Shadowing Practice: the crown (2022) - queen elizabeth reminds charles who's actually in charge - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Mummy.
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How was Canada?
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Wonderful, thank you.
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Not a spot of rain?
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No, I'm afraid I got the rain.
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Almost drowned out my speech.
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My speech.
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I hope it didn't spoil your subsequent holiday in...
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Where was it?
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Manila and the Paracel Islands.
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I must say I was surprised to hear of the trip.
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And that you would use the royal yacht as a place to conduct your affair with Mrs. Parker Bowles.
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My affair, Mummy?
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I'm an unmarried man.
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A divorced man whose wife is still alive.
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Are we really having this conversation?
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Camilla and I are mature, willing adults.
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No doubting the willing.
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Who make one another happy.
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No doubting that either.
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But isn't it time you asked yourself, what good can ultimately come of it when the public is so against it?
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This is madness.
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I tend to agree.
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For years, Diana has washed her dirty linen in public.
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She's thrown endless grenades over the palace gates, trying to blow us all up.
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And throughout this, Camilla has remained a model of discretion and decency and dignity.
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And yet you save your most bitter condemnation for her.
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The Prime Minister.
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Ah, yes, the Prime Minister.
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A young man who understands the public better than anyone told me
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that what they want is a happy heir to the throne whose private life reflects the world as they see it.
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I don't want to get drawn on Mr. Blair or whether he understands the people better than me or not.
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Well, I'd say at this moment he does.
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But I do want to make clear
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that the only person in this family to have a direct relationship with the First Minister is the Sovereign.
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Which will one day be me?
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One day, but not yet. When?
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You should know the answer to that question better than anyone, because, God willing, you will one day take the oath yourself.
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This job is for life.
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Well, let's just hope there's still an institution for me to take the oath for.
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I don't think it's my behavior that's threatening its survival.
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Isn't it?
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It hasn't been on my watch that there's been a complete breakdown of authority, that a program on national television has made such a mockery of us.
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The vote, as I understand it, went comfortably in our favor.
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Less in yours.
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In Hong Kong, I saw how easily it is to dispose of us.
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Buildings renamed, your head removed from the stamps.
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150 years of living under the crown, they couldn't have been shot of us more quickly.
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That's what happens when we fail to move with the times.
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You can't be blamed for living a long life.
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Thank you.
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But you have to accept that your values were shaped by Queen Mary.
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Yes.
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Proud of it.
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Hers by Queen Victoria?
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Proud of that, too.
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I'm just worried, Mummy, that if we continue to hold on to these Victorian notions of how the monarchy should look,
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how it should feel, then the world will move on.
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And those who come after you will be.. will be left with nothing.
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I'm sorry.

Context & Background

In this excerpt from the 2022 series "The Crown," Queen Elizabeth II engages in a poignant discussion with her son, Prince Charles, regarding his personal life and public image. This exchange highlights the ongoing tension within the royal family, particularly concerning tradition and modern expectations. Queen Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of her role as Sovereign and the direct relationship she maintains with the government, signifying the weight of her position. This interaction provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by public figures and can serve as a valuable lesson for English learners in understanding the nuances of royal dialogue and family dynamics.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "How was Canada?" - A friendly way to inquire about someone's experience.
  • "Are we really having this conversation?" - Used to express disbelief about the topic being discussed.
  • "What good can ultimately come of it?" - A phrase to question the benefits of a situation.
  • "I tend to agree." - A polite way to show agreement with someone else’s opinion.
  • "It hasn't been on my watch that..." - An expression indicating that one is not responsible for an event or outcome.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve English pronunciation and comprehension through this dialogue, follow these steps:

  1. Select Key Phrases: Focus on the top phrases provided. Listen to the dialogue multiple times, paying special attention to intonation and stress.
  2. Shadow Speech: Use the shadowspeak technique. Listen to a segment of the video, pause, and then repeat exactly what you heard, mimicking the speaker's tone and rhythm.
  3. Break It Down: If certain phrases feel challenging, break them down into smaller parts. Practice each part repeatedly before attempting to say the whole sentence.
  4. Record Yourself: Record yourself as you shadow the speech. Playing it back will allow you to identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation.
  5. Engage with the Context: Understand the context of the dialogue.Reflecting on the royal family dynamics will enrich your vocabulary and comprehension, making it easier to learn English with YouTube.

By utilizing these techniques, you can effectively shadow speak and enhance your English speaking skills, making the learning experience both enjoyable and educational.

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.