Shadowing Practice: Zootopia - Felony Tax Evasion Scene - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Get your popsicle.
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Yeah. Because that...
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What does that mean?
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It means...
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I.. have a lead.
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Hello?
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Hi!
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Hello?
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It's me again!
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Hey, it's Officer Toot Toot.
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Oh, no. Actually, it's Officer Hopps, and I'm here to ask you some questions about a case.
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What happened, meet or maid?
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Did someone steal a traffic cone?
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It wasn't me.
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Hey, carrots, you're gonna wake the baby.
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I gotta get to work.
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This is important, sir.
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I think your $10 worth of popsicles can wait.
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Ha!
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I make 200 bucks a day, Fluff.
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365 days a year since I was 12.
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And time is money.
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Hop along.
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Please, just look at the picture.
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You sold Mr. Otterton that popsicle, right?
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Do you know him?
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I know everybody.
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And I also know that somewhere, there's a toy store missing and stuffed animals.
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So why don't you get back to your box?
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Fine.
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Then we'll have to do this the hard way.
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Did you just boot my stroller?
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Nicholas Wilde, you are under arrest.
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Huh. For what?
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Hurting your feelings?
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Felony tax evasion.
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Yeah, $200 a day, 365 days a year.
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Since you were 12, that's two decades to times 20, which is 1,460,000, I think.
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I mean, I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying.
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Anyway, according to your tax forms, you reported, let me see here, zero.
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Unfortunately, lying on a federal form is a punishable offense.
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Five years jail time.
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Well, it's my word against yours.
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200 bucks a day, Fluff.
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365 days a year since I was 12.
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Actually, it's your word against yours.
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And if you want this pen, you're going to help me find this poor missing otter, or the only place you'll be selling popsicles is the prison cafeteria.
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It's called a hustle, sweetheart.
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She hustled you.
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She hustled you good!
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You a cop now, Nick.
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You gonna need one of these. Have fun!
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Working with the bus!
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Start talking.
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I don't know where he is.
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I only saw where he went.
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Great, let's go.
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It's not exactly a place for a cute little bunny.
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Don't call me cute.
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Get in the car.
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Okay, you're the boss.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice key speaking skills using a lively scene from the animated movie "Zootopia." This scene features a conversation that highlights important aspects of dialogue, such as humor and tension, as well as various forms of communication, including legal terminology and casual speech. By focusing on this transcript, you'll enhance your ability to understand natural speech patterns and improve your pronunciation and intonation. Utilizing the shadowing technique, particularly with fast-paced dialogues, will sharpen your speaking ability and boost your confidence in everyday conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Felony - a serious crime, usually punishable by severe penalties.
  • Tax evasion - the illegal act of not paying taxes owed.
  • Hustle - to work hard or engage in a particular activity, sometimes with a connotation of trickery.
  • Important - of great significance or value, requiring attention.
  • Word against yours - a phrase indicating a dispute where only two sides exist.
  • Stroller - a wheeled chair for a baby, typically pushed by a caregiver.
  • Popsicle - a frozen dessert on a stick, commonly enjoyed as a snack.
  • Reported - to have formally provided information, especially to an authority.

Practice Tips

To effectively apply the shadowing technique with this transcript, consider the following tips:

  • Start Slow: Begin by listening to the scene at a slower speed if possible, focusing on each character’s emotions and how they convey their messages.
  • Repetition: Play short segments repeatedly. Repeat after each phrase, mimicking not only the words but also the tone and inflection of the characters.
  • Use a Shadowing App: If you have access to a shadowing app, upload the audio to practice your pronunciation alongside the original voices.
  • Focus on Emotion: Pay attention to how the characters express humor, urgency, and frustration. Try to incorporate these emotional elements into your speech to sound natural.
  • Record Yourself: Use a voice recording app to capture your shadow speech. Compare it to the original dialogue to identify areas for improvement.

By engaging with this scene from "Zootopia," you will not only learn new vocabulary but also practice important speaking skills that will enhance your overall English proficiency.

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.