Shadowing Practice: The Missed Alarm | Shadowing English Speaking Practice | Listen & Speak for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with Video
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305 sentences
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Hi there, and welcome back to ABC Learning English.
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Today, we're going to practice English in a powerful way, by listening to a real emotional story.
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First, just relax and listen.
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There won't be any subtitles, and that's okay.
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Let the pictures and emotions guide your understanding.
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Then, we'll train together step by step, speaking, shadowing, and...
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Hey, I just needed to say this out loud.
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Maybe to clear my head, or maybe to forgive myself a little.
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Yesterday morning, I missed my job interview.
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Yeah.
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The one I spent weeks preparing for.
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The one I told everyone about.
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But I missed it because I forgot to charge my phone.
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I know how it sounds.
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Small. But that tiny mistake.
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It cost me something big.
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The night before, I was so tired.
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I had been studying interview questions all day, ironing my shirt, rehearsing answers in front of the mirror.
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I even imagined the handshake.
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Firm but not too firm.
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I felt ready.
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But somewhere between finishing my notes and falling asleep, I forgot one thing.
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To plug in my phone.
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It died during the night.
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No alarm.
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No notifications.
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Nothing.
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I woke up three hours late.
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At first I thought I was dreaming.
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You know that moment when your body jolts awake but your mind is still foggy?
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I saw the sun through the window.
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It was too bright.
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Too high.
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And then I saw the time.
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10.41 AM.
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The interview was at 9.
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Across town.
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I just sat there.
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In my bed.
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Frozen.
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I didn't scream.
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I didn't cry.
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I just...stared.
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I picked up my dead phone like it might explain itself.
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It didn't.
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I plugged it in, hoping for a miracle.
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No missed calls.
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No second chances.
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I wanted to scream at someone, but it was just me.
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Me and one stupid mistake.
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My mom knocked on the door, asking how it went.
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I said I'd tell her later.
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I didn't.
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I walked outside.
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Needed air.
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But the world kept spinning.
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People walked their dogs, kids laughed at the park, and I was just this guy who overslipped.
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It's funny, isn't it?
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One little thing, a phone charger, can become a turning point.
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All that effort, undone by forgetting to plug in a cable.
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I keep replaying it.
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What if I double checked?
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What if I set a backup alarm on my watch?
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What if.. what if.. but there's no rewind button,
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no magic fix, just silence.
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And that heavy feeling in your chest, the one that says, you messed up?
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I know it's not the end of the world.
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I know other chances will come.
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People say that all the time.
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But right now, it feels like I let myself down.
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Not because I failed the interview, but because I never even showed up.
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That's the part that hurts the most.
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So I guess I just needed to say it.
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To be honest about it.
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Not for sympathy, but maybe for closure.
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If you're listening to this, and you've ever missed something important, not because you didn't care,
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but because you're human, then maybe you get it.
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We all forget things, sometimes.
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We all make mistakes.
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And sometimes we pay for them.
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But maybe the point isn't to be perfect.
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Maybe it's just to learn.
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To feel the weight of it.
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And keep going anyway.
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Tomorrow I'll set two alarms.
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And I won't forget the charger.
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Tonight, I'll let myself feel it.
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All of it.
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Thanks for listening.
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Now it's your turn.
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I'll say one sentence at a time.
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You repeat after me.
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Don't worry about being perfect.
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Just copy my rhythm and feeling.
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Let's speak from the heart.
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The mist alarm.
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The mist alarm.
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Hey, I just needed to say this out loud.
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Maybe to clear my head or maybe to forgive myself a little.
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Yesterday morning, I missed my job interview.
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Yeah, the one I spent weeks preparing for, the one I told everyone about.
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I missed it because I forgot to charge my phone.
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I know how it sounds, small.
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But that tiny mistake, it cost me something big.
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But that tiny mistake, it cost me something big.
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The night before, I was so tired.
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I had been studying interview questions all day, ironing my shirt, rehearsing answers in front of the mirror.
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I had been studying interview questions all day, ironing my shirt, rehearsing answers in front of the mirror.
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I even imagined the handshake, firm but not too firm.
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I felt ready.
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I even imagined the handshake, firm but not too firm.
