Shadowing Practice: This Is a Good Spot - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 14 sentences and 230 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:57. The speaker talks at a steady 118 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• steady /ˈstɪdi/ (adjective) — Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
• tone /ˈtəʊn/ (noun) — A specific pitch.
• guitar /ɡɪˈtɑɹ/ (noun) — A stringed musical instrument, of European origin, usually with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, played with the fingers or a plectrum (guitar pick).
• shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ (noun) — A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
• spin /spɪn/ (verb) — To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
• stretch /stɹɛt͡ʃ/ (verb) — To lengthen by pulling.
• swing /ˈswɪŋ/ (verb) — To rotate about an off-centre fixed point.
• slide /ˈslaɪ̯d/ (noun) — An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.
• bass /beɪs/ (noun) — A low spectrum of sound tones.
• upgrade /əpˈɡɹeɪd/ (verb) — To improve, usually applied to technology, generally by complete replacement of one or more components.
• urgent /ˈɜː.d͡ʒənt/ (adjective) — Requiring immediate attention.
• lean /ˈliːn/ (verb) — To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
• scout /ˈskaʊ̯t/ (noun) — A person sent out to gather and bring back information; especially, one employed in war to gain information about the enemy and ground.
• distress /dɪˈstɹɛs/ (noun) — Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature.
• chord /kɔɹd/ (noun) — A harmonic set of three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• light on (verb) — Synonym of light upon.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'm, doesn'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 steady, tone, guitar.