Shadowing Practice: Unit 09 - Learn English Speaking with Video

This clip is a great tool to learn English with videos, focusing on two key speaking skills: asking and answering questions about ownership, and using context to clarify misunderstandings. You’ll practice phrases like “Whose gloves are these?” and “But those can’t be mine,” which are essential for daily conversations. Additionally, it builds your ability to follow a simple narrative, helping you connect ideas in spoken English—perfect for real-life interactions.

Listen For These Sounds

Pay attention to connected speech in the dialogue. For example, “Haven't you got” often reduces to “Haven’cha got” in casual speech, with the “t” in “haven’t” softening and linking to “you.” Similarly, “I’ve lost mine” may sound like “I’ve los’ mine,” where the “t” in “lost” is barely pronounced. These reductions are common in native speech, so noticing them will help you understand faster and speak more naturally. Practicing with shadowspeaks (repeating aloud while listening) can make these patterns second nature.

Say It Like a Native

To mirror the speaker’s rhythm, stress the key words in each sentence. In “Whose gloves are these?”, stress “whose” and “these” to emphasize the question. In Dick’s response, “But those can’t be mine,” stress “but” and “can’t” to show contradiction. The speaker also uses a rising intonation on “Yes, miss” to indicate politeness, then a falling intonation on “I’ve lost mine” to confirm a fact. Try shadow speech by pausing the video and repeating each line, matching the stress and intonation. This technique, called shadowspeak, trains your mouth and ears to work together, making your speech sound more fluent and natural. Whether you’re practicing shadow speak alone or with a partner, this video provides the perfect material to refine your skills.