Shadowing Practice: Video 5: Advice for storytellers - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Remember, the goal of this lesson is to get you thinking of yourself as a storyteller.
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Remember, the goal of this lesson is to get you thinking of yourself as a storyteller.
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As you'll discover, telling stories can be challenging.
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So, let's get a bit of advice and encouragement from our artists.
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My high school art teacher pointed out the drawings of Michelangelo to me.
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And she pointed out specifically that you see all these marks that he's left here?
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these were the errors.
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These are the things where he was searching for the right mark and then he
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found the right line to draw the hand.
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But he didn't have to erase him.
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That was part of the search and it's okay.
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It's actually part of the process.
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And so that's when in fact she was like get rid of your erasers.
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In fact, use your eraser to draw not to get rid of something.
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Because if you're messing up then at least you're like assured
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that you're actually making progress to something that can be better than where you started.
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it's okay that your idea isn't perfect right out of the gate
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and it's just about like identifying like is there something there emotionally
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that is drawing you to it and if there is then there's something there
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and you can just keep working on it and changing it
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but always remembering like what was that initial like feeling
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that drew you to that idea ideas really usually when you first come up with them, they're kind of more like notions.
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That's kind of like in the what if, right?
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What if?
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And then the way you get to sort of a solid, actionable idea is that you just keep working on it.
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And every time you do a version of it, every time you do a pass on it, you get closer to the idea.
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It's a lot of hard work, and it takes trial and error to get that story right.
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Because one thing that may affect you and you may have an idea is not necessarily going to speak to somebody else.
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And that's where figuring out the best way to get them out of their head and intellectualizing what's being told them,
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to feeling it and getting in touch with their emotions so that they're invested in what's happening to the character.
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You know, the good news is that if you love it, if you like telling stories, if you like communicating, if you like drawing pictures,
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you know, you won't want to stop.
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That's the great part.
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And even if it feels like you're not making progress, you'll see a stack of drawings, or you'll see a bunch of pieces of paper that have your words on them.
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And I mean, that's really impressive because you're making progress.
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So you gotta keep practicing.
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It's as simple as that.
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I, there's no easy way.
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And in fact, it's really fun if you really enjoy it.
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Hopefully now you have a sense of a few what-ifs you want to explore, and some worlds and characters to go with them.
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And in the next lesson, we'll dig deeper into developing characters and how we approach that at Pixar.

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Context & Background

In this video, titled "Advice for storytellers," a passionate speaker shares insights on the importance of storytelling and the creative process. Drawing on experiences from art and personal growth, the speaker emphasizes that storytelling is not just about crafting a perfect narrative but also about exploring ideas and emotions. The message encourages aspiring storytellers to embrace imperfections and view challenges as essential parts of their creative journey. As you learn English, integrating storytelling into your practice can help deepen your understanding and improve your speaking skills in real-life contexts.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “It’s okay that your idea isn’t perfect right out of the gate.” - A reminder that initial thoughts are just starting points on your journey to better storytelling.
  • “You’re making progress.” - A phrase that students can use to encourage themselves during their English learning journey.
  • “Keep working on it.” - A motivational phrase for learners to persist and improve their skills.
  • “What if?” - This question can inspire new ideas and facilitate deeper conversations in English practice.
  • “Get in touch with their emotions.” - This phrase highlights the importance of emotional connection in storytelling and persuasive communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the content of this video using shadowing techniques, follow these steps:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the video once to familiarize yourself with the context and tone.
  2. Identify Key Phrases: Use the Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication section as a starting point. Write them down to practice them later.
  3. Listen and Repeat: Play the video again, pausing after each sentence. Try to repeat after the speaker, mimicking their pronunciation and intonation.
  4. Focus on Emotions: Notice the emotional undertones in the speaker’s delivery. This will help you convey more genuine feelings when you practice speaking.
  5. Practice with a Partner: Use a shadowing app or toolkit to record yourself speaking these phrases. Share them with an English language partner, or engage in role-play scenarios to simulate conversation.

By consistently practicing your English speaking skills through storytelling and shadowing, you will strengthen your ability to communicate effectively. Remember, whether you’re preparing for IELTS speaking practice or learning English with YouTube videos, the journey requires patience, practice, and a willingness to express yourself creatively.

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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