Shadowing Practice: 22 Scandinavian Habits That Will Clear 90% of the Clutter From Your Life - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Clutter has a way of quietly taking over everyday life.
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Yet in many Scandinavian homes, everything seems to have its place without feeling overly minimal.
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That isn't a result of one big cleanup.
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It's the outcome of small habits repeated every day.
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In this video, we'll explore 22 Scandinavian habits that help eliminate most household clutter before it has a chance to build up.
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Some of these ideas take less than a minute, but together they can completely change the way your home feels.
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Much of the clutter inside a home begins before you even walk through the front door.
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Many Scandinavians pause before buying something and ask whether it truly has a purpose.
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If the answer is no, they simply leave it at the store.
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Every item they don't buy is one less thing to organize, clean and store later.
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Preventing clutter is often easier than removing it.
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The tidiest homes are shaped as much by what stays outside as by what comes in.
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Clutter often begins with jobs that only take a minute but get postponed for days.
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Many Scandinavians deal with small tasks as soon as they notice them.
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They fold the blanket, empty the bin, recycle the packaging, or wipe the counter before moving on.
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These tiny actions stop dozens of unfinished jobs from building up.
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The home stays consistently tidy without needing long cleaning sessions.
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A few seconds now can save hours later.
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One useful item is often better than several single-purpose ones.
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Many Scandinavians choose products that can serve more than one function around the home.
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A storage basket can organize blankets today and toys tomorrow.
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Fewer versatile items reduce the need for extra shelves, drawers, and storage boxes.
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The home stays simpler because every object earns its place.
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Practical choices naturally leave more room to enjoy your space.
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Every empty surface makes a room feel calmer.
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Instead of treating tables, countertops, and dressers as storage, many Scandinavians leave them mostly clear.
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Only a few useful or meaningful items stay on display.
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Less visual clutter makes cleaning quicker, and the room instantly feels more spacious.
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Clear surfaces also help your mind feel less overwhelmed.
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Sometimes the most noticeable improvement comes from removing just a few things.
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Clutter spreads quickly when we leave half-finished tasks behind.
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Instead of moving from room to room, many Scandinavians finish what they're doing before starting something new.
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They complete the kitchen before heading to the living room, or finish the laundry before beginning another chore.
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Staying focused prevents small messes from appearing throughout the house.
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It also creates a satisfying sense of progress instead of constant, unfinished work.
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One completed room is far more motivating than five half-finished ones.
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Clutter often stays because there's nowhere for unwanted items to go.
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Many Scandinavians keep an empty donation box or basket tucked away in a cupboard or closet.
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Whenever they find something they no longer use, it goes straight into the box.
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Once it's full, Everything is donated in one trip.
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This simple habit prevents unwanted belongings from quietly returning to shelves and drawers.
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Letting go becomes much easier when there's already a place to put things.
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Looking for everyday items wastes more time than most people realize.
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Many Scandinavians store belongings exactly where they're used most often.
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Tea stays near the kettle.
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Cleaning supplies stay close to the bathroom and spare batteries stay near electronic devices.
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Everything is within easy reach, without searching through the house.
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Daily routines become smoother because every item has a logical location.
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Good organization starts with making everyday tasks effortless.
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Not every shelf, drawer, or corner needs to be completely filled.
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Many Scandinavians intentionally leave a little empty space throughout their homes.
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It makes storage easier to use and gives new items a place without creating instant clutter.
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Rooms also feel lighter and more relaxing when everything isn't packed together.
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Empty space isn't wasted space.
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It's part of good organization.
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Sometimes what you leave out is just as important as what you keep.
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Many Scandinavians spend just a few minutes resetting their home before going to bed.
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Cushions are straightened, dishes are put away, and tomorrow's clutter is removed before it begins.
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Waking up to a tidy home makes mornings feel calmer and less rushed.
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The routine is short because it happens every day.
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A few minutes each evening can save much more time the next morning.
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Ending the day with order makes it easier to begin the next one.
