Shadowing Practice: The benefits of good posture - Murat Dalkilinç - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Has anyone ever told you, "Stand up straight!" or scolded you for slouching at a family dinner?
⏸ Paused
All Sentences42 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Has anyone ever told you, "Stand up straight!" or scolded you for slouching at a family dinner?
2
Comments like that might be annoying, but they're not wrong.
3
Your posture, the way you hold your body when you're sitting or standing, is the foundation for every movement your body makes, and can determine how well your body adapts to the stresses on it.
4
These stresses can be things like carrying weight, or sitting in an awkward position.
5
And the big one we all experience all day every day: gravity.
6
If your posture isn't optimal, your muscles have to work harder to keep you upright and balanced.
7
Some muscles will become tight and inflexbile.
8
Others will be inhibited.
9
Over time, these dysfunctional adaptations impair your body's ability to deal with the forces on it.
10
Poor posture inflicts extra wear and tear on your joints and ligaments, increases the likelihood of accidents, and makes some organs, like your lungs, less efficient.
11
Researchers have linked poor posture to scoliosis, tension headaches, and back pain, though it isn't the exclusive cause of any of them.
12
Posture can even influence your emotional state and your sensitivity to pain.
13
So there are a lot of reasons to aim for good posture.
14
But it's getting harder these days.
15
Sitting in an awkward position for a long time can promote poor posture, and so can using computers or mobile devices, which encourage you to look downward.
16
Many studies suggest that, on average, posture is getting worse.
17
So what does good posture look like?
18
When you look at the spine from the front or the back, all 33 vertebrae should appear stacked in a straight line.
19
From the side, the spine should have three curves: one at your neck, one at your shoulders, and one at the small of your back.
20
You aren't born with this s-shaped spine.
21
Babies' spines just have one curve like a "c." The other curves usually develop by 12-18 months as the muscles strengthen.
22
These curves help us stay upright and absorb some of the stress from activities like walking and jumping.
23
If they are aligned properly, when you're standing up, you should be able to draw a straight line from a point just in front of your shoulders, to behind your hip, to the front of your knee, to a few inches in front of your ankle.
24
This keeps your center of gravity directly over your base of support, which allows you to move efficiently with the least amount of fatigue and muscle strain.
25
If you're sitting, your neck should be vertical, not tilted forward.
26
Your shoulders should be relaxed with your arms close to your trunk.
27
Your knees should be at a right angle with your feet flat on the floor.
28
But what if your posture isn't that great?
29
Try redesigning your environment.
30
Adjust your screen so it's at or slightly below eyelevel.
31
Make sure all parts of your body, like your elbows and wrists, are supported, using ergonomic aids if you need to.
32
Try sleeping on your side with your neck supported and with a pillow between your legs.
33
Wear shoes with low heels and good arch support, and use a headset for phone calls.
34
It's also not enough to just have good posture.
35
Keeping your muscles and joints moving is extremely important.
36
In fact, being stationary for long periods with good posture can be worse than regular movement with bad posture.
37
When you do move, move smartly.
38
Keep anything you're carrying close to your body.
39
Backpacks should be in contact with your back carried symetrically.
40
If you sit a lot, get up and move around on occassion, and be sure to exercise.
41
Using your muscles will keep them strong enough to support you effectively, on top of all the other benefits to your joints, bones, brain and heart.
42
And if you're really worried, check with a physical therapist, because yes, you really should stand up straight.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

4.9/5 on App Store & Google Play

Shadowing English On Mobile

Learn English anytime, anywhere with the Shadowing English app. Improve your communication skills today!

Track your learning progress
AI grading and error correction
Rich video library
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play
Shadowing English Mobile App

Context & Background

In the enlightening video titled "The Benefits of Good Posture" by Murat Dalkilinç, the importance of maintaining good posture is thoroughly discussed. The speaker highlights how posture affects not just physical health but also emotional well-being. As everyday life involves long hours of sitting and using devices, many people now struggle with suboptimal posture, which can lead to a range of health issues. Understanding these complexities is essential for anyone looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, and this awareness can significantly enhance your English learning journey.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Stand up straight!” - A common phrase reminding someone to improve their posture.
  • “Your posture is the foundation for every movement.” - Emphasizing the importance of posture in daily activities.
  • - A statistic that underscores the negative effects of poor posture.
  • “Make sure all parts of your body are supported.” - Advice for maintaining good posture while sitting.
  • “You should be able to draw a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles.” - Describing proper alignment visually.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

If you’re using the shadowing technique to improve your English pronunciation while engaging with this video, follow this structured approach to ensure effective learning:

  1. Watch Once: Begin by watching the entire video without attempting to repeat anything. Focus on the speaker's tone, style, and body language.
  2. Phrase Isolation: Replay the video, pausing after each of the key phrases listed above. Repeat them aloud, mimicking the speaker’s intonation and rhythm. This will help you master the necessary pronunciation nuances.
  3. Contextual Understanding: As you shadow the speech, pay attention to the context surrounding each phrase. Understanding the meaning will enhance your ability to use these phrases in everyday conversations.
  4. Recording Yourself: After practicing each phrase, record your repetition. Listen closely to identify any differences in your pronunciation compared to the speaker. This step is essential for shadow speech improvement.
  5. Engage with Exercises: Implement posture-awareness exercises while practicing speaking. This can help connect the physical aspects of good posture with verbal expression, reinforcing your learning.

By incorporating these methods, you can effectively learn English with YouTube while simultaneously working on your posture. Remember, an aligned body often leads to a clearer and more confident voice, which is important in mastering any language.

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