Shadowing Practice: 2 Years Living in a Tesla, No Rent - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “2 Years Living in a Tesla, No Rent”. This video has 351 sentences and 4321 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:23. The speaker talks fast, about 185 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 83% 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
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tesla noun | /ˈtɛslə/ | In the International System of Units, the derived unit of magnetic flux density or magnetic inductivity. |
| microwave noun | /ˈmaɪkɹoʊˌweɪv/ | An electromagnetic wave with wavelength between that of infrared light and radio waves. |
| commute verb | /kəˈmjuːt/ | To exchange substantially; to abate but not abolish completely, a penalty, obligation, or payment in return for a great, single thing or an aggregate; to cash… |
| mindset noun | /ˈmaɪn(d)ˌsɛt/ | A way of thinking; an attitude or opinion, especially a habitual one. |
| inspire verb | /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ | To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by… |
| badge noun | /bæd͡ʒ/ | A distinctive mark, token, sign, emblem or cognizance, worn on one’s clothing, as an insignia of some rank, or of the membership of an organization. |
| caveat noun | /ˈkæviɑt/ | A warning. |
| nomadically adverb | In a nomadic way. | |
| mentality noun | /mɛnˈtæləti/ | A mindset; a way of thinking; a set of beliefs. |
| sponsor noun | /ˈspɒn.səː/ | A person or organization with some sort of responsibility for another person or organization, especially where the responsibility has a religious, legal, or… |
| underneath adverb | /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/ | Below; in a place beneath. |
| overnight adverb | /əʊvə(ɹ)ˈnaɪt/ | During or throughout the night, especially during the evening or night just past. |
| deactivate verb | /ˌdiːˈæktɪveɪt/ | to make something inactive or no longer effective |
| overheat verb | /ˌoʊvɚˈhit/ | To heat excessively. |
| stun verb | /stʌn/ | To incapacitate; especially by inducing disorientation or unconsciousness. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lay off verb | (of an employer) To dismiss (workers) from employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume or through no fault of the worker, often with a severance package. | |
| put away verb | To put (something) in its usual storage place; to place out of the way, clean up. | |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. | |
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been living · I've been traveling · I've been doing |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is actually discontinued · had been deactivated · had been laid |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | haven't really had · you've been · has allowed |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | were selling · wasn't working · was still living |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 83 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, didn't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: underneath /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, athlete /ˈæθ.liːt/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: interception /ɪntɚˈsɛpʃən/, cashier /kaˈʃɪə/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: mentality /mɛnˈtæləti/, deactivate /ˌdiːˈæktɪveɪt/, supervisor /ˈsupɚˌvaɪzɚ/, disassemble /dɪs.əˈsɛm.bəl/, discontinue /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnju/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like tesla, microwave, commute.
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.












