Shadowing Practice: Tom Hardy’s Speech Will Leave You SPEECHLESS — Best Life Advice - Learn English Speaking with Video

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I Don't think anybody at drama center thought I'd be here either and uh
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But probably be locked up in
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In prison if you do what you love doing and you do it well
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Then then everything should sort of fall into place
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Especially if you're coming up with something from nothing which is presumably what we all do in the creative department
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is that why I'm selling a handful of nothing
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and Hoping to come through with some some results even if you don't know
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quite what it is that you want to achieve.
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That if you just keep cracking on towards it anyway, that, you know, if you do what you love doing.
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I think as human beings, by nature, as a species, we're awful.
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We have to constantly ask ourselves the uncomfortable questions.
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I mean, is the world better for me having been in it?
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And if the last few years have taught me anything, it's that rather than change the world to better suit our needs,
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how can we change ourselves to better suit the world that we all live in?
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And if one is passionate and committed in the noble pursuit of excellence within their chosen field, be that the arts, technology,
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science, humanitarianism, conservationism,
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And I would say one has a moral obligation and an ethical duty to be of service.
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And to always strive to be part of the solution and not the problem.
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After all, it's a world that our children would inherit.
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That's worth being a part of.
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That speaks to me.
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What scares you?
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Everything, not being in control, not knowing, anticipation, waiting for something to go wrong.
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I'm an addict and alcoholic so I have my ups and downs.
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I have compassion for certain, an understanding of certain erratic and unpredictable behaviour.
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It doesn't always manifest itself in violence.
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Yeah, yeah.
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But as an artist as well, I think it does.
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Within the creative arts, you can create things or you can destroy things, can't you?
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I always take myself really seriously, so I beat myself up pretty badly.
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The sort of thing abstract when, about issues that cause fear or bother that could get in the way of doing it, you know, getting in the way of doing my job or anything,
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or getting involved with life.
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And where did you think that came from for you?
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I don't know.
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I don't know.
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I think my personal issues to do with alcoholism and things like that.
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I can't remember, to be honest, because a lot of it's blackout, isn't it?
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So you would blackout? Of course.
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And this was what, alcohol?
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Yeah, and everything else.
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Everything else?
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What is that?
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All the different substances available?
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Yeah.
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Most of them?
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Everything.
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Wow.
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It's lucky you're still here.
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Yes.
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And I'm very grateful to be here.
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You know, it's no job.
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And I put myself right out there for the risk of it, and I will fail, and it's okay to fail.
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In fact, you learn more from failing and humiliation in my game than any other that I know.
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And actually, that seems to be quite similar across the board in most professions from the people that I've met.
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So it's good to fail, it's not embarrassing, and humiliation is your friend.
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I don't know if it's nature or nurture or where it came from, it just is, and it's what I have and I have to deal with it on a daily basis.
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And do you feel you're winning?
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Yeah, today's a very, very good day.
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Thoughtfully examine the roles we play and how to best be of use and to be of service
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in a noble pursuit to make the world a better place.
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I believe that perfection is unattainable, but that doesn't stop us trying.
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And we should constantly be evolving,
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redefining, refining, predicting, analyzing, adapting to whatever the world throws at us,
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and in harmony with that world.
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Passion, action, noble intention, creates progress.
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Passion creates progress.

Speaking Goals for This Clip: Mastering Authentic Fluency

This video is a goldmine for learners aiming to boost conversational flow and confidence—key milestones for IELTS speaking practice and real-world communication. By focusing on natural pauses, emotional tone, and impromptu expression, it helps you move beyond scripted speech to sound genuine, a critical skill for fluency. The dialogue’s mix of personal reflection and advice makes it ideal for practicing the shadowing technique, where you mimic the speaker’s rhythm and intonation in real time—proven to sharpen listening and speaking simultaneously.

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions for Daily Use

  • "fall into place" (things work out naturally)
  • "keep cracking on" (persist despite uncertainty)
  • "noble pursuit of excellence" (dedicated effort toward mastery)
  • "part of the solution, not the problem" (contribute positively)
  • "beat myself up" (criticize oneself harshly)

These phrases are versatile—perfect for shadowspeak practice, as they blend casual and formal tones, common in both daily conversations and exams.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Rhythm and Emotional Intonation

Many learners struggle with matching a speaker’s emotional cadence, but this video’s raw, conversational style makes it ideal for refining this skill. The speaker’s pauses, emphasis on key words (e.g., "compassion," "grateful"), and natural speed are perfect for shadowing technique drills. To practice, play short clips, pause, and repeat—focus on copying the rise and fall of his voice. This not only improves pronunciation but also helps you convey meaning through tone, a must for IELTS speaking practice. Pairing this with learn english with videos strategies, like transcribing short sections, will accelerate your progress. Remember: shadow speak isn’t just about mimicry—it’s about internalizing natural speech patterns. With consistent practice, you’ll notice your fluency and confidence soar, whether in daily chats or high-stakes exams.

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.