Shadowing Practice: We Are All Different and THAT'S AWESOME! Cole Blakeway TEDxWestVancouverED - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Reviewer Gopal My name is Cole,
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Reviewer Gopal My name is Cole,
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and over the next few minutes,
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I'm going to teach you that it's okay to be different.
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Since a young age, I've worn different colored socks and two different shoes.
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Why?
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Because I am unique, a standout from the crowd.
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I feel best when I am being me.
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This summer, a funny thing happened.
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I was in a bookstore with my mom when I realized everyone was strangely quiet.
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And so I did what needed to be done.
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I started singing.
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As a joke, my mom pointed to a book and said,
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Hey Cole, this book is for you.
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I pulled it out and read the cover.
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Here's what it said, You're Weird.
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A creative journal for misfits,
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oddballs, and anyone else who's uniquely awesome.
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It's the best book ever!
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It tells everyone it's cool to be different.
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Today, I'm going to tell you about a friendship of mine that is a little different than you might expect.
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This is one of my best friends, Steven.
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He is the happiest person I know.
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Steven is 44 years old and has autism.
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Let me start by explaining how we became special friends.
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When my mom was just 13 years old,
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she was in the high school cafeteria about to have lunch with her friends.
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Then she passed a table of kids with special needs.
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Steven was a boy at that table.
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He shouted out, hey, what's your name?
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Come sit with me.
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My mom sat down and in that moment, a special friendship began.
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Steven asked my mom three questions.
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He wanted to know what she was having for lunch,
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her phone number, and if they could be friends for 40 years.
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As my mom gave him her phone number and said yes,
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he clapped with excitement and said,
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I will call you every day.
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Ever since that day, in 1988,
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he has kept his promise and called our house every single day.
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When I was born, Stephen was a special part of our family,
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and I've grown up calling him Uncle Stephen.
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Stephen is included in family dinners,
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he comes to my soccer games,
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he loves watching movies with us,
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and every couple of weeks, he has a sleepover.
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Stephen has had autism his whole life.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills,
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repetitive behaviors, speech, and non-verbal communications,
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as well as by unique strengths and differences.
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My friend Stephen is not able to drive a car,
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but he is able to memorize every phone number he has ever heard.
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There is no cure for autism,
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but I think Stephen is perfect the way he is.
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One of my favorite memories with Stephen is whenever a fire truck passes us.
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He shouts out when I grow up,
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I want to be a fire truck.
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That always makes me smile.
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He likes the idea of being a fireman,
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but he loves the idea of being a fire truck.
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Another thing that always makes me laugh is how much he likes to eat.
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Have you ever met someone who can eat a steak,
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eight slices of pizza, french fries,
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apple pie, ice cream, and they are still starving?
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Well, Stephen eats all that almost every time we see him.
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Finally, one of my favorite memories with Stephen is when we play hide-and-seek.
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He always hides in the closets.
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I love playing hide-and-seek with Stephen.
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It always makes me smile.
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But not just me.
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Not just me, he makes everyone smile.
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I don't think we need a cure for autism,
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just like we don't need a cure for freckles.
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Autism is not a disease,
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just like brown hair isn't a disease.
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You don't need to fix something that isn't broken.
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I look up to my Uncle Stephen,
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as he is the happiest person I know.
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Stephen doesn't try to be like anyone else.
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He is exactly who he was meant to be.
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Imagine a world where we all live like Stephen.
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Find out what makes you different.
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Don't be afraid to stand out.
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Wake up, jump out of bed,
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and be exactly who you are.
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We are all a little different, and that's awesome.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In the TEDx talk "We Are All Different and THAT'S AWESOME!" by Cole Blakeway, the speaker shares his personal experiences and insights about embracing individuality and fostering friendships that celebrate diversity. Through the heartwarming story of his lifelong friend Steven, who has autism, Cole illustrates the beauty of being different and how genuine connections can be formed across varying backgrounds. This uplifting narrative emphasizes that unique attributes are not only acceptable but to be celebrated, providing invaluable lessons on acceptance and friendship.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “What’s your name?” - A fundamental question that opens the door for new friendships.
  • “Can we be friends?” - An essential phrase that conveys the desire for companionship.
  • “I will call you every day.” - An expression of commitment and reliability in relationships.
  • “You are unique.” - A powerful affirmation that promotes self-acceptance.
  • “It’s okay to be different.” - A reassuring message that encourages embracing one’s individuality.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is a highly effective technique to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you practice shadow speaking with Cole Blakeway’s talk:

  1. Find the Video: Start by watching Cole’s TEDx talk to familiarize yourself with the content and the speaker's style.
  2. Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the pronunciation, intonation, and the rhythm of Cole’s speech.
  3. Pause and Repeat: Use a shadowing site to pause after a sentence and repeat what you’ve heard. Focus on mimicking his tone and body language, which are key for natural communication.
  4. Record Yourself: Speak along with Cole and record your voice. Listen afterward to identify areas where your pronunciation may differ.
  5. Practice Regularly: Make shadowing a daily habit. Set aside time for IELTS speaking practice to bolster your overall speaking skills while integrating new phrases.

By dedicating yourself to this method, you'll enhance your speaking abilities and confidence, allowing you to connect with others more authentically. Remember, just as Cole emphasizes, being different is something extraordinary; let your unique voice shine through in every conversation.

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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