Shadowing Practice: 2-4000-3-U9 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Unit 9.
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Word List Ally An ally is someone who agrees to help or support another person or group.
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I was happy to find many allies who shared my opinion.
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Boast To boast is to talk about how great one is.
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We all became tired of listening to him boast about himself all day.
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Bounce To bounce is to move up and away from a surface after hitting it.
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Owen bounced the ball on the ground.
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Bully A bully is a person who is mean to others.
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The two bullies always picked on the smaller, weaker kids.
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Carbohydrate Carbohydrates are substances in foods like bread that give energy.
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Carbohydrates like rice are a good source of energy for active people.
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Crawl To crawl is to move slowly on hands and knees.
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The baby crawled across the floor.
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Defeat To defeat someone is to beat that person in a game or battle.
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The champion defeated the challenger in the boxing match.
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Dial A dial is a circular tool, like the front of a clock.
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I looked at the dial to see what time it was.
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Dominant A dominant person or thing is stronger than others.
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The gorilla is one of the dominant animals in the jungle.
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Entire.
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Entire means the whole thing or group.
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The entire table was covered with food.
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Mercy.
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Mercy is a feeling or act of kindness.
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He asked his boss for mercy and to not fire him.
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Nod.
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To nod is to move your head up and down.
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I nodded my head as I listened to the song.
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An opponent is a person or group trying to defeat another person or group.
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To quarrel is to argue or fight.
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Rival A rival is someone trying to achieve the same thing as another.
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The three rivals were all competing for the same job.
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Sore.
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Sore means feeling or causing pain.
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After lifting the heavy box, Mona's back was sore.
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Sting.
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To sting is to cause pain by pushing a sharp part into the skin.
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The needle stung my arm and made me say, ouch.
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Strain.
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To strain is to try very hard.
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Casey's strained to lift the heavy box.
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Torture Torture is action that causes physical or mental pain.
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Greg thought that writing the essay was torture.
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Wrestle To wrestle is to try to push another competitor to the floor.
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My dad loved to wrestle when he was in high school.
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Dalton vs. the Bully Dalton was a nice boy, but sometimes the other boys made fun of him because he was so tall and skinny.
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Dalton's biggest problem was Mitch.
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He was a bully who boasted about his strength.
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He quarreled with the other boys.
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Sometimes, if boys gave Mitch their lunch money, he would have mercy and leave them alone.
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One day, the boys learned about a special middle school Olympics.
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Their gym class was going to be in it.
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Many kids were excited.
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But Dalton thought it sounded like torture.
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That morning, Dalton ate plenty of carbohydrates for breakfast.
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He entered the gym and looked at the dial on the clock.
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It was time to begin.
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The teacher asked if they were ready.
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Everyone nodded except Dalton.
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I got stung by a bee.
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I need to see the nurse, said Dalton.
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He made this story up so he wouldn't have to play.
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I don't believe you.
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Get ready to play, responded the coach.
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First they wrestled.
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Then they jumped, crawled, and played other games.
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But Mitch was dominant in every event.
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They strained all morning to defeat him.
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By lunch, the entire team were sore, but they thought they knew how to win.
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They knew the last game of the day was volleyball.
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Kids who used to be Dalton's rivals became his allies.
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They wanted him to help them beat Mitch.
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Dalton was going to be Mitch's opponent.
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The game started.
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Every time Mitch tried to hit the ball over the net, Dalton stopped it.
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Finally, Mitch used all of his strength.
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But the ball bounced off Dalton's hands and back into Mitch's face.
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Finally, Mitch was defeated.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice essential vocabulary and phrases that are key to understanding interpersonal dynamics and emotions. You'll encounter words that describe relationships, actions, and feelings, all of which are commonly used in daily conversations. By focusing on terms such as "ally," "bully," and "defeat," you will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your English pronunciation as you learn to articulate these words clearly. Engaging with this material through a video allows you to learn English with YouTube in a dynamic way, enhancing your listening and speaking skills effectively.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Ally: Someone who agrees to help or support another person or group.
  • Bully: A person who is mean to others, often using strength or intimidation.
  • Boast: To talk about one’s achievements in a way that shows too much pride.
  • Crawl: To move slowly on hands and knees.
  • Dominant: An entity that is stronger or more powerful than others.
  • Mercy: An act of kindness or compassion shown towards others.
  • Quarrel: To argue or fight over a disagreement.
  • Rival: Someone competing for the same goal or achievement.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson and improve your English speaking practice, utilize a method known as shadowing. Shadow speech involves listening to the transcript from the video and then repeating what you hear, mimicking the speaker’s tone and pace. Since the video features straightforward sentences and a clear delivery, it’s an excellent shadowing site for learners at any level.

Start by playing short segments of the video where key vocabulary is introduced and pause after each phrase. Take the time to pronounce each word articulately, focusing on your pronunciation. Repeat the phrases until you feel confident with them. This method is particularly effective for learning English with YouTube, as it combines visual and auditory learning, allowing you to internalize vocabulary in context.

Additionally, pay attention to the intonation and emotion in the speaker’s voice, which can foster a deeper understanding of how these words are used socially. Shadowing not only improves vocabulary but also enhances your overall fluency, making conversations feel more natural and engaging.

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.