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Owning more doesn't always make life easier.
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Many Scandinavians would rather have a few well-made belongings than cupboards full of cheap replacements.
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Quality items usually last longer and need replacing less often.
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That means fewer purchases, less waste, and less clutter entering the home.
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Over time, thoughtful buying naturally creates a simpler living space.
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Choosing better often means needing much less.
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Small problems rarely stay small when they're ignored.
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Many Scandinavians fix loose handles, squeaky hinges, or burn out light bulbs as soon as they notice them.
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Quick repairs prevent little annoyances from becoming bigger projects.
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They also help furniture and household items last much longer.
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Keeping a home in good condition takes surprisingly little effort when it's done consistently.
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Looking after what you already own is one of the simplest forms of decluttering.
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The things you use every day shouldn't be difficult to find.
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Many Scandinavians keep daily essentials in convenient, easy-to-reach locations.
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Items used every morning stay at eye level, while rarely used belongings are stored higher or farther away.
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This simple habit saves time and prevents cupboards from being constantly rearranged.
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Daily routines become smoother because everything is exactly where you expect it to be.
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Good organization begins with making ordinary tasks feel effortless.
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It's easy to collect extras without even noticing.
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Spare scissors, multiple water bottles, or several sets of the same kitchen tools can quietly fill cupboards.
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Many Scandinavians keep only the number they actually use.
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Removing unnecessary duplicates instantly frees valuable storage space.
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It also makes finding what you need much quicker.
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A home works better when every item has a clear purpose.
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Bringing something new home doesn't always mean keeping everything you already own.
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Many Scandinavians follow a simple rule.
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When one item comes in, another goes out.
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A new sweater replaces an old one, and a new frying pan replaces the worn-out version.
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This keeps cupboards and wardrobes from quietly overflowing over time.
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The amount you own stays balanced without requiring major decluttering sessions.
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Small habits like this make clutter much harder to accumulate.
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Not everything belongs somewhere permanently.
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Receipts, parcels, library books, and items waiting to be returned can quickly spread across the house.
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Many Scandinavians keep one small basket or tray for these temporary belongings.
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Everything stays together instead of appearing on tables, chairs, and countertops.
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Once the task is finished, the basket is emptied and ready to use again.
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Even temporary clutter feels manageable when it's kept in one place.
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Clutter often grows because decisions are delayed.
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Instead of moving the same object from one place to another, many Scandinavians decide what to do with it immediately.
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They either keep it, donate it, recycle it, or throw it away.
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Making one clear decision prevents piles from slowly growing around the home.
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It also saves time because the same item isn't handled over and over again.
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Deciding once is often easier than postponing it for weeks.
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Overflowing bins make even a clean room feel untidy.
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Many Scandinavians empty rubbish and recycling bins before they're completely full.
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It takes only a minute but instantly makes the home feel fresher.
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Smaller, regular tasks are easier than waiting until everything becomes overwhelming.
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The habit also helps reduce unpleasant smells and visual clutter.
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A tidy home is often maintained through simple routines rather than
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big cleaning days keeping everything accessible all year long only creates
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unnecessary clutter many scandinavians pack away items they won't need for the current season winter coats holiday decorations
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or summer picnic gear are stored until the right time comes everyday storage stays simple
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because only current essentials remain within reach rotating belongings with the seasons creates more space without getting rid of anything.
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When each season arrives, everything feels fresh and easy to find.
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Cleaning is much easier when everything you need is already nearby.
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Many Scandinavians keep a small caddy or basket stocked with their most used cleaning supplies.
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Instead of searching through cupboards, they simply pick it up and start.
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Quick cleanups become part of everyday life because there's no extra preparation.
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Small messes disappear before they have time to become big ones.
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Being prepared often makes good habits effortless.
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Clutter is much easier to control when you deal with it regularly.
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Many Scandinavians set aside just five minutes each week to remove anything that doesn't belong.
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They walk through the house, collecting the spliced items and returning them where they belong.
