Shadowing Practice: Westlife - I Have a Dream (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 25 sentences and 256 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:56. The speaker talks slowly, about 65 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• angel /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ (noun) — An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes.
• tale /ˈteɪl/ (noun) — A rehearsal of what has occurred; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.
• destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/ (noun) — The place set for the end of a journey or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.
• worthwhile /ˌwɜː(ɹ)θˈwaɪl/ (adjective) — Good and important enough to spend time, effort, or money on.
• fail /feɪl/ (verb) — To be unsuccessful.
• sing /ˈsɪŋ/ (verb) — To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
• stream /ˈstɹiːm/ (noun) — A small river; a large creek; a body of moving water confined by banks.
• mile /maɪ̯l/ (noun) — The international mile: a unit of length precisely equal to 1.609344 kilometers established by treaty among Anglophone nations in 1959, divided into 5,280 feet…
• dream /ˈdɹim/ (verb) — To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping.
• cross /kɹɑs/ (noun) — A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other.
• wonder /ˈwʌndɚ/ (noun) — A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise…
• reality /ɹiˈæləti/ (noun) — The state of being actual or real; realness.
• push /pʊʃ/ (verb) — To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• push through (verb) — To force (legislation or a plan) to be passed or agreed to or a decision to be reached.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, ain't, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/, push /pʊʃ/
• Long words — get the stress right: destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/, reality /ɹiˈæləti/

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 angel, tale, destination.