Shadowing Practice: AEF 2.5 - Rob has a Problem - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 33 sentences and 183 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:55. The speaker talks slowly, about 96 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

13 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• trainer /ˈtɹeɪnɚ/ (noun) — A person who trains another; a coach.
• enormous /ɪˈnɔː.məs/ (adjective) — Extremely large; greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc.
• keen /kin/ (adjective) — Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
• bore /boɹ/ (verb) — To inspire boredom in somebody.
• translate /tɹænzˈleɪt/ (verb) — To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another.
• sneaker /ˈsnikɚ/ (noun) — One who sneaks.
• transcribe /trænˈskɹaɪb/ (verb) — To convert a representation of language, typically speech but also sign language, etc., to a written representation of it. The term now usually implies the…
• bike /baɪk/ (noun) — Any vehicle sharing some characteristics with a bicycle or motorbike, such as pedal power, a handlebar, or a saddle.
• exercise /ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/ (noun) — Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability.
• restaurant /ˈɹɛst(ə)ˌɹɑnt/ (noun) — An eating establishment in which diners are served food, usually by waiters at their tables but sometimes (as in a fast food restaurant) at a counter.
• cycle /ˈsaɪ.kəl/ (noun) — An interval of space or time in which one set of events or phenomena is completed.
• basketball /ˈbæs.kɪt.bɔl/ (noun) — A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.
• portion /ˈpoɹʃən/ (noun) — An allocated amount.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
• keep up (verb) — To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, isn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like trainer, enormous, keen.