Shadowing Practice: Ultra-Processed Food - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Gustavo the Avocado!
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Sorry, do we know each other?
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Don't you remember me?
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I'm Martin Balza!
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We met at the tree!
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Hey Martin!
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I didn't recognize you!
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You changed a lot brother!
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How did you get here?
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Oh, you can't even imagine Gustavo!
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It was a long and hard journey!
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First, a man with a stick came and knocked me off the tree!
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They put me in a truck and took me to a factory!
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There, they washed me with a suspicious liquid.
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They cut me in half, they ripped out my heart, and they skinned me alive, Gustavo.
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Eww brother, how cruel.
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But the worst was yet to come.
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They mashed me and mixed me with 40,000 strangers.
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They added salt, dehydrated onion, jalapeno, and guess what?
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Sugar!
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Sugar?
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What's the point of that?
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They put ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, sodium citrate, citric acid and potassium sorbate on me.
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They added cilantro, garlic aroma and atomic green coloring 666 to enhance my color.
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Oh I see, that explains it.
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They vacuum packed me and took me to the supermarket.
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A man who passed by bought me, brought me to his house and that's it, here I am.
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Wow, that was a long and hard journey indeed.
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You see, was it hard for you to get here too?
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Nah brah, I stayed quietly in the tree until I ripened and fell by myself.
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A man passing by picked me up, brought me to his house and here I am.
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Look at you!
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So you are that thing they call.. natural.
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100% my friend, no preservatives or colorants.
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Only one ingredient!
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Yeah, yeah, but also a really short life, right?
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Alright, alright, avocados, get ready, cause I'm gonna eat you right now in my toast.
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Okay, wait, let me un- Nah, nah, not you.
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The other one first.
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The natural one.
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Uhhhhhh...
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LATE MAN!
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I got rotten!
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Man cause you waited too long!
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Got rotten!
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Grab me that sink to death's house!
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I got rotten!
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Eat me like God don't belong!
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Got rotten!
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Lord have mercy!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in an imaginative and humorous exploration of ultra-processed foods through the lively dialogue between Gustavo the Avocado and Martin Balza. As you practice, you will enhance your English speaking skills, focusing on understanding and articulating complex ideas related to food production and processing. This lesson will help you improve your pronunciation and comprehension by utilizing the shadowing technique, which involves mimicking the speech patterns of the characters.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Ultra-processed food - Foods that have gone through several industrial processes.
  • Suspicious liquid - A term used to describe a cleaning or processing substance that seems questionable.
  • Mashed - To crush food into a soft, smooth mixture.
  • Dehydrated - Food that has had its moisture removed to increase shelf life.
  • Colorants - Substances used to enhance the color of foods.
  • Vacuum packed - A method used to seal food in an airtight package to preserve freshness.
  • Natural - Referring to food that is authentic and free from artificial additives.
  • Rotten - Describing food that has decayed and is no longer fit for consumption.

Practice Tips

To maximize your English speaking practice using this content, consider the following tips:

  • Engage in shadowing: Play the video and repeat phrases immediately after the characters. Focus on capturing their intonation and rhythm, which will greatly enhance your English pronunciation.
  • Slow it down: If the dialogue seems fast, use a shadowing site that allows you to adjust playback speed. This will help you better grasp the subtle nuances of the dialogue.
  • Record yourself: After completing shadowing, record your voice as you speak along with the video. Compare your pronunciation and clarity with the original to identify areas for improvement.
  • Practice in pairs: Pair up with a friend or fellow learner to act out the dialogue. Role-playing will not only make learning enjoyable but will also reinforce vocabulary and improve your speaking fluency.
  • Repeat regularly: Consistent practice is key in improving English speaking skills. Regularly revisit this dialogue to solidify your understanding of the vocabulary and phrases mentioned.

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.