Shadowing Practice: Theresa May: First speech as Prime Minister - BBC News - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I have just been to Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new government and I accepted.
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I have just been to Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new government and I accepted.
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In David Cameron I follow in the footsteps of a great modern Prime Minister.
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Under David's leadership the government stabilised the economy, reduced the budget deficit and helped more people into work than ever before.
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But David's true legacy is not about the economy, but about social justice.
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From the introduction of same-sex marriage to taking people on low wages out of income tax altogether, David Cameron has led a one-nation government, and it is in that spirit that I also plan to lead.
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Because not everybody knows this, but the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party and that word Unionist is very important to me it means we believe in the Union, the precious precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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But it means something else that is just as important.
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It means we believe in a union not just between the nations of the United Kingdom but between all of our citizens, every one of us, whoever we are and wherever we're from.
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That means fighting against the burning injustice, that if you're born poor you will die on average nine years earlier than others.
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If you're black, you're treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you're white.
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If you're a white working class boy, you're less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university.
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If you're at a state school, you're less likely to reach the top professions than if you're educated privately.
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If you're a woman, you will earn less than a man.
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If you suffer from mental health problems, there's not enough help to hand.
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If you're young, you'll find it harder than ever before to own your own home.
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But the mission to make Britain a country that works for everyone means more than fighting these injustices.
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If you're from an ordinary working-class family, life is much harder than many people in Westminster realise.
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You have a job, but you don't always have job security.
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You have your own home, but you worry about paying the mortgage.
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You can just about manage, but you worry about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school.
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If you're one of those families, if you're just managing, I want to address you directly.
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I know you're working around the clock.
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I know you're doing your best, and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle.
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The government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours.
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We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives.
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When we take the big calls, we'll think not of the powerful, but you.
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When we pass new laws, we'll listen not to the mighty, but to you.
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When it comes to taxes, we'll prioritise not the wealthy, but you.
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When it comes to opportunity, we won't entrench the advantages of the fortunate few.
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We will do everything we can to help anybody, whatever your background, to go as far as your talents will take you.
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We are living through an important moment in our country's history.
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Following the referendum, we face a time of great national change.
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And I know because we are Great Britain that we will rise to the challenge.
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As we leave the European Union, we will forge a bold new positive role for ourselves in the world.
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And we will make Britain a country that works not for a privileged few, but for every one of us.
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That will be the mission of the Government I lead.
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And together we will build a better Britain.
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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in English speaking practice by analyzing and mimicking the first speech delivered by former Prime Minister Theresa May. This powerful address provides a rich context for understanding political discourse and social issues in the UK. You will refine your listening skills and pronunciation as you practice articulating complex sentences and phrases in a formal tone. The speech addresses themes of social justice, equality, and governance, making it a valuable resource for enhancing your proficiency in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Form a new government - Establish or create a new political administration.
  • Social justice - The concept of fair and just relations between individuals and society.
  • Burning injustice - Severe or urgent issues of inequity that require attention.
  • Ordinary working-class family - A typical family that is employed and has middle or lower income.
  • Job security - Assurance that one will keep their job without the risk of becoming unemployed.
  • Cost of living - The amount of money needed to maintain a certain standard of living.
  • Opportunity - A favorable set of circumstances that allows for advancement or progress.
  • Forge a bold new role - To create an impactful and significant position or direction.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning using the shadowing technique, it is essential to practice regularly with this video. Here's how to do it effectively:

  • Start Slow: Begin by playing the video at a reduced speed. This will help you catch each word and phrase used by Theresa May. Gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable.
  • Repetition: Listen to small segments of the speech multiple times before attempting to repeat them. Focus on mimicking the intonation and emphasis used in her delivery.
  • Record Yourself: Use a shadowing app or a simple recording tool on your smartphone to capture your voice. Listen back to identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency.
  • Engage with the Content: While practicing, reflect on the vocabulary and phrases. Consider how these concepts relate to your own experiences or current events to enhance retention.
  • Join a Shadowing Site: For accountability, consider connecting with a community on a shadowing site where participants share their recordings and feedback on each other's progress.
  • Connect to IELTS Speaking Practice: This speech can also serve as an excellent resource for IELTS speaking practice; focus on expressing your opinions about the themes presented and how they might relate to global issues.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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