Shadowing Practice: The Cure for Loneliness - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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I'm noticing more and more often that people tend to avoid spending time alone because it makes them feel lonely.
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Whenever they experience a form of anxiety, they seek the company of others to escape their negative thoughts.
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To be honest, I do it as well.
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We all do.
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As social beings, we are wired to seek connection and validation from others, and it's important.
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But I have come to realize that constantly running away from solitude may not be the healthiest approach of living.
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Always relying on external sources for our happiness can make us too dependent on others.
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It can leave us with an incomplete understanding of ourselves.
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In fact, I've discovered that learning to embrace and enjoy spending time alone can really improve our mental health and emotional well-being.
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It's actually a powerful form of self-care and self-discovery.
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In the realm of psychology, spending time alone has been linked to a stronger sense of independence and self-resilience, which makes sense.
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It is an opportunity to peel back the layers of our thoughts and emotions.
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Without the distractions, we can truly tune in to our inner world and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, who we are and what we truly want.
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In those moments of being alone, we confront our fears, heal our wounds and find a sense of inner peace.
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By facing our emotions head on, we release the baggage that weighs us down and open ourselves up to a newfound freedom and clarity.
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Remember, being alone does not mean you're lonely.
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It is an invitation to deepen the connection with yourself.
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It is a sacred space in which you replenish your energy, explore your passions and cultivate self-love.
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In this space, you are in full control, so there's little room for disappointment and unmatched expectations.
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To become more comfortable spending time with yourself, start small.
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Create moments in your day where you can disconnect from the noise of the world and truly connect with yourself.
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Don't pull out your phone every time you have a moment of free time
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and don't drown out the world with music whenever walking somewhere.
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You don't need a distraction from the silence.
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on your thoughts instead, listen to your inner voice and allow yourself to be fully present in the moment.
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When you have the whole day for yourself, don't just stare at the screen all day, of course that will make you feel horrible.
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Go outside to explore the world and yourself.
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Try new activities and you'll find new hobbies that will make you enjoy your life a little bit more.
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If there are things you really want to do, places you really want to visit, but you're waiting for someone to join you, remember that in most cases,
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you can do it alone.
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That's why there are so many solo travelers and they don't seem lonely at all.
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Literally take yourself on a date.
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Go to that restaurant you've been craving or go watch the movie that you've been thinking about.
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You will then see that you can enjoy life by yourself as well.
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Of course it's not always easy.
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There will be moments of discomfort and unease but over time you will have a very positive shift in your life.
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True growth comes in times when you are alone by yourself.
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I really do believe that.
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It is in those moments that you will find clarity, self-discovery and a deeper sense of inner peace.
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So my friends, I encourage you to join me on this journey.
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Stop searching for comfort in others, embrace the silence and find happiness in yourself.
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Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 42 sentences and 612 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:07. The speaker talks at a steady 149 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lonely adjective | /ˈloʊnli/ | Unhappy due to feeling isolated from contact with other people. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| discovery noun | /dɪˈskʌv.ɹi/ | Something discovered. |
| happiness noun | /ˈhæpinɪs/ | The emotion of being happy; joy; elation. |
| explore verb | /ɪkˈsploɹ/ | To examine or investigate something systematically. |
| emotion noun | /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/ | A person's internal state of being and involuntary physiological response to an object or a situation, based on or tied to physical state and sensory data. |
| embrace verb | /ɛmˈbɹes/ | To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug. |
| clarity noun | /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.ti/ | The state or measure of being clear, either in appearance, thought or style; lucidity. |
| distraction noun | /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ | Something that distracts. |
| anxiety noun | /æŋˈzaɪ.əti/ | An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event. |
| encourage verb | /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ | To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit. |
| horrible adjective | /ˈhɔɹ.ɪ.bəl/ | Causing horror; terrible; shocking. |
| passion noun | /ˈpæʃən/ | A true desire sustained or prolonged. |
| wire noun | /ˈwaɪɚ/ | Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die. |
| comfort noun | /ˈkʌm.fət/ | Contentment, ease. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pull out verb | To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat. |
| run away from verb | To avoid or shirk a problem or consequences; to rush to back away from or disclaim responsibility for something. |
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 | have come · I've discovered · has been linked |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are wired · has been linked |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you're, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, passion /ˈpæʃən/, invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: anxiety /æŋˈzaɪ.əti/, psychology /saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, disappointment /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntmənt/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like lonely, silence, discovery.
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.