Shadowing Practice: What if it actually works out? - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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You know, I guess one person can make a difference.
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Nuff said.
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I was told to say an anecdote.
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Anecdotes are easy.
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So I thought to myself, what kind of anecdote can I tell these people who really have more important things to do?
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And I figured I'm gonna tell you how Spider-Man came into being.
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It's a true story, although sometimes it's hard even for me to believe it.
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But we had already done the Fantastic Four and I think maybe the X-Men, I can't remember the order, but my publisher came to me and he said,
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Stan, I want you to come up with another superhero.
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So I said, okay, and I went home, and when my publisher said do something, I'd better do it because I wanted to keep my job.
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I thought, what can I come up with now?
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And the most important thing in a superhero at first is the superpower.
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Once you get that, everything else comes along.
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So I thought, what power will I give a new guy?
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And I saw a fly crawling on the wall, and I said, hey, if I could get a superhero that could stick to walls and crawl on him,
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man, that would be cool. And that...
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No, I'm lying to you.
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I don't think the word cool was in use then.
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I probably said it'll be groovy.
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I'll never lie to you.
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So I thought that was good.
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Now I needed a name.
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So I said, well, let's see, Fly Man, Mosquito Man.
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I got down to Spider Man.
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Spider Man.
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It just sounded dramatic.
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So, okay, I had my hero.
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I had his power, his name.
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And then I figured, just for fun, I'm gonna give him personal problems.
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Because, except for you people, your lives are perfect, but most other people have personal problems.
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And then I thought I'd make him a teenager, because there were no teenage superheroes that I knew of at the time.
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So armed with all that wonderful material, those great ideas, I ran into my publisher's office and I told him.
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This was my reaction, the reaction he gave me.
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Stan, that is the worst idea I have ever heard.
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First of all, and he started to give me his.. because he's a very logical man, very intellectual.
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First of all, people hate spiders, so you can't call a hero Spider-Man.
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You want him to be a teenager?
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Teenagers can only be sidekicks.
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And you want him to have personal problems?
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Stan, don't you know what a superhero is?
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They don't have personal problems.
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Well, I left the office disappointed, but obviously a much wiser man.
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And I couldn't get Spider-Man out of my system.
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So we were about to kill a magazine.
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I think it was called Amazing Fantasy.
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It wasn't selling well, and we were sending the last issue to press.
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When you do the last issue of a magazine, nobody cares what you put in it, because the book is dying.
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Just to get it out of my system, I put Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy, featured him on the cover, forgot about it.
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A month later, all the sales figures came in.
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My publisher came racing into my office.
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Stan, Stan, you remember that character we both loved so much, Spider-Man?
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He said, let's do him as a series.
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Now, why am I telling you this?
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Besides the fact that I have to kill a little time.
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If you have an idea that you genuinely think is good, don't let some idiot talk you out of it.
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Now, that doesn't mean that every wild notion you come up with is gonna be genius,
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But if there is something that you feel is good something you want to do Something that means something to you
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Try to do it because I think you can only do your best work
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If you're doing what you want to do and
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if you're doing it the way you think it should be done
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And if you can take pride in it after you've done it no matter what it is is.
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If you could look at it and say, I did that, I think it's pretty damn good.
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That's a great feeling.
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I'm Stan Lee.
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I've been writing stories for the young generation for the past 30 years.
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During this time, I think I've learned a lot about what young people think.
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More importantly, I think I've learned a lot about what young people are.
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We're going to try to present a voice
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that somebody will listen to the voice is needed we hope it will be ours

Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

Engaging with the story of Spider-Man, shared through the transcript of this video, presents a unique opportunity for English speaking practice. The narrative is rich with personal anecdotes, demonstrating character development and creative problem-solving. By practicing with this material, learners can enhance their speaking fluency while immersing themselves in a captivating context that combines pop culture with storytelling.

Utilizing the shadowing technique, students can emulate the speaker's tone, rhythm, and intonation patterns, which are key to naturally sounding like a fluent English speaker. Repeating phrases aloud allows learners to internalize language structures while also discovering new vocabulary through context. This makes the practice interactive and engaging, as it challenges learners to not only mimic the words but also capture the emotion behind them.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video transcript, several key structures and expressions are particularly useful for learners:

  • Simple Past Tense: The speaker uses the simple past to narrate his experience in creating Spider-Man (e.g., "I thought," "I ran into"). This tense is essential for storytelling and provides a framework for discussing past events.
  • Conditional Statements: Phrases like "If I could get a superhero that could stick to walls..." exemplify the use of conditionals to express hypothetical situations. This structure aids learners in imagining and discussing potential scenarios.
  • Conversational Vocabulary: The use of informal words like "cool" and "groovy" reflects the speaker's casual tone. Such expressions can enhance learners' ability to communicate in everyday situations.
  • Direct Speech: The speaker quotes his publisher’s reaction verbatim ("Stan, that is the worst idea I have ever heard"), demonstrating how to convey dialogue effectively, adding depth to storytelling.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with the transcript, learners may encounter certain pronunciation challenges:

  • Words with Consonant Clusters: The word "publish" and “publisher” may be tricky. The cluster "pl" requires precise tongue positioning to ensure clarity.
  • Schwa Sound: In words like "about" or "office," the unstressed syllable can often be pronounced quickly. Practicing these sounds using the shadow speak method helps in mastering their natural pronunciation.
  • Intonation Patterns: The speaker varies his tone for dramatic effect, especially when highlighting emotions or quotes. Learners should pay attention to this and incorporate it into their own shadow speech practice.

By focusing on these aspects, learners can enhance their shadowspeak skills and improve their overall English speaking proficiency, making their practice sessions both enjoyable and productive.

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.