Shadowing Practice: Tom Hiddleston on Avengers: Doomsday, Moonwalking in The Life of Chuck & Working with Mark Hamill - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Our first guest tonight is the god of mischief sometimes.
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Our first guest tonight is the god of mischief sometimes.
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Now he is playing a guy named Chuck.
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The Life of Chuck is in select theaters Friday and everywhere on June 13.
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Please welcome Tom Hiddleston.
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I'm going to wrap this up.
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I'm going to wrap this up.
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I'm going to wrap it up.
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Let's see.
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Hey, wait.
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What are we doing?
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Please sit here.
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You're so polite, it's delaying the show.
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Sorry.
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My apologies.
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Very good to see you.
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How are you?
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I'm really well.
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I'm really well.
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You know, your pal from Loki Owen Wilson was here last night.
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I heard.
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Yeah.
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You guys are friends, right?
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Yes, yeah.
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We see each other all the time.
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like when did it happen for you like i assume you're a kid
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when you're like oh i'm i'm an entertainer i can like i can do this kind of stuff
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when did it click for you honestly i used to mess around
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so much when i was a child um i did a couple of school plays
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but i actually as a child of the 80s
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and someone who was in about i was 10 in 1991
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i had a um a double uh cassette tape deck boom box And I had,
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I went up into the,
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like, up to the top room in our house,
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and I would, I would make my own radio show for an audience of one, which was me.
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Uh-huh.
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Were you imitating, like, the local radio station?
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I'd be the DJ.
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I'd be the weather guy.
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I'd be the traffic and travel.
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I'd, like, I'd do, like, different segments.
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I'd do interviews.
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And also I'd, like, play,
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like, you know, MC Hammer and Paula Abdul and, uh...
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So you had two cassette players, so you're doing.. and then you're going and hit and play on the...
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Hit and play on the other one,
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and it's recording at the same time.
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So I was like, yeah, it was...
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Listen, it was, um...
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Did you have a DJ name?
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I don't remember the DJ name,
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but I remember the radio station was Piffy Whiffy FM.
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Where did that come from?
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I was ten years old.
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That's my disclaimer.
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Um, I guess I thought it sounded cool.
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Did you ever call into radio stations as a kid?
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I really wanted to.
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You didn't, though.
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Yeah.
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Did you have, do you still have the tapes,
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those cassette tapes of those?
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Yeah, I do.
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Yeah, I do like, you know,
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I flip in and out of accents.
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I do.
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The weatherman is Scottish.
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Traffic and travel is Irish.
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Yeah, it was, it was super fun.
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Would you play that for your family ever?
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Yes.
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You would, yeah.
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And they were like, oh, yeah.
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And they would just patiently listen.
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Uh-huh.
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Thank you, Tom.
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Yeah, sounds good.
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We'll make sure to avoid the motorway tomorrow.
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All right, so now you've come quite a long way since The Attic.
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The last time we saw Loki,
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and you know I have to ask you about this,
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I mean, I know you've signed some kind of blood oath or whatever,
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but Loki was holding all the timelines in the multiverse.
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Still is.
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Still is.
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Okay, all right, that's something.
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I mean, we haven't seen him do anything different.
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Is this going to be a major part of Avengers Doomsday?
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You see, this is why I run out of rope, Jimmy.
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Uh-huh.
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Mm-hmm.
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We always do this dance, you and me.
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Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
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I know.
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Nobody ever answers.
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I don't even know why I ask anymore.
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I don't really know.
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I mean, there's something.
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I don't know what they're threatening you guys with.
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I can exclusively tell you that I will be there.
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You will be there.
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That's good.
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Hey, that's something. Because...
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It is something, and I'll tell you why.
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And I'll tell you why,
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because the cast of Thunderbolts was here,
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and they were too scared to say they were going to be in the movie,
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even though Marvel had already publicly confirmed that they were in the movie.
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I know.
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Are there now, do you still have to have these conversations with them,
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or do they just kind of trust that you're going to keep quiet as far as they can work?
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Well, I didn't even know they were going to,
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there was that, there was the big thing they released of all the names on the back of the chairs.
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They didn't tell you before.
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I didn't know.
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I was like, oh, I guess I'm in the movie.
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In fairness, I did know I was in the movie.
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You did know, yeah.
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But I'm so used to not knowing I'm in the movie.
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Uh-huh, uh-huh.
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That you, yeah, just keep quiet until otherwise.
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It was a relief.
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Yeah, I had to wait a while.
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There were a few other chairs.
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You were, um, where were you?
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You were in Nepal, right?
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I've just come from Nepal.
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You just came from Nepal.
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Yeah.
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Where you were climbing Mount Everest.
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Well.
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I was, yeah, what we're doing is we're making a film about Tenzing Norgay and Ed Hillary.
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And you call him Ed, huh?
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You guys are that close?
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He's always been an Edmund to me.
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Right, right, OK, yeah.
