Shadowing Practice: To be Woman - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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I am hungry I have been hungry I was born hungry what do I need I am something I have
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been I waiting Women are born with pain built in it's our physical Destiny period pains sore boobs
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child birth you know we carry it within ourselves throughout our lives men don't they have to seek it out they invent all these gods and demons and things so they can feel guilty about things which
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is something we do very well on our own and then they create Wars so they can feel things and touch each other and when there aren't any wars they can play rugby and we have it all going on in
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here I'm just a woman and as a woman there's no way for me to make my own money and if I had my own money which I don't that money would belong to my husband the moment we got married and if we had
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children they would be his not mine they would be his property so don't sit there and tell me that marriage isn't an economic proposition because it is I just I just feel I just feel like women they
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they have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts and they've got ambition and they've got talent as well as just Beauty and I'm so sick of people saying that that love is just all
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a woman is fit for I'm so sick of it I'm crying and they start laughing or there's people sitting in the waiting room and they're and they're like me but prettier and better at the because maybe
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I'm not good enough yes you are no no maybe I'm not maybe I'm not you are maybe I'm not you are it's not just that I'm not smart enough to be interesting I can't do brain surgery I've never
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flown a plane I'm not the president no one in the Supreme Court is me I'm not good enough for
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anything it is literally impossible to be a woman you are
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so beautiful and so smart and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough like we have to always be extraordinary but somehow we're always doing doing it
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wrong like you have to be thin but not too thin and you can never say you want to be thin you have to say you want to be healthy but also you have to be thin you have to have money
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but you can't ask for money because that's crass you have to be a boss but you can't be mean you have to lead but you can't squash other people's ideas you're supposed to love
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being a mother but don't talk about your kids all the damn time you have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people you have to answer for men's bad behavior which
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is insane but if you point that out you're accused of complaining you're supposed to stay pretty for men but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of The Sisterhood but always stand out and always
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be grateful but never forget that the system is rigged so find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful you have to never get old never be rude never show off never be
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selfish never fall down never fail never show Fear never get out of line it's too hard it's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you and it turns out in fact that not
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only are you doing everything wrong but also everything is your fault I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single Other Woman tie herself into not so that people will like
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us and if all of that is also true for a doll just representing
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a then I don't even know

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills by analyzing the powerful themes presented in the video "To be Woman." This content addresses the complexities and expectations faced by women, offering a deep emotional connection to the language. By engaging with the transcript, you will enhance your vocabulary, improve your comprehension skills, and develop your ability to express nuanced thoughts and feelings in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Destiny: The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future.
  • Ambition: A strong desire to do or achieve something.
  • Sisterhood: The relationship between women, especially regarding mutual support and solidarity.
  • Economic proposition: A practical consideration of financial aspects, particularly in relationships like marriage.
  • Extraordinary: Very unusual or remarkable.
  • Contradictory: Any situation that involves two or more ideas that conflict with each other.
  • Grateful: Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness.
  • Self-doubt: Lack of confidence in oneself and one's abilities.

Practice Tips

For effective shadow speak practice, focus on the emotional tone conveyed in the video. The speaker's rhythm is fluid yet impactful, often punctuated by pauses that emphasize the weight of their words. Here are some practical tips to guide your practice:

  • Match the Pace: Since the video has varying speeds, listen closely and try to mimic the speaker's timing. This will help you develop a natural flow in your speech.
  • Emphasize Emotions: Pay attention to the emotional nuances in the phrases used. Use intonation and stress to reflect feelings like frustration, sadness, and strength.
  • Utilize Shadow Speech Techniques: Repeat phrases immediately after hearing them. This technique, known as shadowspeaks, can improve your pronunciation and confidence.
  • Record Yourself: Listening to recordings of your practice sessions can provide insights into your progress and areas needing improvement.
  • Engage with the Content: Dive deeper into the themes discussed. Reflect on the perspectives shared, and try to express your thoughts using the new vocabulary you’ve learned.

By incorporating these tips and focusing on IELTS speaking practice, you will enhance your ability to articulate complex thoughts, ultimately improving your overall English speaking proficiency.

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.