Shadowing Practice: What you are seeking is seeking you - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
129 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
it occurred to me that hundreds of thousands maybe millions of people every single day
2
learn language without any prior knowledge of language
3
and as as if this isn't wonderful enough like a wonder miraculous the same is also true for wisdom
4
everyone who we see as wise from whom we're trying to learn
5
and who we see has it all figured out at at least it seems,
6
whatever wisdom they have, they acquired it with no wisdom at all.
7
And so truly everything that we're looking for is already looking for us in that sense.
8
This is a very scientific thing to say, just like language.
9
We are looking for language, we have no idea how to speak, otherwise we would already be able to speak.
10
And so there is a way in nature that makes us yearn
11
for something that we do not have and that very yearning itself is also met by something.
12
Because the yearning isn't enough.
13
There is something in nature that also provides that which we are looking for in the physical sense, language, as a baby, as a child.
14
But then we go up to say, I also want to know things.
15
I also want to understand myself.
16
I also want to see what this life really is.
17
And that yearning too, we did not invent.
18
And so that yearning too will be met.
19
And it is being met.
20
But we go around thinking that we are responsible for our own peace, for our own love, for our own wisdom.
21
and we try to create something out of nothing.
22
And we're stressed out that if we fail in this, we fail as a human being.
23
And so we're busy trying to figure out how to do something that we do not have, that we do not know how to do.
24
We're constantly trying to create the means for our ends.
25
We're constantly trying to create the means that will take us to the goal, the goal being peace, wisdom,
26
understanding, happiness, whatever it is that we have set as our goal.
27
We are constantly trying to create the means to those ends.
28
But those means are actually blocking us because the ends are already there.
29
We are constantly trying to say, oh, maybe my career can be a means to an end.
30
Maybe my career can make me happy.
31
Maybe if I surround myself with enough people,
32
maybe if I become popular Maybe if I am desired I become desirable to myself
33
Maybe if I do a lot of charity A lot of good things I can become good
34
Everything is a means to an end
35
but this life is not really like the first job that demands three years of experience
36
but we're trying to get the job to get experience this is not like that
37
in life everything is provided and all we need to do is to permit it
38
to say I am open I am ready to receive this.
39
But our means are blocking this perception, or rather our activities so busy,
40
so concerned, so involved, and everything is so important and so dangerous and so perilous. and
41
so we're constantly looking out for our means trying to hold
42
them together trying to put them together trying to protect them
43
so that they can reach their end
44
and this is our concern this is our work
45
and this is what we're busy with
46
and we are too busy to receive the very things for which we are doing all of this for
47
and this will never end
48
because the means are constantly changing trying to procure something that is changeless because peace is not something that's changing
49
peace is the stillness, the everlasting condition how can that be achieved with a constantly changing plan this planning,
50
this scheming this doing and achieving
51
and trying all of it is not only unnecessary it is counter to the very thing
52
that we're trying to achieve
53
and the obvious question is well how can I stop this this seems like the right thing if I do nothing
54
am I supposed to just sit on my hands all day nothing is going to get done
55
that way I need to pay rent I need to go do things
56
but all we need to do is to finally discern the
57
important from the unimportant we can know exactly what to do by knowing what not to do is cheating
58
and deceiving and lying going to get me ahead is this going to get me towards peace
59
and happiness and fulfillment and meaning in life because every time I cheat every time I deceive,
60
every time I even look at that which is not mine,
61
I feel the pangs, the limitations,
62
the heat of jealousy, of resentment.
63
Why didn't I get this?
64
Or I deserve it and others are getting it.
65
This is like a burning.
66
This is like a fire.
67
Every time I engage in this, I burn like this.
68
And so is this maybe an indication from life that this is not the way?
69
And here we can see how life shows us what is not the way.
70
And inevitably what will remain will be the way, although by that time we will have the very thing.
71
There will be no way to peace.
72
We will say, I have let go of so much.
73
Now I realize the letting go is the peace itself.
74
And we say, I want wisdom.
75
I want knowledge.
76
I want to be secure in this world.
77
I want to understand this world.
78
I want to be one with it, whatever our ideas about it are.
79
If we act like we are the judges of this, that we know better than life, every single time we say this should not have been like this
80
or i approve this this is exactly what i would have done
81
and that's what's happening so naturally this is the right thing that's going on
82
every single time we say this we necessarily admit that we know better
83
but isn't this whole seeking because we don't know better
84
so this ignorance this illusion that we know better is blocking our reception of wisdom
85
that the whole world is trying to impart into us just like it is trying to impart language
86
and the baby is open it doesn't have the ignorance it doesn't have those ideas
87
that are falsely blocking the receptors of everything it needs It's empty.
88
There are no ideas.
89
There are no understandings of anything, which can be misunderstandings.
90
It's just open.
91
And so it's watching the mothers,
92
the fathers, everyone else's mouths and actions and how they act in the world and how they react to things.
93
And from that, it is learning associations and saying, this sound that is coming out of the mouth, it has something to do with this situation,
94
with this emotion, with what is currently happening.
