Shadowing Practice: 0 8 Ambition is not a dirty word - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “0 8 Ambition is not a dirty word”. This video has 15 sentences and 134 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:16. The speaker talks slowly, about 106 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 6 of its 15 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| worker noun | /ˈwɝ.kɚ/ | One who works: a person who performs labor for a living; traditionally, especially, manual labor. |
| brave adjective | /bɹeɪv/ | Strong in the face of fear; courageous. |
| urge verb | /ɜːd͡ʒ/ | To press; to push; to drive; to impel; to force onward. |
| accomplish verb | /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/ | To finish successfully. |
| entrepreneur noun | /ˌɑn.tɹə.pɹəˈnɝ/ | A person who sets up a business; generally, a person who owns and manages a business and assumes its financial risks. |
| ambitious adjective | /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/ | Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction. |
| ambition noun | /æmˈbɪʃ.ən/ | Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or fame; desire to distinguish one's… |
| yourselves | /jəˈsɛlvz/ | You (plural), used to intensify the subject as the group addressed. |
| caregiver noun | /ˈkɛɹɡɪvɚ/ | A carer; a person who looks after another person. |
| tech noun | /tɛk/ | Technology. |
| dirty adjective | /ˈdɝti/ | Unclean; covered with or containing unpleasant substances such as dirt or grime. |
| ability noun | /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. |
| construction noun | /kənˈstɹʌkʃən/ | The process of constructing. |
| imagine verb | /ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ | To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind. |
| teacher noun | /ˈti.t͡ʃɚ/ | A person who teaches, especially one employed in a school; preceptor. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have said |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: accomplish /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/, ambitious /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/, ambition /æmˈbɪʃ.ən/, construction /kənˈstɹʌkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: entrepreneur /ˌɑn.tɹə.pɹəˈnɝ/, ability /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like worker, brave, urge.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.