Shadowing Practice: when you feel like you are settling, start expecting more - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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What if I told you that the way people treat you, the opportunities that you receive,
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and even how successful you become in any area of your life all depends on what you expect?
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It may sound silly, but there's actual science behind it.
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Welcome back to the Igra playbook.
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Today, we're going to explore how we can drastically change and improve the quality of your life in every way possible.
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There is this psychological phenomenon on called the Pygmaline Effect
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that basically states that higher expectations lead to improved performances in a given area, whereas lower expectations, they lead to a worse performance.
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It proves that our expectations shape reality, not just in how we see ourselves, but in how others see and treat us as well.
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In simpler terms, when you expect more, you get more.
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There was this study where teachers were told that certain students were quote -unquote gifted, even though they weren't.
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Students were literally just randomly chosen.
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But by the end of the year, those students performed significantly better.
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Why is that so important and how does it relate to us?
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This holds so much value because it's proof that expectations shape reality.
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People rise or fall to the expectations placed on them.
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Except it doesn't just apply to students, it applies to you, your relationships, your career, and your life as a whole.
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If a simple label can transform students into high achievers, imagine what the expectation you set for yourself can do.
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If you expect the bare minimum, that's exactly what you're going to get.
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If you expect high standards, whether it's how you're treated in relationships, the success you allow yourself to achieve, or even the way you carry yourself,
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your world will start to adjust to match those expectations.
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So let's start with setting higher expectations for yourself.
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There is that saying that goes, aim for the moon and land among the stars
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and it's a principle that I've been personally trying to incorporate into my life a little bit more as well.
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When I first began this self -improvement journey, I set very little goals for myself because I just was not a confident person.
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But as you begin to achieve these small goals and you learn to trust yourself and you begin to build your confidence, I say that's when you should go big and dream big.
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I don't care if you think it's unrealistic or it's too much.
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I used to be so worried about people calling me crazy and delusional for the things I wanted in life, but I've come to a point where if people don't call me delusional,
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then it just means that my dreams aren't big enough.
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Every major success story started with someone who refused to lower their standards, even when everyone around them told them that it was just unrealistic.
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When I expect more in life, I give myself the desire to do more, to be more, and give more.
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I don't just benefit myself, but those around me also.
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And so I never understand why there are people who like to humble others for literally wanting more in life.
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I've always valued health and having high expectations for myself in
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that area of my life pushes me to work out when I don't feel like it sometimes.
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It encourages me to eat more intentionally and avoid drinking and smoking.
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And so as a result, I get to enjoy a very active and healthy lifestyle
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and have the peace of mind knowing
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that i will never have to struggle with any addiction the
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expectations you set for yourself determine the quality of life you get to enjoy
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if you expect yourself to settle in life you will
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if you expect nothing but incredible experiences you'll do something to make that happen
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when you expect yourself to be someone of high value you will begin to behave like someone of high value
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and people will begin to treat you like someone of high value
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and so with that said let's transition over into setting higher expectations for others as well
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because the way people treat you is often a direct reflection of what you allow.
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If you allow inconsistency, if you allow disrespect or low effort, that's exactly what you're going to get and you'll keep getting it
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because you're telling people that this level of treatment is acceptable.
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Start expecting more from people.
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This doesn't have to be harsh or demanding.
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It just has to be intentional.
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I remember when I was talking to this guy
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and he asked me to go on a walk for a date
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and I politely declined and told him that I expected more effort and long story short, he excused himself.
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Worst case scenario, the people who aren't meant for you will naturally fall away.
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In my worst case scenario, expecting more saves me from effort that just didn't meet my expectations
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but the best case scenario is that you allow people to step up to meet those expectations.
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Taking our videos as another example i work with an editor
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and you guys can see literally firsthand how incredibly talented she
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is i always try to remind her how amazing her work is setting
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that expectation of quality and i don't know about you
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but i feel like our editing is still incredible magnificent chef's kiss And so whether it's with your relationships, with work, or with your goals,
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high expectations save you from low -quality experiences.
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These standards act like a filter.
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They determine who and what gets to stay in your life and on your mind.
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When you surround yourself with people who genuinely meet your expectations, experiences that align with your standards you set,
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your entire quality of life literally has no choice but to improve.
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I'm a firm believer that your life will always reflect these standards
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that you set and so if you want better expect more expect better
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because the world is always listening the expectations you set for yourself shape your habits your mindset
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and ultimately the entire quality of life that you get to experience so
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if i could leave you with anything today it's to start
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raising your expectations expect yourself to show up as your best self
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and expect the people in your life to treat you with more effort
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and respect you deserve a life that you actually enjoy.
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And so that's it for today.
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I'll see you in the next one.
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And in the meantime, as always, stay hot.
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Bye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “when you feel like you are settling, start expecting more”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: expectation, expect, quality, treat, standards. This video has 78 sentences and 1097 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:57. The speaker talks fast, about 184 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| expectation noun | /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/ | The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen. |
| scenario noun | /sɪˈnɛəɹioʊ/ | An outline or model of an expected or supposed sequence of events. |
| delusional adjective | /dɪˈluːʒənəl/ | Suffering from delusions; having false or faulty beliefs. |
| unrealistic adjective | Not realistic. | |
| achiever noun | /əˈt͡ʃiːvɚ/ | One who achieves something. |
| firsthand adjective | /ˈfɜːstˌhænd/ | Direct, without intermediate stages. |
| inconsistency noun | /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/ | The state of being inconsistent. |
| playbook noun | /ˈpleɪ.bʊk/ | A book containing the text of a play or plays. |
| politely adverb | /pəˈlaɪtli/ | in a polite manner |
| unquote | Used in speech to indicate the end of a quotation. | |
| disrespect noun | /dɪsɹɪˈspɛkt/ | A lack of respect, esteem or courteous behavior. |
| align verb | /əˈlaɪn/ | To form a line; to fall into line. |
| drastically adverb | To a drastic degree. | |
| believer noun | /bɪˈlivɚ/ | A person who believes; especially regarding religion. |
| intentional adjective | /ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/ | Intended or planned; done deliberately or voluntarily. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| fall away verb | To cease to support a person or cause. | |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. | |
| work out verb | /ˌwɝk ˈaʊt/ | To calculate. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who refused · people who like · people who aren |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've been · I've come · I've always valued |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | were told · aren't meant |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 23 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you're, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, delusional /dɪˈluːʒənəl/, intentional /ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/, harsh /ˈhɑɹʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, delusional /dɪˈluːʒənəl/, inconsistency /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/, intentional /ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like expectation, scenario, delusional.
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.