Shadowing Practice: YOU GET WHAT YOU GET by Julie Gassman and Sarah Horne - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Welcome to Peavy Storytime!
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You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman Illustrated by Sarah Horn Melvin did not deal well with disappointment.
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If his cookie had half as many chocolate chips as his sister's, LOOK OUT!
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If he lost his turn during a game, STAND BACK!
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And if he didn't get exactly what he wanted, well, you know, sorry Melvin, they were out of dinosaur backpacks.
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No, Melvin did not deal well with disappointment, and this is why he hated his teacher's favorite rule.
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You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
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Because of this rule, Melvin could not throw a fit if he had to use crayons instead of markers.
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He could not throw a fit if he ended up last in line.
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He couldn't even throw a fit if his napkin was pink instead of green.
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Oh well, mumbled Melvin, at least I can still throw a fit at home.
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My family doesn't know a thing about that terrible rule.
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But that night, when it was Melvin's turn to choose the movie, things changed.
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As soon as he chose the dinosaur rumble, his sister stomped her foot and whined, But I want to watch a pony called Trouble.
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Too bad.
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You get what you get and you don't throw a fit said Melvin everyone stopped
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and looked at Melvin what do you say asked dad you get what you get
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and you don't throw a fit repeated Melvin so if your cookie only has a few chocolate chips,
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you shouldn't throw a fit, asked his sister.
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And if you lose a turn during a game, you shouldn't throw a fit, asked his dad.
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And if the dinosaur backpacks are all sold out, you should be happy with the robot one.
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And you absolutely should not throw a fit, asked his mom.
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Melvin gulped.
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There is no way to take it back.
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Everyone knew.
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Well, I mean, at school you shouldn't throw a fit, because that's the rule, but at home you can, he said.
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I think that sounds like a good rule for at home, too, said Dad.
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I agree, said Mom.
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Home and school, that's the rule, his sister chanted.
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Melvin wanted to cry.
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He wanted to shout.
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He wanted to lie down on the ground and throw his arms and legs about.
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But he didn't.
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After all, you get what you get and you don't really fit.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice listening and speaking skills through the engaging story "You Get What You Get" by Julie Gassman. The narrative follows Melvin, a character who struggles with disappointment, and the lesson he learns about accepting circumstances. By focusing on the emotions and expressions conveyed through the story, you will enhance your comprehension and speaking abilities, making this an excellent opportunity for IELTS speaking practice. You will learn to articulate thoughts about disappointment and acceptance in a conversational manner.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Disappointment: A feeling of sadness or displeasure when something does not turn out as expected.
  • Throw a fit: To express anger or frustration in an exaggerated manner.
  • Rule: A prescribed guide for conduct or action.
  • Cookie: A sweet baked treat, often containing chocolate chips.
  • Last in line: The person positioned at the end of a queue.
  • Gulped: An expression of nervousness or fear, often associated with swallowing hard.
  • Happy with: Feeling satisfied or content with something.
  • Stomped: To walk with heavy steps, often indicating anger or impatience.

Practice Tips

When shadowing this video, make sure to focus on the tone and pace of the narration. The story is read in a friendly and engaging manner, which makes it suitable for practicing fluency. Here are some specific tips to help you effectively use a shadowing app or shadowing site:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play a short segment of the video, then pause and repeat what you hear. Pay attention to the emotions in Melvin's story as they will help you convey feelings in your speaking.
  • Use the Shadowing Technique: Imitate not just the words but also the rhythm and intonation of the speaker. This will ensure that your speech becomes more natural and expressive.
  • Practice with Variations: Try varying the speed of your repetition. Start slowly and then gradually increase to match the video’s pace, which is important for building confidence in speaking.
  • Record Yourself: Use your device to record your shadow speech. Listening to yourself can help you identify areas for improvement.

Engaging with stories like this not only enriches your vocabulary but also helps you understand expressions of emotion in everyday conversation, making it beneficial for instances such as IELTS speaking 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.