Shadowing Practice: The Power of Positive Thinking | Mia Xu | TEDxYouth@GranvilleIsland - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Transcriber: Trang Do Nu Gia You can make plans and predictions. You can practice being positive.
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Transcriber: Trang Do Nu Gia You can make plans and predictions. You can practice being positive.
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You can try your best. Still, you can't know the future.
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My morning started with a plan. I hear my mom: “Mia, wake up! You’re going to be late for your competition.” This was in 2021 November, outside the city of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada.
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5 p.m. in the morning. Feels like night. Still dark.
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On the weekends, if I don’t get woken up, I can sleep until 10 a.m.
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Not today. You see, I recently joined a new swim club called M.A.C, where I know only one friend. And coach Kathy enter me into a 25-meter freestyle race.
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I’d never seen a swimming meet and never compete in a swimming race.
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Mom is pulling my hair into a tight bun, then dragging us half asleep.
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I tell myself I might make new friends.
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I might have fun.
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I might win a prize.
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I tell myself one more thing. The one thing that turned out to be true.
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You never know what will happen there.
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That was 5 p.m. Now it’s 6 a.m.
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I didn't know Coach Cathy would be on a registration table.
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Coach Cathy says: “To limit the number of people by the pool, parents can watch streaming video in the car.” Because of COVID, my mom cannot come in, to a competition I’ve never been before.
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Now I’m like fully awake.
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Fifteen minutes later, I need help.
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I’m sitting in the bleachers fighting panic, because I see a big problem.
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In my black swimsuit, blue cap, hair tucked up, mask on, you can’t see my face. I’m feeling panic.
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We are sitting socially distanced, two metres, about six feet on both sides.
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Because of COVID, we're sitting in strict order for our race.
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I'm watching two freestyle races before my race. Blue versus yellow.
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I’m on the blue team. The cheering is loud in my ears.
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“Go team blue! Go team blue!” I can hardly think. I have a problem.
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How did you learn to dive?
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Did you practice from the side of the pool?
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In Mile Swim Club, our pool is too shallow for diving.
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Here I am, eight years old. I've never dived before.
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Never dived off the side of the pool, never dived in a race, never died off a starting block.
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This high to me looks this high.
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I’m thinking, well, if I die too soon before the whistle or if I die too late, I'll be in last place losing the race.
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I don’t expect to win a medal in my first race.
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I want to prove I trained.
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I don't like to be in last place.
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Mommy is on a car. I can’t talk to anyone.
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I remember mom always tells me “Be positive!” I start talking to myself.
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“Calm down!” If other kids can do it, I can do it too.
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I focus on swimmers in the second race.
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Stepping on to the block, repping right foot toes over the front of the block, other foot back. Crouch. Head down. Like the Olympics on TV.
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When the whistle blows, push off.
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I thought the diving part would be easy.
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Just curve your body under the water. Hands first Then my race. I get into position.
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The whistle blows. I push off.
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Big splash. Belly flop. You know that could happen.
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I’m sicking hearing “Go blue! Go blue! Go blue! Go blue!” Water’s filling my goggles.
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I'm kicking, swimming to the other side, touching the wall with two hands.
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I’m not in last place. Wahoo!
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Because of COVID, after the race, you dry off and leave.
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Walking towards the car. I’m hopping crumbed in silly belly flop.
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It’s embarrassing.
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Open the door. I feel happy. “Mom, I didn’t come in last place.” Mom says: “Mia, I’m so proud of you. I’ve never seen you so independent.” “Not like six years ago on your first ballet, Mia.” “You clung to me like a koala on your first ballet class.” “You cried, afraid to walk into the classroom.” “I feel like today you grew up.” I feel special. I don't get hit every day.
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Since then, I've been thinking about my first swim competition.
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I woke up with a plan. In life, we experience surprises.
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You might win belly flop. It’s all part of growing up.
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You never know what will happen. You can always choose to be positive.
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(Applause)

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Context & Background

The video "The Power of Positive Thinking" features Mia Xu, who shares her personal experiences and insights from a swimming competition in Toronto. Mia emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset, especially when faced with new challenges. As she describes her morning filled with anticipation, feelings of panic, and self-motivation, viewers are drawn into her journey of overcoming fear and embracing the unknown. This engaging narrative not only explores her personal growth but also serves as a fantastic resource for English learners looking to improve their language skills through storytelling and authentic speech.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “You never know what will happen.” – A great way to encourage openness to new experiences.
  • “Calm down!” – A useful phrase for managing anxiety, both for yourself and others.
  • “Go team blue!” – An example of expressing encouragement and team spirit.
  • “I might make new friends.” – A positive expression of anticipation for socialization.
  • “It feels like night.” – A descriptive phrase to convey a sense of atmosphere or setting.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English speaking skills using the shadowing technique, follow this guide based on Mia's TEDx talk:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the video without subtitles to understand the context. Pay attention to Mia’s tone and delivery.
  2. Listen Closely: Play the video again, but this time, focus on individual phrases. Notice how she emphasizes certain words, which is crucial for developing your own speaking style.
  3. Repeat After Her: Use the shadowing app or record yourself. As Mia speaks, repeat her words in real-time. This practice enables you to match her rhythm and pronunciation.
  4. Use Keywords: During your shadow speech, try to incorporate the phrases provided in the previous section. This will give context and relevance to your practice.
  5. Review and Refine: After practicing, listen to your recordings. Compare your pronunciation and intonation with Mia’s. Focus on areas where you can improve.

By engaging in this method regularly on a shadowing site, you can enhance your confidence and fluency in English. Remember that practice makes perfect, and the more you use these authentic phrases and techniques, the more natural your speaking will become. Embrace the journey, and don't hesitate to make mistakes—it's all part of the learning process!

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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