Shadowing Practice: 2-4000-3-U19 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Unit 19 Word List Bench A bench is a long seat for two or more people.
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Most parks have benches for people to relax upon.
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Daisy A daisy is a small flower with white petals and a yellow center.
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There were a few daisies growing in the field.
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Dispute A dispute is an argument or disagreement that people have.
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Karen and Brian often have disputes about silly things.
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Empty An empty container is one that has no things in it.
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The teacher showed the students an empty bottle.
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Horror Horror is a feeling of being very afraid or shocked.
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The audience screamed in horror when the ghost appeared in the movie.
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Incident An incident is an event that is usually not pleasant.
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Mr. Wilson had an incident.
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He became sick and had to leave.
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Mist Mist is water that can be seen in the air or on a surface.
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The forest was covered with mist.
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Object An object is a non-living thing that you can see or touch.
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The shopping cart was filled with objects.
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Orphan An orphan is a child who does not have parents.
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The orphan frequently cried during the night.
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Plot To plot is to make a secret plan to do something that is wrong or mean.
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The group was plotting to ruin the company's financial reports.
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Pregnant A pregnant woman or animal is going to have a baby.
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The pregnant woman was shopping for baby clothes.
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Rage Rage is a very angry feeling.
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The chef was filled with rage when his helpers ruined the meal.
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Revenge Revenge is the act of hurting someone who has hurt you.
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He broke his sister's doll as revenge after she lost his favorite book.
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Shame Shame is a bad feeling about things one has done wrong.
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The boy felt shame about misplacing his clothes.
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Sigh To sigh is to breathe out loudly to show tiredness, boredom, or sadness.
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Molly sighed when she looked at all the information she had to research.
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Sneak To sneak is to move quietly in order not to be seen or heard.
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The thief snuck out of the house without anyone noticing him.
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Spare To spare something is to give it away because it is not needed.
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I wanted to help him, but I couldn't spare a tire.
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The stem of a plant is the stick that grows leaves or flowers.
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Supper is a meal that is eaten in the evening.
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Tender A tender food is soft and easy to chew.
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The meat was so tender they didn't need knives to cut it.
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The Magic Pear Tree It was a cool morning and the grass was covered in mist.
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The market was full of people.
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A mean farmer named Jack yelled, Pears for sale!
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He sat on a bench plotting how he could trick people.
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Then an orphan came to his cart.
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Can you spare a pair? she asked.
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Jack felt rage.
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He replied, You don't have any money.
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Please, I haven't had supper in days.
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No, shouted the farmer.
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The orphan sighed.
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However, a pregnant lady heard the dispute and came over to Jack.
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Just give her a pair, she said.
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Jack had no shame and said no. Finally, a man bought a pair for the girl.
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The girl quickly aided, but she saved the seed.
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She wanted to get revenge.
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She told Jack, I know a way to get hundreds of pears in one day.
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I'll show you how.
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He watched the girl dig a hole.
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She dropped the seed into the ground.
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Then she spread the dirt over it.
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Watch closely, she said.
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In a few minutes, a stem will grow.
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It'll turn into a tree that's full of pears.
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Jack stared at the dirt, but nothing happened.
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The only objects there were a few daisies.
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He looked for the girl, but she had snuck away.
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Then he looked at his cart in horror.
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It was empty.
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He suddenly realized that the orphan had tricked him.
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While Jack was waiting for the tree to grow, the people had taken the pears from his cart.
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They all laughed while they were eating the tender fruit.
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The farmer felt ashamed.
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The incident taught him to be kinder.

Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

This video provides an engaging way to enhance your speaking skills while simultaneously expanding your vocabulary. By practicing with the dialogues and scenarios presented, you can develop your fluency and confidence in English. The unique stories and relatable situations allow learners to connect language use with real-life contexts. This is especially beneficial for those preparing for the IELTS exam, as speaking proficiency is key to achieving a high score. Engaging with the content will not only help you in formal assessments but also in everyday conversations.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The video introduces several essential grammatical structures and vocabulary that are practical for English learners:

  • Can you spare a pair? – This phrase emphasizes the use of modal verbs for requests. Learning how to make polite requests can enhance your conversational skills.
  • Filled with rage – This expression showcases the use of past participles, describing emotional states effectively. It’s a useful way to express feelings in English conversations.
  • To plot – This verb illustrates the concept of planning, particularly when discussing intentions. Understanding the context of verbs can aid in discussing actions more vividly.

When you shadow speak along with the video, take note of these structures. They can significantly enhance your speaking and writing, adding a layer of complexity that is critical for advanced language use.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Pronunciation can often be a hurdle for English learners. This video features a few tricky words and phrases that may challenge non-native speakers:

  • Mist – The ‘m’ and ‘st’ sounds may trip up learners; practicing this word helps with clarity in speech.
  • Rage – The 'a' sound in this word can be confusing, but clear articulation is important for expressing emotions.
  • Sigh – The diphthong in this word could lead to mispronunciation; shadow speaking can help master the subtle nuances.

Utilizing the shadowing technique from this video, learners can work on these challenging words in a supportive context, making speech sound more natural and fluent. Embrace the practice of shadowing; it’s an invaluable tool for mastering pronunciation and rhythm in English!

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.