Shadowing Practice: 2026 July 07 BBC One minute World News - 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 “2026 July 07 BBC One minute World News”. This video has 11 sentences and 118 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:45. The speaker talks at a natural 156 words per minute, close to everyday conversation.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| defend verb | /dɪˈfɪnd/ | To ward off attacks against (something or someone). |
| funeral noun | /ˈfju.nəɹ.əl/ | A ceremony to honor and remember a deceased person, often distinguished from a memorial service by the presence of the body of the deceased. |
| summit noun | /ˈsʌmɪt/ | The highest point of a hill, mountain, or similar geographical feature. |
| inquiry noun | /ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/ | The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning. |
| gather verb | /ˈɡæðɚ/ | To collect normally separate things. |
| suspension noun | /səˈspɛnʃən/ | The act of suspending, or the state of being suspended. |
| explosion noun | /ɛkˈsploʊ.ʒən/ | A violent release of energy (sometimes mechanical, nuclear, or chemical); an act or instance of exploding. |
| urge verb | /ɜːd͡ʒ/ | To press; to push; to drive; to impel; to force onward. |
| headline noun | /ˈhɛd.laɪn/ | The heading or title of a magazine or newspaper article. |
| striker noun | /ˈstɹaɪkɚ/ | A person who is on strike, someone who has stopped working as a protest. |
| abusive adjective | /əˈbju.sɪv/ | Prone to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment; vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous. |
| procession noun | /pɹəˈsɛʃən/ | The act of progressing or proceeding. |
| bolster noun | /ˈboʊlstɚ/ | A large cushion or pillow, usually cylindrical in shape. |
| controversially adverb | In a controversial manner. | |
| misogynist noun | /mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/ | One who professes misogyny; a hater of women. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: suspension /səˈspɛnʃən/, explosion /ɛkˈsploʊ.ʒən/, procession /pɹəˈsɛʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: inquiry /ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/, misogynist /mɪˈsɑd͡ʒ.ən.ɪst/
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 defend, funeral, summit.
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.