Shadowing Practice: تعلم اللغة الانجليزية كما يتعلمها الغرب : كورس شامل لتعلم اللغة الانجليزية من الصفر 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 135 sentences and 1445 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:29. The speaker talks at a steady 116 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- disable /dɪsˈeɪbəl/ (verb) — To render unable; to take away an ability of, as by crippling.
- wheelchair /ˈ(h)wilt͡ʃɛɹ/ (noun) — A chair mounted on large wheels for the transportation or use of a sick or disabled person.
- arabic /ˈæɹəbɪk/ (adjective) — Only used in arabic acid
- bicycle /ˈbaɪsɪk(ə)l/ (noun) — A vehicle that has two primary wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s…
- goalkeeper /ˈɡoʊl.kiːpɚ/ (noun) — A designated player that attempts to prevent the opposing team from scoring by protecting a goal.
- bone /boʊn/ (noun) — A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates.
- skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
- classroom /ˈklɑːsɹʊm/ (noun) — A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
- scare /skɛɚ/ (verb) — To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
- translate /tɹænzˈleɪt/ (verb) — To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another.
- topic /ˈtɑpɪk/ (noun) — A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
- lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
- mirror /ˈmiɹɚ/ (noun) — A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.
- desk /dɛsk/ (noun) — A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a…
- comfort /ˈkʌm.fət/ (noun) — Contentment, ease.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
- sit in (verb) — To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.
- go back to (verb) — To stem from; to originate in.
- go ahead /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ (verb) — To proceed with; to begin.
- sit down (verb) — To assume a sitting position from a standing position.
- speak for (verb) — To speak on somebody's behalf.
- talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.
- wait for (verb) — To wait until the specified event occurs.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 33 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you'll, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/, revision /ɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/
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 disable, wheelchair, arabic.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is disabled |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should be · Should you have |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're watching · you're sitting · is sitting |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will you · will give · will be |
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.



