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I think his friends called him Ed.
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Ed Hillary.
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They probably did call him Ed, yeah.
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They're probably like, oh, Edmund,
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oh, you're a big shot now.
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Edmund, up at the top of the mountain.
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Well, maybe he was Edmund after he climbed to the top of the mountain and Ed before.
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Yeah.
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But yeah, we're making a film about that ascent,
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the first ascent to the summit of Mount Everest in 53.
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And we were out in Nepal for,
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I was there for five weeks.
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Oh, there you are.
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There I am.
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Wow, you're dressed very current to be Ed Hillary.
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Are you Ed Hillary?
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That's me, that's me on a,
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we went on a trek.
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Gendon Puntsock, who's playing Tenzing Norgay,
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and I, just the two of us and two amazing men,
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two Sherpas who've summited Everest.
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They took us on a trek from Lukla Airport to almost to Everest Base Camp.
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How many days did that take?
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It was five days.
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And it was, I have to say,
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like, the most extraordinary place,
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the most beautiful, serene, inspiring landscape I've ever seen.
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It was really breathtaking.
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Where do you sleep when you're on the mountain?
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You sleep at local guest houses and tea houses.
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Oh, so there are, like, homes along the way.
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Yeah, there are, because it's a long way.
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It takes about two weeks to get to base camp,
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and then another probably three or four weeks to summit,
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if that's what you're going to do.
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But people can go to base camp.
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And honestly, if you ever get a chance to do it, it's um...
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I won't.
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I definitely won't.
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I won't.
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I mean, I know that's a different type of people.
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Right.
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Because you have to train for something like that, right?
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Yeah.
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Yeah, I don't do that.
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Okay, okay.
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Yeah, no, yeah.
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I get tired fast.
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Okay.
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It's a lot of walking.
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It's a big leg day every day.
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What'd you do to train for that?
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Just that.
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I mean, I did a lot of running.
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How do you get trained for the altitude?
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You can't.
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That's the most amazing thing.
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You just hope for the best.
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I mean, if you're fit and you take it slow,
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then you should be OK.
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Yeah, no, neither one of those things.
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Well, I can take it slow, for sure.
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All right.
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We come back, and we're going to talk about your new movie,
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which is terrific, by the way.
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It's called The Life of Chuck.
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Tom Hiddleston is with us.
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We'll be right back.
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That's Tom
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Hale singing on Life with Chuck,
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which opens at Southampton's on Friday.
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Man, that's just a small portion of that dance scene.
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Yeah.
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This is a really, I found it to be a very enjoyable film to watch.
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It's a Stephen, based on a Stephen King novella.
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Yes, that's right.
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And you, did you know how to moonwalk going into this?
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I did not.
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That is something I have always wished I could do, is moonwalk.
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How did you learn to moonwalk? With great dedication.
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And sort of like anxiety.
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It's specified specifically in that, in the novella.
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Like, there's a, so I play Chuck.
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And you meet Chuck and he's,
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he seems for all the world like a,
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you know, a mild-mannered accountant,
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Mr. Businessman dressed in a business suit with the business briefcase on his way to the business conference,
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staying at the business hotel.
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And in that moment, he,
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it's a great surprise because you think you know who this guy is.
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And he sets down his briefcase to the beat of the drums by this busking drummer.
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And he finds himself just spontaneously dancing.
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and she doesn't expect it and he doesn't expect it
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and it's this explosion of joy and freedom and spontaneity
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and you learn that later you learn
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that he was this great dancer at middle school
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and his grandmother uh taught him how to dance
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and it was a real part of his heart
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and his life um anyway in the book stephen king goes it
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that it sort of um it completely surprises the drama
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that he just unbuttons his jacket and moon walks across the sidewalk um
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so i was like if stephen Stephen King wrote it,
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then I must do it.
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I think it's probably very,
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it's probably even harder to moonwalk on the sidewalk, isn't it?
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If it's asphalt in Alabama, for sure.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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And that's where you were, right?
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That's where we were, yeah.
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We were down in Alabama in the autumn sunshine.
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But it was like, I've never had an experience like it.
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It was so joyful.
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It was so kind of free and such a celebration.
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It felt like a unique experience.
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How many times did you have to do it?
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I lost count, but we did it for four days.
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Oh, wow.
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Yeah, yeah.
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We went through a few of those blue shirts.
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Yeah, right, yeah.
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I would imagine.
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Yeah.
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They keep getting mopped off.
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But I was so proud of myself.
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By the end of the week,
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I had burned holes in the soles of my shoes. For real? For real.
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And now Mike Flanagan has them.
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He loves collecting memorabilia from movies.
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And somewhere next to, like,
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the Wilson volleyball from Cast Away,
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he's got my shoes with holes in the middle.
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It sounds like a new Stephen King book,
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The Guy Who Burns holes through his shoes.
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That's a great.. that's a good title.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Your grandfather in the movies played.. well,
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you're played by a kid.