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Because the routine is so short, it rarely feels like a chore.
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Small weekly resets prevent clutter from turning into a weekend project.
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Consistency usually beats marathon cleaning sessions.
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Free items aren't always free from clutter.
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Promotional gifts, free samples, and giveaway products often enter the home without a real purpose.
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Many Scandinavians politely decline things they know they won't use.
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Less unnecessary stuff comes through the door, which means less to store later.
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A free item only has value if it genuinely improves your life.
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Choosing carefully keeps your home lighter and easier to manage.
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Floors collect clutter faster than almost anywhere else.
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Shoes, bags, laundry, and shopping bags can quickly make a tidy room feel chaotic.
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Many Scandinavians make it a habit to leave the floor completely clear before the day ends.
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Robot vacuums and regular cleaning also become much easier when nothing is in the way.
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Walking into a room with open floor space instantly creates a sense of calm.
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A clutter-free floor often makes the whole home feel larger.
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Which of these Scandinavian habits do you think would make the biggest difference in your home?
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Tell us in the comments which one you're going to try first, or share a habit that already works for you.
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Small changes repeated every day often create the biggest transformations over time.
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A clutter-free life isn't about owning less for the sake of it, it's about making room for what truly matters.
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Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next video.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “22 Scandinavian Habits That Will Clear 90% of the Clutter From Your Life”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Scandinavian, clutter, item, habit, cleaning. This video has 146 sentences and 1757 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:23. The speaker talks at a natural 169 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| clutter noun | /ˈklʌtɚ/ | A confused disordered jumble of things. |
| cupboard noun | /ˈkʌb.əd/ | A cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture with shelves intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food; similar cabinets or closets used for storing… |
| belonging noun | /bɪˈlɔŋɪŋ/ | The feeling that one belongs. |
| basket noun | /ˈbæskɪt/ | A lightweight woven container, generally round, open at the top, and tapering toward the bottom. |
| tidy adjective | /ˈtaɪ.di/ | Arranged neatly and in order. |
| quietly adverb | /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ | Producing little or no noise. |
| effortless adjective | /ˈɛfə(ɹ)tlɪs/ | Without effort. |
| recycle verb | /ɹəˈsaɪkəl/ | To break down and reuse component materials. |
| drawer noun | /dɹɔɹ/ | An open-topped box that can be slid in and out of the cabinet that contains it, used for storing clothing or other articles. |
| shelf noun | /ʃɛlf/ | A flat, rigid structure, fixed at right angles to a wall or forming a part of a cabinet, desk, etc., and used to display, store, or support objects. |
| unnecessary adjective | /ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/ | Not needed or necessary. |
| chore noun | /t͡ʃoɹ/ | A task, especially a regularly needed task for the upkeep of a home or similar, such as cleaning or preparing meals. |
| countertop noun | The top surface of a counter, for preparation of food, etc. | |
| declutter verb | /diːˈklʌtə(ɹ)/ | To remove clutter from, to tidy. |
| overflow verb | /ˌəʊvəˈfləʊ/ | To flow over the brim of (a container). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| build up verb | To erect; to construct. | |
| walk through verb | To explain (something) to (someone), step by step. | |
| burn out verb | To destroy by fire. | |
| come through verb | To come into a room or other space through a door or passageway. | |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. | |
| leave out verb | To omit, to not include, to neglect to mention. | |
| put away verb | To put (something) in its usual storage place; to place out of the way, clean up. | |
| set aside verb | /sɛt.əˈsaɪd/ | To separate and reserve something for a specific purpose. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as isn't, they're, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/, marathon /ˈmæɹəθən/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shelf /ʃɛlf/, unfinished /ʌnˈfɪnɪʃt/, cushion /ˈkʊʃən/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/, decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: unnecessary /ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/, accumulate /əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt/, manageable /ˈmænəd͡ʒəb(ə)l/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/, decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/
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 clutter, cupboard, belonging.
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.