Shadowing Practice: Tom Holland as Billy Elliot - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Here to prove that dancing can be part of that healthier lifestyle, please welcome the young stars from the hit West End musical, Billy Elliot.
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We'll be right back.
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We'll be right back.
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Let's go.
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Wow, well done, Tom, how are you doing there?
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Good, thank you, how are you?
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I'm good.
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Yeah, I mean catch your breath.
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I don't think you really need to
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How fit actually do you have to be to be able to perform like that being a Billy?
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We've got the gymnastics tap ballet and hip -hop, so it's like
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We've got to do a lot of training to be as
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fit as we can be we have like nutritionists to help us
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Stay fit and healthy like give us good food
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and everything to keep us fit wow and you guys make it look so easy So fair play.
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I mean I kind of feel a little bit foolish asking this next question But, can anyone do this?
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Anyone could dance, because dance is just like having fun, and like when a rhythm comes on, she'll run around, jump up and down.
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Now, I'll tell you what we're going to do.
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We're going to try and prove that anybody can dance, because we've got our eyes on a school, and what we're going to do is surprise a group of their boys with the dance challenge of a lifetime.
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Absolutely, the chance to dance here with Tom in a Billy Elliot -inspired routine.
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See how we spring that surprise on our programme next month
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and watch their performance here on this stage in just eight weeks' time.
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Well, thank you very much, Tom.
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Thank you, boys.
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Thank you, boys.
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We'll see you very soon.
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Well done.
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Hearing anyone can start living a healthier lifestyle, no matter what your age, and to prove that, five lucky schoolboys were set the challenge of their young lives to learn to dance.
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That's right.
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So we've got some pretty nervous schoolboys about to dance in public for the very first time.
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And what's more, it's with the star of hit West End musical, Billy Elliot.
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Eight weeks ago at Thames Christian College in South London, I surprised five boys with the news that they'd been selected to take part in our dancing challenge.
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I'm here today to come and tell you that...
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You're all in!
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Congratulations!
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The training began and it wasn't long before the hard work started to pay off.
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Dance is an excellent exercise for keeping fit, and I've really noticed an improvement in their fitness.
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It's been really tiring, really exciting, really fun.
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Now I feel less nervous, but at the same time, I want to get it right.
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I can see that some of them might struggle, but I think in six weeks, we'll get there.
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To help the boys understand just how much work needs to be done, Lizzie takes them backstage at Billy Elliot to meet the star of the show, Tom.
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Hello to Tom.
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Hi.
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Hi, guys.
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How are you all feeling about going on TV?
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Where did you get the stamina for you to do all day?
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Over a long period of time, like a few weeks, you just get a lot fitter from all the dance training.
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So you'll be a lot fitter by the end of this training thing.
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What advice have you got for them all?
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Try your best.
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The harder you work, the more you get out of it, the better you do.
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Back in the dance studio, Tom joins the boys for their first rehearsal together.
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Hi, guys.
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Tom coming to rehearsals today has really boosted our confidence because he's going to teach us all these new moves, telling us how things are done.
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And as the day of the performance draws nearer, the strain is starting to show.
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When I first auditioned, I had no idea how hard it was going to be, but you know you know it's completely hard work it's been challenging in places he's taught me things
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so it's been good to dance with him we need more practice sure we've covered the routine
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but there's still mistakes here and there and my mom's telling me go home
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and practice so you do not forget i don't want you forgetting on national television
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so now performing in public for the very first time with
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their version of angry dance from the musical billy elliott please
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would you welcome our school boys from Thames Christian College along with Tom straight from the West End
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Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,
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hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,
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hold on, hold on, hold on,
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hold on, Ha!
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Ha!
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Ha!
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Ha!
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Ha!
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Oh my God!
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Oh my God!
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Oh my God!
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Oh my God!
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Oh my God!
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Thank you.
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Boys, that to me looked pretty tough to learn.
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How tough is it for boys to learn about that?
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Well, you just start dancing from scratch is pretty hard, but I mean, you can just dance in your living room and it'll be pretty cool.
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With a hairbrush.
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I'm there with you, Tom.
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I'm feeling that already.
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Lovely. And Matthew, what about you? what's the reaction like being with the boys
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at school well they're all jealous you know I mean who
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wouldn't want to be jealous of what we're doing right now
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it's been really amazing spirits well boys we are really really proud of you
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and all of it you have achieved it's just incredible
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and knowing how much you want to keep dancing well we've
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arranged a little bit of a surprise for you each of
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you are going to receive a year's scholarship to a dance and drama club So what do you think of that?
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Me?
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Yeah?
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My good news?
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Tom Holland, Billy Elliot, and the Power of Dance: A Conversation Breakdown
The video features a lively conversation with young Tom Holland, star of the West End musical *Billy Elliot*, and a group of schoolboys taking on a dance challenge. The dialogue blends casual chat with insights into fitness, training, and the accessibility of dance, making it a great resource for English learners looking to practice everyday communication and expressive language.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Catch your breath": A friendly way to tell someone to take a moment to relax after physical activity. Example: "You look exhausted—catch your breath before we start."
- "Fair play": Used to praise someone for their effort or skill. Example: "You finished the race even with a sprained ankle? Fair play!"
- "Spring a surprise": To unexpectedly tell someone something or organize an event. Example: "We’re going to spring a surprise party for her birthday."
- "Pay off": When hard work leads to positive results. Example: "All those late nights studying finally paid off when she passed the exam."
- "Try your best": A common piece of encouragement. Example: "Don’t worry about winning—just try your best."
Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video
The video’s mix of fast-paced exchanges and heartfelt advice makes it ideal for practicing the shadowing technique. Here’s how to approach it:
- Listen for rhythm first: The dialogue flows naturally, with pauses and emphasis on words like "Wow" and "Absolutely." A shadowing site can help you slow down the audio to mimic these patterns.
- Focus on casual intonation: Phrases like "how are you doing there?" and "I mean" are spoken with a relaxed tone. Use shadow speech to copy the rise and fall of the speakers’ voices.
- Repeat short chunks: The conversation includes quick back-and-forths (e.g., "Good, thank you, how are you? I'm good."). Practice shadowing these 2-3 sentence segments to build fluency.
- Emphasize key words: Words like "nutritionists," "stamina," and "improvement" are central to the topic. Use shadow speak to stress these terms, as the speakers do, to convey meaning clearly.
- Record and compare: After shadowing, record yourself and compare it to the video. A shadowspeaks tool can help you identify areas where your pace or pronunciation needs adjustment.
This video not only teaches practical phrases but also shows how language adapts to context—from casual greetings to motivational advice. By using the shadowing technique, you’ll improve your ability to communicate naturally in real-life situations.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've really noticed · It's been · has really boosted |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | were set · been selected · be done |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start living · start dancing · keep dancing |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | We'll be · she'll run · I'll tell |
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.