Shadowing Practice: The danger of silence | Clint Smith | TED - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Reviewer Gopalco Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
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Reviewer Gopalco Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
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in a 1968 speech where he reflects upon the Civil Rights Movement,
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states, in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
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but the silence of our friends.
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As a teacher, I've internalized this message.
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Every day all around us,
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we see the consequences of silence manifest themselves in the form of discrimination,
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violence, genocide, and war.
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In the classroom, I challenge my students to explore the silences in their own lives through poetry.
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We work together to fill those spaces,
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to recognize them, to name them,
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to understand that they don't have to be sources of shame.
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In an effort to create a culture within my classroom where students feel safe sharing the intimacies of their own silences,
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I have four core principles posted on the board that sits in the front of my class,
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which every student signs at the beginning of the year.
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Read critically, write consciously, speak clearly, tell your truth.
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I find myself thinking a lot about that last point, tell your truth.
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And I realized that if I was going to ask my students to speak up,
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I was going to have to tell my truth
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and be honest with them about the times where I failed to do so.
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So I tell them that growing up,
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as a kid in a Catholic family in New Orleans,
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during Lent, I was always taught that the most meaningful thing one could do was to give something up,
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sacrifice something you typically indulge in to prove to God you understand his sanctity.
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I've given up soda, McDonald's,
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French fries, French kisses, and everything in between.
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But one year, I gave up speaking,
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figured the most valuable thing I could sacrifice was my own voice,
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my own voice, but it was like I hadn't realized that I had given that up a long time ago.
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I had spent
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so much of my life telling people the things they wanted to hear instead of the things they needed to,
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told myself I wasn't meant to be anyone's conscience because I still had to figure out being my own,
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so sometimes I just wouldn't say anything.
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Appeasing ignorance with my silence,
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unaware that validation doesn't need words to endorse its existence.
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When Christian was beat up for being gay,
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I put my hands in my pocket and walked with my head down as if I didn't even notice.
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Couldn't use my locker for weeks
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because the bolt on the lock reminded me of the one I had put on my lips.
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When the homeless man on the corner looked at me with eyes up,
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merely searching for an affirmation that he was worth seeing,
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I was more concerned with touching the screen of my apple than actually feeding him one.
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When the woman at the fundraising gala said,
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I'm so proud of you.
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It must be so hard teaching those poor, unintelligent kids.
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I bit my lip because apparently we needed her money more than my students needed their dignity.
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We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying,
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that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't.
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Silence is the residue of fear.
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It is feeling your flaws, gut-wrench guillotine your tongue.
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It is the air retreating from your chest because it doesn't feel safe in your lungs.
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Silence is Rwandan genocide.
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Silence is Katrina.
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It is what you hear when there aren't enough body bags left.
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It is the sound after the noose is already tied.
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It is charring.
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It is chains.
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It is privilege.
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It is pain.
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There is no time to pick your battles when your battles have already picked you.
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I will not let silence wrap itself around my indecision.
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I will tell Christian that he is a lion,
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a sanctuary of bravery and brilliance.
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I will ask that homeless man what his name is and how his day was,
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Sometimes all people want to be is human.
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I will tell that woman that my students can talk about transcendentalism like their last name was Thoreau,
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and just because you watched one episode of The Wire doesn't mean you know anything about my kids.
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So this year, instead of giving something up,
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I will live every day as if it were a microphone tucked under my tongue,
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a stage on the underside of my inhibition.
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Because who has to have a soapbox when all you've ever needed is your voice.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In the TED talk "The Danger of Silence," Clint Smith, a poet and educator, eloquently explores the profound impact of silence in our lives. Drawing from the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Smith reflects on the responsibility of individuals to confront discrimination and violence through their voices. He emphasizes the importance of speaking one's truth, not just in the classroom but in every aspect of life. Through his personal anecdotes, Smith illustrates how silence can perpetuate ignorance and pain, urging listeners to embrace their voices and challenge the status quo. This talk serves as a powerful reminder that communication and self-expression are crucial in fostering understanding and empathy in any community.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Tell your truth.” – Encourages authenticity in expressing oneself.
  • “Silence is the residue of fear.” – Highlights the paralyzing effect of fear on communication.
  • “I will ask that homeless man what his name is.” – Demonstrates the importance of human connection and awareness.
  • “I will not let silence wrap itself around my indecision.” – Signifies the commitment to speak up rather than remain silent.
  • “Sometimes all people want to be is human.” – A reminder that empathy and acknowledgment are fundamental to our interactions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English speaking skills using Clint Smith's talk, consider implementing the shadowing technique. This method can significantly improve pronunciation, rhythm, and overall fluency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively use this TED talk for your practice:

  1. Listen Carefully: Play the talk and listen to a short segment (1-2 minutes). Focus on how Clint emphasizes certain words and his intonation.
  2. Repeat the Segment: Pause and repeat after Clint, mimicking his pronunciation and pace. This is the core of the shadow speech.
  3. Record Yourself: Use your phone or a recording device to capture your attempt. This will help you hear your progress and identify areas for improvement.
  4. Analyze Your Recording: Compare your recording to the original. Pay attention to your articulation and fluency.
  5. Practice Regularly: Dedicate at least 10-15 minutes a day to this shadowing site method. Consistent practice will prepare you for IELTS speaking practice as well.

By engaging with this material, you will not only improve your language skills but also become more aware of the powerful messages conveyed through spoken words. This method is a productive way to learn English with YouTube and develop a deeper understanding of communication.

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.

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