Shadowing Practice: The Jealous Neighbour | Bedtime Stories for Kids in English | Fairy Tales - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Once upon a time, there was an old couple in a small village.
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Once upon a time, there was an old couple in a small village.
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They had no children, but they had a beloved and devoted dog named Max.
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Max, sit down, give paw.
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Good boy, good boy, here you go.
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Max loved them too.
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One day, while the old man was busy with his garden,
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he saw Max excitedly digging in the dirt.
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This made the old man very curious,
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so he started digging in the same spot with his shovel.
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The old man's wife heard Max's excited barking and came out to see what was going on.
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It didn't take long before the man's shovel hit something hard.
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I think you found something, honey.
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What the old man found was an old chest.
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Curiously, he opened the chest and saw that thousands of gold coins were shining brightly in it.
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Ah, this must be a dream.
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We're rich!
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I can't believe it!
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All thanks to this smart dog.
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Come here, Max.
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Well done, boy.
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However, the old couple did not realize that the young man,
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who was their next door neighbor,
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saw everything that had happened.
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Hmm, a smart dog that finds a treasure.
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Let's see if you can find a chest full of gold for me too.
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At night, the envious neighbor sneaked in through the old couple's window.
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Oh, they're sleeping.
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The old couple was in a deep sleep.
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The neighbor used dog treats to get Max to follow him.
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Hmm?
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Hmm?
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Ha ha, gotcha.
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And he took Max out of his house in the middle of the night and kidnapped him.
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The next day, when the old couple woke up,
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they could not see Max at home.
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Max!
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Come here, boy.
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Oh, my baby, where are you?
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As the old couple went out into the garden to look for Max,
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the envious neighbor saw the agitated couple.
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Hi, neighbor.
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Is your dog missing?
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Yes, neighbor.
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We looked everywhere, but we can't find Max.
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Did you see him?
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Yes, yes.
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He was running towards the city in the morning after a cat.
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The old couple went to the city to look for their dog.
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But the envious neighbor had hidden the dog in his own house,
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and once the old couple was gone,
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he took the dog to his own garden.
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Right this way to my garden.
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holding tight to the chain so that the dog could not escape.
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Come on, clever dog.
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Dig until you find a treasure,
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otherwise you'll never see your owners again.
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Max started sniffing sadly.
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After a while, he stopped and started barking persistently.
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Aha!
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Right here?
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Okay!
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The neighbor thought the dog must have found something,
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so he started digging right away.
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And sure enough, he also found a huge treasure chest.
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Here's a chest even bigger than my neighbor's.
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Good job, clever dog.
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The neighbor took the chain off and left the dog back in the old couple's garden.
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When the old couple returned home sadly,
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their dear dog Max barked to greet them.
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Max?
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Oh, here you are.
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We were so worried about you, Max.
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In the evening of the same day,
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the envious neighbor came to the old couple's house with great greed.
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I'm so glad you found your dog.
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I'm sure you must have been very tired looking for him.
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How about I take the dog for a walk today so you can rest?
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How thoughtful of you, neighbor.
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Max is a very affectionate and friendly friend.
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Of course you can go with him for a stroll.
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The envious neighbor called Max.
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Max took a few steps forward and started talking.
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This man is bad.
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I will never go anywhere with him.
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Seeing the dog talking like a human,
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the envious neighbor was stunned.
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What?
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How can your dog talk?
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The old couple did not hear Max's voice.
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But only heard his barking,
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so they thought the neighbor must have been teasing.
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If by talking you mean barking,
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then yes, he spoke, but all dogs bark.
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Why are you surprised by this?
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He.. b-b-b-b-he didn't bark.
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He spoke like a human, I swear to you!
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Hmm...
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Maybe it's you that needs some rest, my neighbor.
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Come by later when you've rested and then you can walk Max.
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The envious neighbor returned home in a daze.
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As soon as he woke up the next day,
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he went to the old couple's house again.
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I came to apologize for yesterday.
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I'm better today.
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Where is Max?
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Oh, I'm glad you're recovering, neighbor.
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Max!
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Come on, boy!
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Max came running, and when he saw the neighbor who was cruel to him, he spoke again.
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That envious bad neighbor.
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What are you doing here again?
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The neighbor could not hide his surprise.
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He broke out in a cold sweat.
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What?
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No, he spoke again.
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Your dog is speaking just like a human again.
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However, the old couple heard Max just barking normally.
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My neighbor, you might want to see a doctor.
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You two are in on this.
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Witchcraft, wizardry.
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And your magic dog is making me look crazy!
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I know it!
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Max is just a regular dog.
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My husband and I are not wizards or witches.