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I felt ready.
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But somewhere between finishing my notes and falling asleep, I forgot one thing.
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To plug in my phone.
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It died during the night.
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To plug in my phone.
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It died during the night.
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No alarm.
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No notifications.
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Nothing.
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No alarm.
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No notifications.
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Nothing.
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I woke up three hours late.
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I woke up three hours late.
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First, I thought I was dreaming.
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First, I thought I was dreaming.
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You know that moment when your body jolts awake but your mind is still foggy.
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You know that moment when your body jolts awake but your mind is still foggy.
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I saw the sun through the window.
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It was too bright, too high.
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I saw the sun through the window.
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It was too bright, too high.
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And then I saw the time, 10.41 a.m.
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And then I saw the time, 10.41 a.m.
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The interview was at 9, Crosstown.
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The interview was at 9, Crosstown I just sat there,
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in my bed, frozen I just sat there,
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in my bed, frozen I didn't scream,
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I didn't cry, I just stared I didn't scream.
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I didn't cry.
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I just stared.
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I picked up my dead phone like it might explain itself.
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I picked up my dead phone like it might explain itself.
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It didn't.
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I plugged it in, hoping for a miracle.
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It didn't.
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I plugged it in, hoping for a miracle.
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No missed calls.
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No second chances.
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No missed calls.
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No second chances.
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I wanted to scream at someone.
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I wanted to scream at someone.
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But it was just me.
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But it was just me.
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Me and one stupid mistake.
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Me and one stupid mistake.
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My mom knocked on the door asking how it went.
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My mom knocked on the door asking how it went.
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I said I'd tell her later.
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I didn't.
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I walked outside.
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Needed air.
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But the world kept spinning.
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People walked their dogs.
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Kids laughed at the park.
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And I was just this guy who overslept.
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It's funny, isn't it?
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One little thing, a phone charger, can become a turning point.
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All that effort, undone by forgetting to plug in a cable.
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I keep replaying it.
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What if I double checked?
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What if I set a backup alarm on my watch?
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What if I set a backup alarm on my watch?
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What if, what if, but there's no rewind button?
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No magic fix?
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What if, what if, but there's no rewind button?
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No magic fix?
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Just silence and that heavy feeling in your chest,
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the one that says you messed up Just silence and that heavy feeling in your chest,
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the one that says you messed up I know it's not the end of the world
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I know it's not the end of the world I know other chances will come I know other chances will come
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People say that all the time, but right now People say that all the time,
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but right now Feels like I let myself down feels like I let myself down
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not because I failed the interview not because I failed the interview but because I never even showed up
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but because I never even showed up that's the part that hurts the most That's the part that hurts the most
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So I guess I just needed to say it
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So I guess I just needed to say it To be honest about it To be honest about it
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And not for sympathy, but maybe for closure
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and not for sympathy but maybe for closure
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if you're listening to this and you've ever missed something important
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if you're listening to this and you've ever missed something important not because you didn't care not because you didn't care
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but because you're human But because you're human, then maybe you get it.
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We all forget things sometimes.
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We all make mistakes.
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And sometimes we pay for them.
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But maybe the point isn't to be perfect.
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Maybe it's just to learn.
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To feel the weight of it. And keep going anyway.
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Tomorrow I'll set two alarms.
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And I won't forget the charger.
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And I won't forget the charger But tonight, I'll let myself feel it,
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all of it But tonight, I'll let myself feel it.
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All of it.
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Thanks for listening.
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Thanks for listening.
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Awesome work.
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Now it's your moment.
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Let's speak the whole story together, side by side.
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No more pauses.
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No holding back.
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Just follow the subtitles, match my voice, and let your English flow.
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Let's go!
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Hey, I just needed to say this out loud.
216
Maybe to clear my head, or maybe to forgive myself a little.
217
Yesterday morning, I missed my job interview.
218
Yeah.
219
The one I spent weeks preparing for.
220
The one I told everyone about.
221
I missed it, because I forgot to charge my phone.
222
I know how it sounds.
223
Small.
224
But that tiny mistake.
225
It cost me something big.
226
The night before, I was so tired.
