Shadowing Practice: The Flying Tortoise | A Classic English Fairy Tale | Read Aloud for Kids - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Welcome back to another fairy tale.
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33 sentences
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Welcome back to another fairy tale.
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Today we will read The Flying Tortoise,
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adapted by Pat Parsons and published by Popular UK.
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Long ago, tortoise had a smooth and pretty shell.
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One day, tortoise had to walk home.
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It was a long way.
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He was very tired.
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He saw some birds flying in the sky.
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I wish I could fly, he said.
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He went to see Mr. and Mrs. Duck.
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Could you teach me to fly, he asked.
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You cannot fly, said Mr. Duck.
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You don't have wings.
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You cannot fly, said Mrs. Duck.
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You are too heavy.
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Please help me, begged Tortoise.
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I want to fly up into the sky.
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We can take you up to the sky,
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said Mr. Duck, but you must be careful.
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Bite hard on this stick, he said.
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Don't let go.
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Mr. Duck took hold of the stick at one end.
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Mrs. Duck took hold of the other end.
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They flew up into the sky with tortoise.
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All the people were surprised to see a tortoise flying in the air.
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Tortoise was very happy.
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He opened his mouth and shouted, Hooray!
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I can fly!
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All at once, Tortoise fell to the ground.
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His shell broke into many pieces.
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He had to stick them back together.
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So Tortoise does not have a smooth shell anymore.
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The End

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills by following along with the enchanting story of The Flying Tortoise. This classic fairy tale provides an opportunity to enhance your vocabulary and pronunciation through both reading and listening. You will engage with the content actively, making it an excellent way to learn English with YouTube. By the end of this lesson, you should feel more confident in your ability to express thoughts and emotions similar to the characters in the story.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Tortoise - a type of reptile known for its hard shell
  • Fly - to move through the air using wings
  • Wings - body parts that enable birds to fly
  • Surprised - feeling or showing shock or astonishment
  • Shouted - to speak or yell loudly
  • Hooray! - an exclamation of joy or excitement
  • Stick - a slender piece of wood
  • Heavy - having a lot of weight

Practice Tips

To enhance your learning experience, utilize the shadowing technique while listening to the reading of The Flying Tortoise. As you listen, try to repeat the words and phrases out loud, mimicking the speed and tone of the narrator. Since the video has a gentle pacing, you can easily follow along, making it suitable for practicing your shadow speech skills.

Here are some practical tips to get the most out of this lesson:

  • Listen to a segment of the story, then pause and repeat what you heard.
  • Focus on intonation and emotion; notice how the narrator expresses excitement when Tortoise shouts "Hooray!"
  • Use a shadowing site or your own recording device to capture your voice while practicing, allowing you to compare and improve.
  • Break the transcript into manageable parts, practicing each segment until you feel comfortable.

By incorporating these strategies, you will find that you learn English with YouTube in a fun and engaging way, enhancing both your listening comprehension and speaking abilities.

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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