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I know your magic dog found a chest full of gold in your garden.
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But that was just luck, neighbor.
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I know it wasn't just luck, and I'll prove it.
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And I'll do it in front of the village elder.
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So the whole village will see that you're wizards and you'll be banished from here.
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As the envious neighbor was leaving the house,
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the old couple thought he was crazy.
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After a while, the envious neighbor came back to the old couple's house with the village elder
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and a few people with him.
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Here are the wizards in our village, see?
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And this is the magic dog.
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Dear elder, I think our neighbor is not well.
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He's talking like he's out of his mind.
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Sir, this couple has lived in our village a very long time.
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They are good-hearted.
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If you have proof that they are wizards, show it.
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Otherwise, don't waste our time.
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The envious neighbor beckoned Max to provide evidence to the Elder.
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Tell me something now, magic dog.
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Tell me something.
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Well, let me tell you.
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You are an envious evil neighbor.
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See, here's proof for you.
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A dog that talks like a human.
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The elder and the villagers looked at each other in astonishment.
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What are you talking about, neighbor?
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I'm talking about the dog.
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He just spoke.
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He spoke like us.
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Didn't you hear him?
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No, I don't think so.
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Sounds like any other dog.
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He just barked.
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But how can that be?
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What about you guys?
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Didn't you hear him speak?
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Villagers also said that the dog just barked.
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He's a magic dog that finds treasure chests!
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You must believe me!
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Dogs smell good and can find many things in the soil, mister.
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Yes, it was just a coincidence that he found a treasure chest for us.
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We were digging in our garden.
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See over there.
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Oh no!
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It wasn't a coincidence!
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So the envious neighbor told everyone how he had kidnapped the dog,
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had him dig his own garden,
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and the dog also found a treasure chest for him.
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What?
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Did you kidnap Max?
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The envious neighbor opened the treasure chest that the dog had found in front of everyone,
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and he saw that it was filled with sand instead of gold.
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Ahh!
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How can this be?
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This is impossible!
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This is nothing but theft and slander.
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You are no longer our neighbor.
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Leave our village immediately.
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The envious neighbor bowed his head and left the village in shame.
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I know you are good people.
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Don't worry, our village will be a safer place now.
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Especially for your dog, Max.
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Thank you, dear Elder.
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After all that had happened,
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Max made everyone love him with joy and excitement.
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How sweet are you!
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You little dog, you little thing, good for you!
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From that day on, the old couple lived a peaceful life with their dear dog, Max.
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I love you dear family.
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What?
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Did you say something, my wife?
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No, I thought you said something too.
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Hmm...
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Ha ha ha ha he he he he he he he he he he he he Rrr,
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the end Adis Ababa
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Context & Background
The story titled "The Jealous Neighbour" revolves around an old couple living in a small village with their beloved dog, Max. The couple experiences an unexpected twist of fortune when Max uncovers a chest full of gold coins. However, their joyous moment is overshadowed by the envy of their neighbor, who plots to steal Max in hopes of finding treasure for himself. Through this tale, listeners can learn valuable lessons about loyalty, greed, and the importance of friendship. Engaging with stories like this can enhance one's English comprehension and speaking skills, making it an effective resource to learn English with YouTube.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Max, sit down, give paw. – A practical command to teach a dog, helpful for everyday pet communication.
- I think you found something, honey. – A phrase expressing excitement about discovering something valuable.
- Come here, Max. Well done, boy. – Used for praising a pet, essential for positive reinforcement.
- Yes, neighbor. We looked everywhere, but we can't find Max. – A common response when seeking help from a neighbor.
- Oh, my baby, where are you? – An expression of concern, often used when searching for a loved one.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To tackle the dialogue in "The Jealous Neighbour" and improve your English speaking skills, follow these steps:
- Listen Carefully: Watch the video and listen to how the characters deliver their lines. Pay attention to their pronunciation and intonation.
- Pause and Repeat: Use the shadowing app to pause the video after each sentence. Repeat the lines aloud, mimicking the speaker's tone and speed. This practice helps improve English pronunciation.
- Focus on Emotion: The old man's excitement and the neighbor's jealousy are crucial to the story. Try to convey similar emotions when you speak the lines.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your voice. Compare it with the original. Note any differences in accent or fluency.
- Practice Regularly: Incorporate this video into your IELTS speaking practice routine by revisiting it weekly. The repetition will reinforce language patterns and help solidify your learning.
By engaging with content like "The Jealous Neighbour," you'll not only develop your vocabulary and speaking skills but also have fun while learning English. Keep exploring various stories and dialogues to enrich your English language journey and become a more confident speaker.
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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