227
I had been studying interview questions all day, ironing my shirt, rehearsing answers in front of the mirror.
228
I even imagined the handshake.
229
Firm but not too firm.
230
I felt ready.
231
But somewhere between finishing my notes and falling asleep, I forgot one thing.
232
To plug in my phone.
233
It died during the night.
234
No alarm.
235
No notifications.
236
Nothing.
237
I woke up three hours late.
238
At first I thought I was dreaming.
239
You know that moment when your body jolts awake but your mind is still foggy?
240
I saw the sun through the window.
241
It was too bright.
242
Too high.
243
And then I saw the time.
244
10.41am.
245
The interview was at 9.
246
Across town.
247
I just sat there.
248
In my bed.
249
Frozen.
250
I didn't scream.
251
I didn't cry.
252
I just.. stared.
253
I picked up my dead phone like it might explain itself.
254
It didn't.
255
I plugged it in, hoping for a miracle.
256
No missed calls.
257
No second chances.
258
I wanted to scream at someone, but it was just me.
259
Me and one stupid mistake.
260
My mom knocked on the door, asking how it went.
261
I said I'd tell her later.
262
I didn't.
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I walked outside.
264
Needed air.
265
But the world kept spinning.
266
People walked their dogs.
267
Kids laughed at the park.
268
And I was just this guy who overslipped.
269
It's funny, isn't it?
270
One One little thing, a phone charger, can become a turning point.
271
All that effort, undone by forgetting to plug in a cable.
272
I keep replaying it?
273
What if I double checked?
274
What if I set a backup alarm on my watch?
275
What if...
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What if?
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But there's no rewind button, no magic fix, just silence.
278
And that heavy feeling in your chest, the one that says, you messed up?
279
I know it's not the end of the world.
280
I know other chances will come.
281
People say that all the time.
282
But right now, it feels like I let myself down.
283
because I failed the interview, but because I never even showed up.
284
That's the part that hurts the most.
285
So I guess I just needed to say it, to be honest about it.
286
Not for sympathy, but maybe for closure.
287
If you're listening to this and you've ever missed something important, not because you didn't care, but because you're human.
288
Then maybe you get it.
289
We all forget things, sometimes.
290
We all make mistakes.
291
And sometimes we pay for them.
292
But maybe the point isn't to be perfect.
293
Maybe it's just to learn,
294
to feel the weight of it, and keep going anyway.
295
Tomorrow I'll set two alarms, and I won't forget the charger.
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But tonight I'll let myself feel it.
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All of it.
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Thanks for listening.
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You made it to the end.
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That was a powerful moment.
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Practicing like this helps your English sound more natural, more alive.
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Come back and shadow this story again tomorrow.
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Each time you do, your confidence will grow.
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Don't forget to subscribe to ABC Learning English for more stories like this.
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And always remember, speak from the heart.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 305 sentences and 2085 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:50. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| plug noun | /plʌɡ/ | A pronged connecting device which fits into a mating socket, especially an electrical one. |
| scream verb | /skɹiːm/ | To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek. |
| charger noun | /ˈt͡ʃɑɹd͡ʒɚ/ | A device that charges or recharges. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| knock verb | /nɑk/ | To rap one's knuckles against something, especially wood. |
| backup noun | /ˈbækˌʌp/ | A reserve or substitute. |
| awake verb | /əˈweɪk/ | To become conscious after having slept. |
| miracle noun | /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/ | An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin. |
| closure noun | /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/ | An event or occurrence that signifies an ending. |
| freeze verb | /ˈfɹiːz/ | Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature. |
| sympathy noun | /ˈsɪm.pəθ.i/ | A feeling of pity or sorrow for the suffering or distress of another. |
| notification noun | /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/ | The act of notifying. |
| stare verb | /stɛɚ/ | To look fixedly (at something). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mess up verb | To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss. | |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. | |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. | |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| hold back verb | To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 57 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'll, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: sympathy /ˈsɪm.pəθ.i/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: closure /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, handshake /ˈhæn(d)ˌʃeɪk/
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 alarm, plug, scream.
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 | you've ever missed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | guy who overslipped · guy who overslept |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | kept spinning · keep replaying · keep going |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was dreaming |
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.