95
And so that is how it is picking up one word,
96
two words, three words, and then associating them with each other and seeing the differences also.
97
Just like in that way we are shown by life,
98
every single time you think you know better and you act out of that
99
you get into misery you get into confusion you get into suffering you get into anger into resentment into hopelessness
100
and so when people say surrender this is what it means Surrender does not mean to give up,
101
to lose hope, and to, I might as well die.
102
No, not surrender like that.
103
Surrender, I recognize.
104
I recognize there is something that knows.
105
And that is not me.
106
Because I am seeking for wisdom.
107
If I am seeking wisdom, if I am seeking peace, then it means I don't have it.
108
So why not let the one who does have it, in fact, the one that is the source of it, why not let that one take over?
109
and also not take over in a passive sense but again the openness of the child the curiosity,
110
the attention the non-judgmental observation of every single thing that is going on I see this, I wonder about this
111
and I'm just going to put my attention on it without
112
any of my preconceived notions without any making up any ideas without imagining anything just by perception,
113
by observation, by witnessing.
114
That's when everything unfolds in the thing that we're looking at.
115
That's how the child looks at language
116
and language unfolds into it and all of a sudden it starts speaking
117
and becomes even more eloquent than the ones whom it learned language from.
118
Just like that wisdom can unfold in us now that we have the language
119
and it can come into this mind and it can take over and it can finally be accepted, be permitted.
120
And it's the same with peace.
121
By being open, by surrendering in this way,
122
by letting go of every notion of every idea of I know better or things should be like this instead of this,
123
and by condemning all those things we think are wrong and by praising and admiring and almost worshipping
124
the things that we think are right, if we let go of both of those,
125
both of those, and if we don't permit anyone else's ideas,
126
if we say, if this makes sense to me, it will unfold anyway.
127
If we stay empty like this and open and surrendered,
128
then every single thing which we are rightfully seeking will come and we will need it
129
and so truly every single thing that you are looking for is looking for you
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
C16
105 sentences
the desire to be loved
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
23 sentences
What is a Seeker?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C110
105 sentences
The Law of Resonance: You Never Meet Anyone by Chance
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C15
4 sentences
Loneliness and the Illusion of Connection | Thich Nhat Hanh, 2012.12.13
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C130 sentences
Why Is Confidence So Attractive?
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
73 sentences
How to Get Whatever You Want
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C12
66 sentences
Behave as if You Are the First Here
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C131
19 sentences
The Secret to a Calm Life
British AccentDaily ConversationWorking Adults
C12
131 sentences
Why is Life Unfair to Me? | Samantha Ruth Prabhu Asks Sadhguru
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C14
232 sentences
Why the Universe Sends You Someone You Can't Be With | Carl Jung Psychology
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
306 sentences
to allow is to let go
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C15
19 sentences
Are You Happy | Shi Heng Yi
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice
If you’re looking to improve English pronunciation or master the shadowing technique, this video is a goldmine. Its slow, reflective pace makes it easy to follow, while the natural flow of ideas mimics real-life conversation—no stilted phrases here. The speaker uses relatable concepts (like learning language as a child) that keep you engaged, so practicing doesn’t feel like a chore. Plus, the focus on "yearning" and "stillness" adds emotional depth, helping you connect with the language on a deeper level—key for sounding authentic when you speak.
Breaking Down Natural English Phrasing
Let’s look at a few lines that showcase natural speech: - "it occurred to me that hundreds of thousands maybe millions of people every single day learn language without any prior knowledge": The casual "maybe" and "every single day" make this sound like a friend sharing a thought, not a formal lecture. Notice how "prior knowledge" is used instead of "previous experience"—it’s concise and common in everyday talk. - "we are busy trying to figure out how to do something that we do not have, that we do not know how to do": The repetition of "that we do not" creates a rhythmic flow, a trick native speakers use to emphasize a point. It’s also a great example of how to structure complex ideas simply. - "all we need to do is to permit it to say I am open I am ready to receive this": The run-on structure ("I am open I am ready") is intentional, mimicking the way we speak when we’re passionate—no need for perfect punctuation here. This is how real conversations sound, and practicing it will make your speech feel more human.
A Simple Shadowing Routine for This Video
Try this shadow speak exercise to make the most of the video:
- Watch the video once to understand the message. Focus on the speaker’s tone—how they slow down for emphasis and rise in pitch when asking implicit questions.
- Play a 5-second clip, pause, and repeat it immediately, copying the rhythm, stress, and pronunciation. Don’t worry about mistakes—just aim to match the "feel" of the speech. This is the core of shadowspeaks practice.
- Record yourself repeating the clip. Compare it to the original: Did you stress "yearning" the same way? Did you pause after "miraculous"? Adjust and try again.
- Gradually increase the clip length to 10-15 seconds. Over time, you’ll notice your pronunciation and fluency improving—all while learning meaningful ideas.
Learning English with YouTube doesn’t get better than this. The video’s content and style work together to make practice effective and enjoyable—so hit play, start shadowing, and let your speech grow naturally.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is also met · will be met · being met |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | everyone who we · that which is · anything, which can |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have set · have let |
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.