Shadowing Practice: The Speech that Made Obama President - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Music you Thank you.
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Barack Obama in 2004, was totally unknown.
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People were saying, "Huh, I don't know who this guy is.
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I wonder why they picked him." He had this reputation as a bit of an upstart, as sort of a young, rising figure in the party, but no one knew who this guy was.
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This was his chance to introduce himself to people.
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Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, My presence on this stage is pretty unlikely.
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My father was a foreign student.
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born and raised in a small village in Kenya.
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What makes a great political speech is if you can somehow fold your story into this larger American story.
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The next thing he says is about his mother's family.
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His grandfather fought In World War II we used the GI Bill, they settled in Kansas, so white people could say, Uh, oh.
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He's just like us.
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my parents shared not only an improbable love, They shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation.
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I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, I owe a debt to all of those who came before me,
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and that in no other country on earth Is my story even possible?
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Going into this speech, we've had four years of George Bush, and we felt as a country like we've grown further apart.
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O4 was very much a divisive partisan race.
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Obama's speech is in some ways an antidote to that.
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Alongside our famous individualism, there's another ingredient.
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in the American saga.
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a belief that we're all connected as one people.
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If there is a child on the south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me even if it's not my child.
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If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't pay for their prescription drugs and having to choose between medicine and the rent, That makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandparent.
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It is that fundamental belief I am my brother's keeper.
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I am my sister's keeper that makes this country work.
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E pluribus unum.
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out of many
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He gives a speech that presages his entire political message of 2008 which is this sort of post -partisan argument.
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- Now, even as we speak, There are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters, The negative ad peddlers,
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who embrace the politics of anything goes.
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Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America There is the United States of America.
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Obama was born with two great gifts.
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One is his mind.
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And the other is his ability to speak to large groups of people.
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There are three things that Obama does that really makes that speech effective.
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He wants concrete detail.
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He likes story.
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And he loves antithesis.
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the use of repetition in structure to show contrast.
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There is not a liberal America or a conservative America.
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There is one America.
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There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America.
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There's the United States of America.
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The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states.
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and blue states.
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But I've got news for them, too.
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We worship an awesome God in the blue states
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And we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states.
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We coach Little League in the Blue States.
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And yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states.
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We are one people.
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All of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes.
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All of us defending the United States of America.
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The way he uses his hands, he actually points a lot and does a lot of this, a lot of this, a lot of that.
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In doing so, he gives off this sense of energy.
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I am new.
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I'm someone who is dynamic.
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And he doesn't do that so much anymore.
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He's a little more solemn and reserved when he gives speeches today.
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But I think it's more reflective of his office.
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In the end, in the end, that's what this election is about.
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Thank you.
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Do we participate?
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in a politics of cynicism.
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Or do we participate?
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in a politics of hope.
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It's the hope of slaves sitting around at fire singing freedom songs.
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the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores.
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The hope of a young Naval Lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta.
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The hope of a mill worker's son who dares to defy the odds.
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The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him too.
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Hope.. hope in the face of difficulty.
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Hope in the face.. of uncertainty.
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the audacity of hope.
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His appearance at that convention which was the best speech of the convention, better than John Kerry's. was electrifying.
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and without it he wouldn't be president.
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I think sincerity means a lot.
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There are people who, when they speak, they speak the truth as they see it and they're very effective doing that.
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I believe this country will reclaim its promise And out of this long political darkness, A brighter day will come.
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Thank you very much everybody, God bless you.
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Why This Speech Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice
Barack Obama’s 2004 speech isn’t just a political milestone—it’s a goldmine for english speaking practice. What makes it great? It blends personal stories with powerful rhetoric, using clear, relatable language that’s easy to follow but rich in expression. The rhythm, pauses, and emphasis in his delivery are masterful, making it ideal for honing pronunciation and intonation. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to sound more confident, this clip teaches you how to connect with an audience—key for any language learner.
Breaking Down Obama’s Winning Phrases
Let’s look at three lines that showcase natural, impactful English:
- “My presence on this stage is pretty unlikely.” The phrase “pretty unlikely” is casual yet effective, avoiding overly formal words. Notice how “pretty” softens the statement, making it sound conversational—perfect for everyday speech.
- “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there is the United States of America.” This uses antithesis (contrast) to create rhythm. The repetition of “America” and the clear structure make it memorable, teaching you how to emphasize key points through repetition.
- “We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the red states.” The vivid, specific details (“poking around in our libraries”) paint a picture, making the message relatable. This shows how concrete examples can make your speech more engaging—critical for improve english pronunciation by grounding words in real scenarios.
A Simple Shadowing Routine to Master This Speech
The shadowing technique is a proven way to boost fluency, and this video is perfect for it. Here’s how to practice:
- Watch a 30-second clip of the speech, focusing on Obama’s mouth movements and stress patterns.
- Play the clip again, pausing after each sentence, and repeat it immediately—mimicking his tone, speed, and pauses. Use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare your version to his; this helps spot pronunciation gaps.
- Once you’re comfortable, try speaking along with the clip without pausing. Focus on matching his rhythm—this trains your brain to think in English and improves your natural flow.
- After a week, pick a longer section and practice delivering it as if you’re giving the speech yourself. This builds confidence and helps you internalize the language.
By practicing this way, you’ll not only improve english pronunciation but also learn to speak with the passion and clarity that made Obama’s speech unforgettable.
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.