Shadowing Practice: Why I’m Finally Starting YouTube (After 10 Years of Thinking and not Doing) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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You have to do scary things in order to get the life you want.
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35 sentences
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You have to do scary things in order to get the life you want.
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And to get the life you want, you have to be different than you are now.
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So that's what we are doing.
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Dear Diary, I was honestly thinking about writing this really poetic intro for my first video.
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But then I thought, nah, let's just be real.
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So basically after 10 freaking years of thinking about it, I'm finally committed to starting this channel.
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I don't know exactly where it's gonna go or what shape it will take, but today I decided to finally press record.
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So let's just figure it out together.
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So now we are walking to Luneur and they are very famous for their salted caramel ice cream.
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When I first moved here, the first few months I was eating Chinese food all the time because in the Netherlands, like I always had to wait for my dad to cook it.
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And when I first got here, I was like, love everything.
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love the swan thai yu i love all the ping all the the jouts everything but then at one point i was like okay i need western food i need bread because i love bread and then i went to luna and i got like myself a whole baguette and i just ate the whole baguette so look at this it has pieces and then there's like salt and I don't know, this is like a biscuit or something with ice cream.
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Yum.
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It is really the best.
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So every time I have to do a serious shot, I cannot do it.
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Like when someone says, yeah, be casual.
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I can't.
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What I've kind of realized is that you are never really fully ready to do something or to chase after your dreams or to become the version that you are, right?
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You are never ready because if you're ready, you're already at that point.
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And I think that's also what's beautiful because you become ready by actually acting on it.
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So me starting this vlog, even though stuff goes wrong, even though microphone falls into ground even though so many things will go wrong during the process you can still hear me right so it's still working okay let's move on but i think just the moral of the story is you just have to start if you have a dream if you have a gut feeling that you need to do something just take action and do it and i think for me i had this in my mind for such a long time but i was always half in it and now i'm in it for a hundred percent so it's so scary but we're gonna do this and yeah i hope you're with me and i i hope with the conversations i want to have with my friends with the people around me, I hope it will also inspire you to really take action into what you really want to do.
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And I think everyone starts at the same time.
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Everyone starts with not knowing anything.
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But what's different from them to us is that they really took the risk and that got them to where they are now.
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And some people are still in progress.
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And that's really cool too.
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It's part of the process and I think you also should enjoy the process of becoming and of becoming more successful.
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So we are in it together.
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So yeah, this is the first vlog.
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We're finally starting the YouTube channel after 10 years of thinking about it, which is actually so embarrassing to say.
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I'm going to enjoy my ice cream and let's see what we're going to do next.
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So we're currently at Rockbund and I really love this spot.
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It's kind of it's very close to like the Bund view but I feel like it's just more modern here and it's like a little bit less touristy and there's so many cute cafes.
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I think that's all the stores that are here are really cool and really trendy and I just really love this part.
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Like it's so high and you're kind of in between all the buildings and it feels so modern like it's it kind of feels like new york don't you think it's like it's very cool and I can do another video where I take you guys shopping in Shanghai I think that will be iconic Shanghai fashion Chinese fashion is so cool like I was never really exposed to Chinese styles and Chinese designers but ever since coming here and going to a few fashion shows I fell in love with fashion and it's amazing and I think they do really cool designs and it's usually like a mix between East and West so let's do a video soon about that the moment that I kind of decided for myself okay this is what I want to do and this is what I'm gonna tell the world that I'm gonna do it becomes a reality right because first it's always in your head and you're always like ah could be cool if I could do this and it's one of my dreams but the moment you say it out loud it becomes a reality sometimes you just have to push yourself to be in certain rooms or to be in certain situations to meet people because you never know who you are gonna meet and you just have to be very proud of what you can do and really trust in your abilities and your dreams it's scary but And it's also very exciting.

Context & Background

In the video titled "Why I’m Finally Starting YouTube (After 10 Years of Thinking and not Doing)," the speaker reflects on their journey toward embracing creativity and taking bold steps to realize their dreams. After a decade of contemplation, they commit to starting a YouTube channel, revealing personal anecdotes and moments of vulnerability throughout the process. The video showcases their love for food and culture while touching upon the universal struggle of feeling unprepared when pursuing personal goals. These relatable themes present a perfect opportunity for English learners to practice their speaking skills through shadowing, particularly by using shadowspeak techniques to mimic the speaker's expressions and intonations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “You just have to start.” - A motivational phrase encouraging action.
  • “It’s part of the process.” - A reminder that growth involves challenges and learning.
  • “You are never really fully ready.” - An acknowledgment of the uncertainty in new endeavors.
  • “Enjoy the process of becoming.” - An invitation to appreciate personal development.
  • “Trust in your abilities and your dreams.” - A call to believe in oneself during the journey.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively engage with this video using shadow speech, follow these simple steps:

  1. Watch the video once: Familiarize yourself with the overall content and tone. Pay attention to the speaker's emotions and body language.
  2. Listen for key phrases: Use the highlighted phrases in your learning and practice. They will serve as foundational expressions for daily communication.
  3. Pause and repeat: After listening to a segment, pause the video and repeat what the speaker has said, mimicking their intonation and rhythm. This technique, known as shadowspeaks, will enhance your pronunciation and fluency.
  4. Record yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your attempts at shadowing. Compare your speech with the original to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Reflect and apply: Consider how these phrases apply to your own experiences. Write down examples or situations in which you could use them. This reflection will deepen your understanding and increase your confidence.

By utilizing these steps and incorporating this engaging video into your practice, you can effectively improve your English speaking skills. Embrace the journey of learning and remember that every effort you make gets you closer to your goals. Explore practical resources like a shadowing site to find more content for further practice.

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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