Shadowing Practice: This Fish Shouldn’t Exist… So I Got One - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/132 sentences)
There are over 33,000 different species of fish in the world, and most of them get around like normal, using their fins to swim across the ocean.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences
132 sentences
1
There are over 33,000 different species of fish in the world, and most of them get around like normal, using their fins to swim across the ocean.
2
But others have evolved to have actual wings to shoot up out of the water and escape predators by taking flight.
3
This is real, we have flying fish.
4
But if I tried keeping one of these guys, I'd probably end up getting hit in the face.
5
So instead of getting a flying fish, I got the next best thing, a walking fish.
6
Also known as the mudskipper.
7
And I don't even know if you could call this a fish anymore because they've evolved to breathe air and they've turned their fins into super strong arms that they use to skip across the mud.
8
Now the scientists that named these guys weren't very creative, but they did find that the mudskipper loves to throw down and do a little jig.
9
Oh look at him go.
10
Damn he's hidden that.
11
Anyways for the next 30 days I'll be getting my own mudskipper, building him his dream home, seeing if he can hunt live food, checking out all his weird quirks, and maybe even becoming friends with him.
12
But before I do any of that, I should probably order him because I just have an empty plastic bag that I filled with water.
13
And it turns out these guys are actually pretty rare or nobody wants them because every website was out of stock.
14
Except for this one.
15
And the price is pretty cheap too, I just need to pay $65 for shipping?
16
Welp, there goes all my money.
17
But in the meantime, let's get started on building his tank.
18
And the layout's pretty simple, mudskippers need about 20% water and 80% land.
19
But I also want to make a working river just because I think he'll enjoy it.
20
Uh, this is me from the future, He does enjoy it.
21
So I started by adding a water filter and gluing a box around it so the water would stay separated from the mud and stay clear.
22
Then I just used some spray foam to build up the river structure, and then pulled out my emergency bag of dirt to mix with aquarium silicone and make a waterproof base for the river.
23
And it also turned out to be really fun to touch.
24
I might have to make some more for later.
25
But after sticking all this on, I added in the finishing rock touches and had a fully working river.
26
Well, actually, I didn't even know if it worked at this point, which is why it was time to now test it.
27
Alright, filter is on.
28
Does the river work?
29
Uh, no, it does not.
30
Wait, okay, we have a working river.
31
Who up playing with a river?
32
Ah ha ha.
33
Oh, you guys don't have a river?
34
Now I can get started on making the mud with a bucket, some clay, a bag of dirt, and some water.
35
I started by adding in the dirt and then made sure to leave no witnesses.
36
Absolutely none.
37
Leave no witnesses.
38
Leave no witnesses.
39
Leave no witnesses.
40
Leave no witnesses.
41
Then I added the water and started to mix it.
42
And this was also really fun to touch why is everything so fun to touch never mind i heavily regret my actions and after playing with the mud for just a little bit longer i finally heard a ring on my doorbell and what i found was a suspiciously mud skipper shaped box so i brought it inside and it was finally time to unbox my brand new mud skipper but first i gotta tell you about today's sponsor Into the AM Apparel.
43
Into the AM makes high quality clothing and they have a selection of dozens of hand-drawn graphic t-shirts.
44
I personally got the Nature's Palette Vintage Graphic Tee and the Life After Graphic Tee.
45
But when I'm outside and chasing my ducks around, they also have the Active Tee with moisture wicking and anti-odor fabric to make sure I don't get all sweaty while doing my farm chores.
46
But you don't have to chase your ducks around to wear this shirt.
47
You could just be normal and wear it to the gym or snowboarding.
48
I landed this.
49
But if graphic shirts aren't your vibe, they also have the Basic Tee collection, made out of the same comfortable fabric, but available in a bunch of different solid colors.
50
And while they did sponsor this video to tell you about their shirts, I can honestly say these are some of the most comfortable shirts me or my dog have ever worn.
51
So if you want to help support the channel and also check out all the other clothes they have on their website, make sure to use my link in the description to get 10% off your order, and thanks to IntoTheAM for sponsoring this video.
52
Now, it was actually time to unbox my brand new Mud Skipper.
53
Look at him, he's just a little guy.
54
This guy walks on mud.
55
Maybe I'll name him Mud Man or something.
56
I don't know.
57
But I noticed he wasn't actually moving at all.
58
He was just swaying with the water.
59
Was he even still alive?
60
I waited a little longer and he still did not move at all.
61
Just sitting there motionless.
62
Would we never get the chance to become friends?
63
What did they do to you?
64
Speak boy.
65
Say anything.
66
Wake up.
67
Wake up please.
68
Please wake up.
69
No he's gone.
70
He's gone forever.
71
Nah he's fine.
72
He must have just been sleeping or something.
73
Look at him he's so happy now.
74
So it seems like that while in shipping his water had gotten cold and he entered a state of hibernation, but now that he warmed back up, he was more active than ever.
75
He immediately started to swim around and then showed off his ability by leaving the water and going on to shore.
76
Now the first thing you'd notice are probably his crazy looking eyes, but these give him a super wide field of view and he can see almost anything around him.
77
And of course, I had to add a piece of my own hair so he'd hopefully grow up to look like me.
