Shadowing Practice: How To Make a Terrarium - A SIMPLE Beginner Guide - Learn English Speaking with Video

In this video you'll learn how to make an easy and simple terrarium that will last for years to come.

I've done my best to link most of the materials I've used down below.

Often overlooked in most terrarium tutorials is picking a suitable glass to build your terrarium in.

Both of these examples here would make great terrariums, but if you're just starting out it would be a wise idea to use the one on the left, as it has a much larger opening.

Now we've selected the glassware, let's get into the build.

I start by adding a drainage layer to the bottom of the jar.

The purpose of this layer is to provide a place for excess water to sit, instead of sitting in the substrate I use this terrarium tool to make sure the layer is flat, with no high

or low points It's simply just a stick with a cork

on the end For this terrarium I use some cheap pea gravel, but you can use what you have available Any small rocks or pebbles will work For a terrarium this size,

the drainage layer only needs to be about half an inch thick And obviously the bigger the terrarium, the bigger the drainage layer Now depending on the size drainage gravel you use,

you may need to add a mesh separator.

This will help keep the substrate out of the drainage layer.

If you've used pea gravel like I have here, which is relatively small in size, it's not 100% necessary as the substrate will have a hard time finding its way through.

If you're using something like leaker, which is a lot larger in size, it's definitely worth using.

I like to use window screen mesh as it's easy to cut, the water can get through easily and it comes in a big sheet like this which lasts for a while.

Usually the next step would be to add a charcoal layer.

This will help remove any impurities inside the terrarium.

But as I use it in my substrate mix, a dedicated layer is not necessary.

Talking about the substrate, it is a staple of your terrarium's health, so it's important that you get it right right.

The ideal terrarium substrate should provide nutrients, hold humidity and be resistant to compression.

Quick tip before putting it in the terrarium, it's a good idea to decide which face you want to be the front and back.

Most glass jars have these seams going down the side, which ideally you don't want to be visible, so it's a good idea to make sure they're on the sides of the terrarium.

Back to the substrate, I'll put the mix I use up on screen now

so you have a go at making it yourself but

if you can't make it like i said at the start

i'll have all the links below once a generous amount of

substrate is in i use the terrarium tool to slope it towards the back

and gently pat it down by creating a slope towards the

back this will help improve the depth inside the terrarium

and make it look deeper than it actually is time for the fun part the hardscape

when it comes to this part of making a terrarium you can make it as elaborate or as simple as you want.

These are an example of some of the different rocks and sticks you can use inside your terrarium, but if you don't fancy buying them you can always have a look outside and see what you can find.

For this terrarium I want to keep the hards get really

simple to put more focus on the plant I'm going to be using.

This is black lava rock and I'm just going to place a few pieces around the base of the terrarium.

To keep them in place I simply use some tweezers or my hands to gently push them into the substrate.

It's important to take your time and come up with a layout you are happy with.

Time for the moss.

I'm using fern moss for this terrarium, but you can use what moss you have available to you.

I simply just tear it into chunks and gently place it around the terrarium.

Most species of moss grow great inside a terrarium, but on the other hand some don't.

It's all about trial and error and finding the ones that work for you.

If you're finding this video useful, be sure to give it a like.

Using some smaller pieces I fill in any gaps

and cracks around the terrarium and gently pat it all down onto the substrate.

As the moss was relatively dry I gave it a light spray down before continuing.

Time for the plants, or plant I should say as I'm just using this one for this terrarium,

but if you wanted to use more here's a few options that grow great in terrariums.

I propagated this peperomia from just a leaf cutting.

Let me know if you would like to see a separate video on how to propagate your terrarium plants.

I'm using a wooden stick to create a small hole in the substrate for the stem of the plant to go into.

Although this cutting has little to no roots at the moment, the humidity of the terrarium will actually provide perfect conditions for it to root and grow.

Time for a light spray down.

When it comes to watering, it's very important that you don't over saturate the terrarium.

The substrate should be damp, but not wet or soggy.

If you're ever unsure, just remember less is more.

I then use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass of the terrarium.

