Shadowing Practice: the way he spoke mandarin 🤌🏻 #james #cortis #shorts - Learn English Speaking with Video

This short clip is perfect for intermediate English learners focusing on english speaking practice or prepping for IELTS speaking practice. It’s ideal if you want to refine conversational fluency—especially for casual award speeches or thank-you remarks. Even beginners can gain confidence by mimicking the clear, slow pace of the dialogue.

Key Words and Phrases to Add to Your Toolkit

The video features simple yet impactful language worth practicing. Let’s break them down:

• "received a award": Note the common article error ("a" instead of "an")—a great reminder to check vowel sounds before articles. Correct form: "received an award."
• "I really appreciate you all": A warm, inclusive phrase for expressing gratitude. More natural than "thank you everyone" in personal settings.
• "this is the first time": A versatile structure for sharing milestones. Try expanding it: "This is the first time I’ve presented in English."

Tips for Nailing the Pronunciation and Flow

The speaker’s tone is friendly and conversational, making it a great candidate for shadowing (repeating aloud while listening). Here’s how to practice:

• Pace: The dialogue is slow, so focus on matching the rhythm. Use a shadowing app to pause and repeat short segments—this helps with natural pauses after "Hello everyone" and "thank you."
• Stress: Emphasize "really" in "I really appreciate" to convey sincerity. Notice how "all" is softened, almost like "all" instead of a sharp "awl."
• Intonation: The sentence rises slightly at "award" and falls at "thank you," creating a natural conversational arc. Practice with shadowspeak techniques to mirror this melody.

Whether you’re using a shadow speak method or practicing alone, this video offers a low-pressure way to refine your speaking skills. Start small—repeat the 10-second clip until it feels effortless, then build up to longer phrases. You’ll be surprised how quickly these patterns stick!