Shadowing Practice: GRADE 9 UNIT 5 L1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 29 sentences and 172 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:06. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 77% 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:

• explore /ɪkˈsploɹ/ (verb) — To examine or investigate something systematically.
• magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/ (adjective) — Grand, elegant or splendid in appearance.
• memorable /ˈmɛm.(ə)ɹə.bl̩/ (adjective) — Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable.
• enjoyable /ɛnˈd͡ʒɔɪ.ə.bl̩/ (adjective) — Pleasant, capable of giving pleasure.
• grill /ɡɹɪl/ (noun) — A grating; a grid of wire or a sheet of material with a pattern of holes or slots, usually used to protect something while allowing the passage of air and…
• thrill /θɹɪl/ (verb) — To suddenly excite someone, or to give someone great pleasure; to (figuratively) electrify; to experience such a sensation.
• flora /ˈflɔː.ɹə/ (noun) — Plants considered as a group, especially those of a particular country, region, time, etc.
• scenery /ˈsiːnəɹi/ (noun) — View, natural features, landscape.
• fauna /ˈfɔːnə/ (noun) — Animals considered as a group; especially those of a particular country, region, time, biological group, etc.
• gong /ɡɔŋ/ (noun) — A percussion instrument consisting of a metal disk that emits a loud resonant sound when struck with a soft hammer.
• excite /ɪkˈsaɪt/ (verb) — To stir the emotions of; to cause to feel excitement.
• stream /ˈstɹiːm/ (noun) — A small river; a large creek; a body of moving water confined by banks.
• brilliant /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/ (adjective) — Shining brightly.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• show in (verb) — To lead or direct someone to an enclosed space, usually a room.

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like explore, magnificent, memorable.