78
Oh come on.
79
But over the next few days, he spent his time skipping around the mud and just exploring his new home.
80
And it looked like he was sniffing, I think.
81
And of course he showed me one of his dance moves, and also how long he can hold his breath.
82
But I think his favorite part of the whole tank was the river.
83
I caught him spending a lot of time just relaxing in here.
84
Now he spent about 2 days in that box and it had been a while since he'd eaten, so I added in this feeding stone and at first he was scared of my hand, but he eventually came back to see what I was doing.
85
I also dug out a little cave for him to go inside of whenever he wanted to get out of water but still feel safe.
86
He didn't really spend that much time checking it out.
87
Now I knew he was getting hungry so I started adding bloodworms to the feeding stone, and he came out of the water pretty quickly to check it out.
88
But he looked very cautious while approaching the bloodworms and he made sure that it wasn't a trap before actually going up to them.
89
And over the next few days he continued to skip around and hang out in the water, while also getting himself into some precarious situations.
90
What, how did you even get up there?
91
Get down, you're gonna get hurt!
92
Oh he's fine, I forgot the skipping part was like his whole thing.
93
Now for some reason, even after spending days staring intently into each other's eyes, whenever I tried to hand feed him, he wanted nothing to do with me.
94
Hey buddy, you want some of this food?
95
Come on, it's really good, it's what you were eating on that rock.
96
Just take a bite.
97
What about a cricket?
98
You want a cricket?
99
Come on, it's right there.
100
Just take a bite.
101
I swear it tastes good.
102
I'll eat it myself.
103
Here comes the airplane.
104
As you can see, he was not warming up to me that quickly.
105
I think he knew I was a source of food, but he still saw me as a predator.
106
And other times, it looked like he was trying to escape by climbing up the glass.
107
But I wouldn't let that happen.
108
Not after the last guy got away.
109
But now, it was time for him to face his biggest challenge yet.
110
A fully grown cat.
111
Oh he does not stand a chance.
112
Oh my god he's beating him up.
113
Now his actual challenge would be to stand up to this horde of crickets, because I wanted to see if he could actually hunt live food.
114
So I added in a few plants and a big log for the crickets to climb onto, and now the battlefield was ready.
115
Look at him he has no idea what's about to happen.
116
So I started to add the crickets in and they quickly took over the entire tank, climbing all over the log, the walls, and running frantically around the tank while the mudskipper was completely oblivious.
117
But he eventually got curious and he came out to see what all the commotion was about.
118
Almost immediately he encountered his first cricket and he tried to pounce on it, but he was just too slow.
119
He took the loss in stride and went to go roll it off, off, before locking onto his next target that was on the wall.
120
It looked like he was analyzing how to get to this cricket, but he just sat there for a couple minutes and he didn't actually go for it.
121
After two failed attempts, the mudskipper was looking pretty bummed out, so he went back to his cave to think about his next moves and somehow didn't notice these two crickets in the cave with him.
122
But it didn't matter because he already had his next target located in the corner.
123
He immediately leapt over and went in for the attack.
124
Which he failed again and the cricket got into the moss.
125
But our mudskipper was too determined to quit.
126
And after accidentally grabbing a mouthful of moss and looking like he had a big mustache, he went back to finish the job.
127
And as the cricket came out thinking the coast was clear, he was ambushed.
128
And our mudskipper, who I think I'll name Muk, had officially caught his first ever cricket.
129
And then he spent a while just kind of toying with his food.
130
But he eventually got it all down.
131
So after 30 days, we still haven't quite become best friends yet, but I think he's enjoying his new home.
132
And if you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe and also check out Into the AM using my link in the description to help support the channel.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will embark on an exciting journey into the world of unique fish species, such as the mudskipper and flying fish. By practicing your English speaking skills, you will explore fascinating vocabulary related to aquatic life, evolution, and personal experiences. This lesson encourages you to use the shadowing technique, allowing you to mimic the speaker's tone and speed, enhancing your English speaking practice. By immersing yourself in the content, you will not only improve your pronunciation but also build your confidence in using English in everyday conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Species - a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
  • Predator - an animal that naturally preys on others.
  • Evolution - the process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms.
  • Quirks - unusual or peculiar behaviors or characteristics.
  • Unbox - to take something out of its packaging.
  • Structure - the arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.
  • Water filter - a device that removes impurities from water.
  • Working river - a man-made water feature that mimics the appearance and function of a natural river.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning using the shadowing technique with this video, start by listening carefully to the speaker’s tone and pacing. The speaker uses a conversational style, which is ideal for practicing informal English. Aim to repeat after each sentence, ensuring that your intonation and rhythm match the original speaker. If you find any phrases difficult to pronounce, pause the video and practice them repeatedly. This can help improve your English speaking practice significantly.

Additionally, pay attention to the key vocabulary and phrases highlighted above. Incorporate these terms into your shadowing exercises by trying to create your sentences or scenarios. This not only helps you remember the words better but also makes your practice sessions more engaging. Use our effective shadowspeak strategy to guide your practice sessions and keep track of your progress. Remember, consistent practice is key to mastering the English language.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee