Shadowing Practice: Why I STILL Love Comics - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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I assume that 90 % of what I see online is just trolling.
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You see a video, find out it's AI, haha, you got trolled.
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You click a link and hear the first two notes of this song, that's trolling.
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But when I read this comment on one of my comics, I wasn't entirely sure if it was trolling.
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Is Odds 1 Out on to comics now?
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Haha, is Odds1Out on to comics now?
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Well, the...
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V -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R
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-R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R -R James, what are you doing on the family computer?
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Oh, just a bit of trolling.
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Alright, you need to look at a book now.
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But then, I started reading comics during computer time.
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I stumbled upon so many unique and interesting webcomics, and I was able to read them all completely for free right on the family computer.
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And by filling up both my reading and computer time with nothing but comics, it was only a matter of time before I started my own webcomic.
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My webcomic would be about a family of three boys.
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And let me tell you these boys were a crazy bunch.
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Remember the rules while I'm gone last time Jake bought a hot dog stand and a snow cone machine.
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Alright, I'm off.
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I don't want any funny business.
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Guys, how about we discuss my computer privileges?
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over some snow cones.
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And I wanted the name of this comic to describe the wacky personality traits
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that made these boys the odd ones - That's it.
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That's the name of the comic!
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The Odd One's out.
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Which was already taken, and in two seconds I went, "Oh, easy fix." So, to answer the question: Is Odds1 out on to comics now?
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Who do you think the Odds1 is?
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It's these three.
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To be fair, probably no one knows that these three boys are the odd number ones out, because for the first couple years of posting comics,
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about zero people were reading them.
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Except for mom.
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It was time for a rebrand.
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I figured, brevity is the soul of wit.
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Plus, it was easier to draw.
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I kept making comics to an audience of zero people for years, when eventually, after throwing enough spaghetti at the wall, one of the spaghetti stuck.
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The spaghetti being this comic which I will now read to you.
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Do you like the book I loaned you?
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AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH This pose in panel 1 would kind of be a good profile picture.
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It's square, and that ended up being the last time I ever updated my profile picture.
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Now you know why my icon is wearing a swimsuit, even though I'm always Commando.
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You can actually still see the diving board in the corner of my icon too.
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Wait, actually, what's going on with this diving board?
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Why is the ladder going into the pool?
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Is this AI?
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Eventually, after doing comics long enough, I made the switch to YouTube, and I named my channel...
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get this...
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TheOddOne'sOut.
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Comic.
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I was still so tied to making comics that I basically treated my channel as like a moving comic strip.
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I actually kept the word "comic" in my username for so long that it's printed on my million subscriber plaque.
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Also, yeah, plaques used to look like this.
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I took a break making comics in 2017, but that's not to say I ever lost my passion in making comics.
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When YouTube shorts started to roll around, I turned some of my very early comics into vertical animations.
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And my comic making itch continued to grow that in 2023, me and my team started making comics again.
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And I've really been enjoying creating them for all of you.
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always been onto comics now.
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You know, Virard, back when I had to read to earn computer time, the only books that I liked to read were comics.
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And my mom, who was just desperate for me to look at any kind of book, said: Fine.
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Whatever.
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And now I'm going to help the people of the world earn more computer time
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because I'm releasing my first ever comic book.
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This book contains a collection of some of my favorite comics along with some brand new never before seen comics.
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Turn this boring coffee table into a bright saturated one.
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Put it on your IKEA bookshelf to show everyone your vast collection of literature.
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You must be smart because you know how to read.
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But even if you don't know how to read, you're still in luck.
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animation come to life as every book comes pre -equipped with a flipbook animation.
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Look at him go.
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My comics were what launched this channel into existence, and it's super cool seeing them in print for the very first time.
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Check the link in the description to get yourself a copy for right now.
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And a final, special shoutout to you, V.
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Rerard! for asking all the important questions.
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Check your DMs so I can send you a free copy.
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And to everyone else, thank you for the support, and wear your seatbelt.
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Oh my goodness, he said the thing!
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Wow, he said it!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will focus on enhancing their English speaking skills through the engaging context of comics. By exploring the transcript from the video "Why I STILL Love Comics," you will practice key phrases and vocabulary related to creativity and personal expression. This exercise uses the shadowing technique, a powerful method to improve pronunciation, rhythm, and overall fluency by mimicking a native speaker's speech.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Trolling - Making fun of someone or deceiving them online.
  • Webcomics - Comics published online, often accessible for free.
  • Rebrand - Changing the image or identity of something.
  • Brevity is the soul of wit - A saying suggesting that concise communication is often the most effective.
  • Family computer - A shared computer used by all family members.
  • Stumbling upon - Discovering something by chance.
  • Unique and interesting - Describing something that is one-of-a-kind and captivating.
  • No funny business - A phrase meaning no mischief or trouble should occur.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning, try utilizing the shadow speak method while watching the video. Here are some tailored suggestions:

  • Slow Down: Initially, play the video at a reduced speed. This allows you to catch every word and mimic the speaker more accurately.
  • Pause and Repeat: After each sentence or phrase, pause the video and repeat what you've just heard. This can help reinforce the vocabulary and improve your confidence in using the terms.
  • Focus on Tone and Emotion: Notice how the speaker expresses excitement or humor. Try to incorporate these emotions into your repetition to sound more natural and engaging.
  • Use a Shadowing App: If you have access to technology, consider using a shadowing app that allows you to follow along with the video while recording your voice. This helps you analyze your speaking practice and track improvements.
  • Frequent Practice: Engaging with comics or similar content regularly can help you become familiar with casual language and humor, enriching your everyday vocabulary.

These steps will not only enhance your listening comprehension but will also build your speaking skills as you practice the shadowspeaks effectively through this enjoyable content.

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.