Not finished yet, we first need to add the springtails.

These These are tiny little helpers that will help keep the terrarium clean by eating any mould or decaying matter.

Their poop will then fertilise the plants and in turn the plants provide sufficient oxygen for them to survive.

Now place your terrarium under an LED light

or in a bright spot in indirect sunlight and watch it grow for years to come.

If you found this video useful and plan to make a terrarium yourself, watch this video for 5 of the best tips to make a healthy terrarium.

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Vocabulario y notas de pronunciación para esta lección

Este vídeo tiene 63 frases y 1061 palabras para practicar shadowing. La parte hablada dura 5:27. El hablante habla rápido, unas 194 palabras por minuto, así que espera sonidos enlazados y reducidos. Solo el 80 % de las palabras está entre las 3.000 más comunes del inglés, por lo que el vocabulario es exigente.

Vocabulario clave de este vídeo

15 palabras del vídeo que vale la pena aprender, con su pronunciación y significado:

Palabra	Pronunciación	Significado
substrate sustantivo	/ˈsʌbˌstɹeɪt/	sustrato, substrato
layer sustantivo	/ˈleɪ̯ɚ/	capa, tongada
moss sustantivo	/mɔs/	musgo
drainage sustantivo	/ˈdɹeɪnəd͡ʒ/	drenaje, desagüe
gently adverbio	/ˈd͡ʒɛntli/	mansamente, suavemente
gravel sustantivo	/ˈɡɹævəl/	grava, gravilla
spray sustantivo	/spɹeɪ/	spray, aerosol
slope sustantivo	/sloʊp/	pendiente, cuesta
humidity sustantivo	/hjuːˈmɪd.ə.ti/	humedad, relente
mesh sustantivo	/mɛʃ/	malla, rejilla
gap sustantivo	/ɡæp/	brecha, rehendija
thick adjetivo	/θɪk/	grueso, espeso
select verbo	/sɪˈlɛkt/	seleccionar, cribar
ideal adjetivo	/aɪˈdi(ə)l/	ideal, idóneo
crack sustantivo	/kɹæk/	grieta

Phrasal verbs que vas a escuchar

Palabra	Pronunciación	Significado
come up with verbo		ingeniar, ingeniarse
get through verbo	/ɡɛt ˈθɹu/	aguantar, salir adelante

Gramática en este vídeo

Las estructuras que más usa el hablante, con las palabras exactas del vídeo:

Estructura	En el vídeo
Present perfect have/has + participio pasado — una acción pasada que sigue importando ahora	I've done · we've selected
Oraciones de relativo who / which + oración — información extra sobre una persona o cosa	here, which is · leaker, which is
Consejo con “should” should + verbo — decir qué es buena idea	should provide · should say · should be
Futuro con “will” will + verbo — una decisión, una promesa o una predicción	you'll learn · will work · will help

Pronunciación a tener en cuenta

El hablante usa 22 contracciones y formas reducidas, como I'm, don't, you're. Dilas en su forma corta, tal como las oyes.

Los sonidos de “th”: thick /θɪk/, cloth /klɒθ/
Los sonidos de “sh” y “zh”: mesh /mɛʃ/, sheet /ʃit/, sufficient /səˈfɪʃənt/, compression /kəmˈpɹɛʃ.ən/
Palabras largas — cuida el acento: humidity /hjuːˈmɪd.ə.ti/, elaborate /ɪˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/, ideally /aɪˈdi.ə.li/, terrarium /təˈɹɛɹ.i.əm/, separator /ˈsɛpəˌɹeɪtəɹ/

Cómo practicar con este vídeo

Escucha el vídeo entero una vez sin hablar y anota las palabras que no conoces.
Empieza a velocidad 0,75×, haz shadowing frase por frase y vuelve a la velocidad normal cuando te resulte fácil.
Grábate y compara con el original, prestando atención a palabras como substrate, layer, moss.

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.

Técnica de shadowing: lee la guía completa paso a paso →

Shadowing Practice: How To Make a Terrarium - A SIMPLE Beginner Guide - Learn English Speaking with Video

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