Shadowing Practice: Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Hare and the Tortoise - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

A2
The hare and the tortoise.
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113 sentences
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The hare and the tortoise.
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Harry Hare loved running more than anything in the world.
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Every morning he woke up and went for a run.
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Then he ran to work.
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Ran around all day.
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Harry, you are early. And ran home.
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Everyone said he was the fastest hair around.
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Maybe the fastest hair in history.
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Harry, you are amazing!
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Harry was sure of it.
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Well, you know, I do a lot of training.
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Tom's daughters worked with Harry.
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All day long, he heard Harry boasting.
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He didn't think Harry was so special.
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I beat my own record again!
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Harry was always laughing at him.
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Take your time, Tommy.
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I'll just run on the spot until you are ready.
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One morning, Harry was feeling very pleased with himself.
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He ran to work in record time.
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I really need some extra heavy shoes to slow me down.
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I must be the fastest creature in the world, he boasted.
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Let's have a race to prove it.
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Come on, who wants to race?
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Harry couldn't believe it when Tom Todders plotted over.
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I will raise you, Harry, he said quietly.
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Tommy's low coach?
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Are you serious?
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Asked Harry.
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You wouldn't even get started.
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That's a good one.
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I mean it, said Tom.
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Let's have the race next Saturday at 10 o'clock.
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You choose where to race.
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Well, we'll all have a good laugh anyway.
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For the next few days,
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the animals talked about nothing else. Has Tommy gone crazy?
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The story was in all newspapers.
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It was even on television.
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Harry trained extra hard.
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He woke up early in the mornings and went running in the evenings.
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He knew he would win,
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but he wanted to win by miles.
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He chose a good long course for the race.
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Tom Totters didn't seem to be training at all.
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Perhaps he thought there was no point.
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Don't you think you should exercise a little? At last, Saturday arrived.
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All Harry's friends came to watch him race.
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Tom's friends were there too.
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But they didn't look quite so happy.
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It was a beautiful day.
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Harry saw some television cameras and did a little running special for them.
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Tom just kept on talking to his friends.
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Soon it was time for the race to begin.
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Harry was already at the starting line.
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Tom slowly ambled over.
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Come on, Tommy!
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Let's not start late!
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On your marks, get set, go! shouted the umpire.
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Harry raised off and disappeared almost at once.
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Everyone laughed as poor Tom plodded over the line.
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As soon as he was out of sight,
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Harry stopped beside a tree to rest.
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Just need to catch my breath.
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After all his early morning training, Harry was very tired.
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Nobody was looking.
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He had plenty of time to sit down for a while.
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He would still win this race easily.
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His eyes started closing.
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Why not have a nap?
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That would make it even funnier when he won the race.
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He sat down in the shade.
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Soon he was asleep.
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Meanwhile, Tom's tortoise was slowly making his way along the course.
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Most of the animals had gone straight to the finish line.
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Only Tom's friends stayed with him.
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Nobody saw Harry sleeping under his tree.
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Hours passed.
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The sun was setting and the air was cool.
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Harry woke up with a start.
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Where was he?
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Suddenly, he remembered the race.
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He hadn't meant to slap for so long,
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but he could still beat Tom.
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Harry felt much better after his nap.
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He did a few stretches, then raised off.
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He could see the finish line now.
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There was a huge crowd.
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They were already cheering.
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At that moment, he saw a small brown shell shape coming up to the line.
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Harry felt cold all over.
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Surely that wasn't Tom?
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He rang faster than ever before.
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Yes, he could do it!
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Then the cheering grew louder and louder.
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Look, it's Harry!
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Whatever happened to him?
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Harry died over the line.
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But he was too late.
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Well done, Tommy!
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Tommy's the winner!
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Tom Tottors had won, and he didn't even look out of breath.
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About the story The hare and the Tottors as one of the Aesop fables.
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These are a collection of short stories first told in the ancient Greece around 4,000 years ago.
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Nobody knows exactly who Aesop was,
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but the stories are still popular today,
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and they are known all over the world.
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The stories are often about animals,
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and they always have a moral,
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a message or lesson at the end.
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The moral of the story about the hare and the tortoise is,
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slow and steady wins the race.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

The charming fable "The Hare and the Tortoise" presents an exciting story with significant lessons about overconfidence and perseverance. In this dialogue, Harry Hare is depicted as a boastful character, proud of his speed and athletic prowess. He challenges Tom Tortoise, who, despite being slow, decides to race against Harry. This setting not only highlights the rivalry between the two animals but also serves as a foundation for crucial moral lessons. As Harry indulges in his daily routine of running, he becomes a symbol of confidence that borders on arrogance, while Tom, with his calm demeanor, represents the virtue of steady effort. This contrast sets the stage for rich discussions and reflections on the values of humility and determination, which are vital for learners of English to grasp.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Come on, who wants to race?" - A great phrase for encouraging others to participate in an activity.
  • "You wouldn’t even get started." - Useful in friendly banter or challenges.
  • "I beat my own record again!" - Excellent for sharing personal achievements.
  • "Take your time." - A supportive phrase reminding others that it’s okay to go slowly.
  • "Let’s have a good laugh!" - Perfect for fostering a friendly atmosphere, especially in competitive situations.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively learn English with YouTube by shadowing the dialogue from "The Hare and the Tortoise," follow these steps:

  1. Watch the video once to get an overview of the story and characters. Pay attention to the emotions and tone in the narration.
  2. Focus on the first segment of the transcript. Listen carefully to Harry Hare’s boasting and try to understand his character.
  3. Rewind and repeat short phrases. Utilize a shadowing app to help you match your voice with the audio, enhancing your pronunciation and intonation.
  4. Practice with pauses. Repeat each segment after the speaker, mimicking their rhythm. This technique is particularly useful for IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Record yourself to compare your pronunciation and fluency against the original audio. This helps you assess your progress and pinpoint areas needing improvement.

Shadow speech techniques, particularly when integrated with narratives like this fable, can significantly boost your speaking skills and self-confidence in social contexts. By emphasizing these strategies, you can progressively master everyday English communication.

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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