran out and they called me naive.
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They said I was part of the problem.
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I'm not part of the problem, am I, Mom?
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Oh, honey, of course not.
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Can you just talk to me until I fall asleep?
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Sure, of course.
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Uh, let's see.
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What happened today?
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Well, the muffler finally fell off in Dad's car.
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Oh, no. Yeah, I know.
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I'm sure they didn't mean it.
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Hey!
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You're not allowed to pass out in the lounge.
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Oh, I'm not drunk.
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I'm just sleeping.
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You got a room for that.
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Actually, no, see, I don't...
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My roommate is a junior, and she has this boyfriend.
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I'm gonna have to write you up.
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But I've never been written up before.
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Oh, my God, I'm getting written up so long.
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Ugh.
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Freshman.
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Mom, I got written up.
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Sue, slow down, okay?
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Focus.
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I need complete sentences and words.
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It was all Holly's pulse.
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She doesn't even act like a Holly.
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She puts swears on the walls.
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And she's not even here now.
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And I don't know where she is.
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And I never know where she is.
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She never writes on the memo board and she called Taylor Swift a skank
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and I tried to tell her that she's just unlucky in luck.
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And then I saw her in concert and she was awesome.
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Okay, Sue, honey, you just have to give it some time.
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It's not just that.
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I'm making bad choices.
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I'm only eating ice cream sandwiches and I haven't pooped in three days.
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I keep waiting for nobody to pee in the bathroom but there's always somebody in the bathroom.
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I tried at 3 a .m., but that's when the barfers come in.
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What is she saying?
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She can't poop in front of Taylor Swift?
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And I know.
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I'm sorry that I keep bothering you.
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You said I was ready for this, but I'm just, I'm not.
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And I don't want to be here anymore.
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And I hate college, and I just want to come home.
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Screw Ferber.
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We're heading up there.
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Already out the door.
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Axel, what's going on?
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Oh, my God.
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Mom and Dad are dead.
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No, they're fine.
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Just thought maybe you'd want to get some pizza or something.
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Really?
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That's another question.
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You're down to six.
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And she doesn't even put sheets on the bed.
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She just sleeps on her old coat.
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Well, at least she leaves sometimes.
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Kenny was always around and drove me nuts.
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I mean, we're all buds now, but the first month away, I was pretty homesick.
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Really?
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I didn't know about that.
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Oh, yeah.
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There were times where I really missed Mom and Dad a lot.
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You did?
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Did you tell them?
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No way.
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Why is that their business?
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Anyway, just wanted to check in, make sure you're doing okay.
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You know, not sitting around listening to emo music or something.
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Yeah, well, maybe I'm doing okay.
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Look, it sucks for everyone at first, but by Thanksgiving, you're going to be having so much fun, you won't even want to go home.
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Except for, like, food and laundry, money, stuff.
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Also, I could never take a dump in the dorms, so I would suggest doing all your pooping at home.
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Oh.
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It says getting pizza.
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Yeah, but that could be old.
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Well, it says 10 .09 p .m and today's date.
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Oh.
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What You'll Practice in This Lesson
This lesson uses a relatable college - life dialogue to help you improve your English speaking and listening skills. You'll practice understanding conversational tone, natural speech patterns, and everyday vocabulary. The video's mix of emotional moments and casual chat makes it perfect for working on both comprehension and shadowing—an effective technique for boosting fluency.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Badmouth: To speak negatively about someone or something. Example: "They started to badmouth our country."
- Naive: Lacking experience, often in a way that seems too trusting. Example: "They called me naive."
- Write up: To formally record a rule violation. Example: "I'm gonna have to write you up."
- Settle in: To become comfortable in a new place. Example: "She just needed time to settle in."
- Pass out: To fall asleep, often unexpectedly. Example: "You're not allowed to pass out in the lounge."
Practice Tips for Shadowing Success
Shadowing—repeating speech immediately after hearing it—is a great way to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here's how to use the video effectively:
- Match the speed: The dialogue has a natural, conversational pace. Start by pausing after short phrases and repeating them. As you get comfortable, try shadowing without pausing to mimic the flow. This helps train your mouth to move quickly and accurately, just like a native.
- Focus on tone: Notice how the characters' voices change with emotion—Sue's anxiety, her mom's comfort. Copying these tones will make your speech more expressive. A shadowing app can help you record yourself and compare your tone to the video's.
- Emphasize key words: In phrases like "I'm not part of the problem," the stress is on "not" and "problem." Shadowing helps you learn where to place emphasis, making your speech clearer. Practice "shadow speak" by repeating these emphasized words first, then adding the full sentence.
For extra practice, use a shadowing app to loop tricky sections. This tool lets you focus on specific lines, ensuring you master the pronunciation and rhythm. Whether you're new to shadowing or an experienced learner, this video's relatable content makes it a great choice for English speaking practice. Keep at it, and you'll soon notice improvements in your fluency and confidence!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've heard · I've never been written · haven't pooped |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was done · been written |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | started talking · keep waiting · keep bothering |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm thinking · I'm just sleeping · I'm getting |
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.