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Your character's grandfather is Mark Hamill.
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That's right.
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Yeah, it's a beautiful character.
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Which makes you...
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Darth Vader's grandson.
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Who knew that Darth Vader's grandson was called Chuck?
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In my room, why not?
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Chuck Vader.
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Sounds good.
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Sounds good.
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Chuck Bader, yeah.
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But Jimmy, you became a grandfather recently.
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That is right.
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Congratulations.
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Congratulations to you.
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Seriously.
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Thank you.
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I appreciate that, yeah.
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How do you feel?
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I feel fine.
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I feel good.
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You know, it's easy, kind of, being a grand.
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It's easier than being a father and having to breastfeed and all that.
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But it's really, like, to bring it,
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like, what I find,
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knowing this now like i saw the film again last night we had our our premier here in los angeles
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and um and mark by the way gives the most tender
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and touching performance and um as as alby as chuck's grandfather
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and what this kind of what the film is about is is
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that there's so much love and wisdom um
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that chuck carries from his grandfather in his heart for the rest of his life And,
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you know, on the path of life,
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we encounter all kinds of obstacles,
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you know, uh, grief and loss,
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but actually, um.. the joy we carry is the love we shared from the people who raised us.
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Did you know your grandparents?
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I did.
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You did, yeah, that's nice, yeah.
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You liked them?
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They were the best.
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Yeah.
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Which was the best one?
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Do you feel in competition with the other grandparents?
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There's definitely a ranking in my head. Is there...?
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Oh, you've obviously...
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Well, no, that's not my decision to make.
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That is my granddaughter's decision to make.
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But trust me, I will do all I can to be numero uno.
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Okay.
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So, my maternal grandfather, my mother's dad,
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used to take me swimming in the ocean,
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and I never forgot that.
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And he was so brave and so free out there.
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And my dad's dad, my paternal grandfather,
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every time we met until his last days,
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when I said goodbye, he would give me a packet of mint Imperials and a five-pound note.
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And it was just so, like, sweet.
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I mean, how fleeting.
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He would just give me these mints.
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As an adult, he would still give you money?
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Or was this just as a kid?
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Yeah, yeah.
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He would still give you money?
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It was just his way of saying,
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I'm looking out for you.
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I got your back.
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My dad's dad did something even sweeter than that, I think.
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He taught me to shoplift.
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You know what I'm saying?
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I mean, I could get.. have all the mints and all the five-pound notes.
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It's like.. you teach a man to fish.
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It's really a two-for-one.
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It's sort of a two-for-one scenario there.
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Tom Hiddleston, everybody.
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The Life of Chups.
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Open to Select The Universe Friday and everywhere the following Friday.
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Thank you, Tom.
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We'll be back with Jenny Slate.
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Yeah, that's why we're wearing these glasses.
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Thanks for being a subscriber.
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If you're not, help us get to 20 million and one.
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Context & Background
In this engaging YouTube interview, celebrated actor Tom Hiddleston discusses his latest project, The Life of Chuck, while also sharing insights about his journey in the entertainment industry. Known for his role as Loki, Hiddleston reflects on his childhood experiences that sparked his interest in performing and entertaining. His playful stories about making his own radio shows hint at the creativity and passion that have characterized his career.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “How are you?” - A universal greeting that opens conversations. Use this phrase to check in on friends and acquaintances.
- “I’m really well.” - A positive response that conveys your good mood and helps to keep the conversation upbeat.
- “Did you hear?” - This phrase is perfect for sharing news or interesting facts, encouraging engagement from the listener.
- “I used to mess around.” - A casual way to discuss past activities, ideal for reminiscing with friends or sharing stories in informal settings.
- “It was like…” - This phrase helps to illustrate experiences and can introduce anecdotes or elaborations on previous points.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this video for IELTS speaking practice and enhance your speaking skills through shadowing, follow these structured steps:
- Watch Once for Context: Start by watching the video in its entirety to grasp the general context and flow of the conversation. Focus on the nuances of Tom Hiddleston's delivery, including intonation and emotion.
- Listen Actively: Play the video again, concentrating on sections where Hiddleston discusses his childhood and creative endeavors. Pay attention to his phrasing and vocabulary.
- Shadow Speak: Choose small segments (a few sentences) and mimic Hiddleston’s speech patterns. This practice, known as shadow speech, can significantly improve your pronunciation and fluency.
- Repeat and Record: Repeat the shadowing exercise several times, then record yourself. Listen to your recording and compare it with the original to identify areas for improvement.
- Incorporate New Phrases: Try to incorporate new phrases like “How are you?” and “Did you hear?” into your daily conversations to strengthen your recall and usage.
Using this learn English with YouTube approach can help you develop your language abilities dynamically. By practicing with engaging content like this, you not only enhance your listening and speaking skills but also make learning enjoyable by connecting with captivating stories and interviews.
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.
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