Shadowing Practice: 30 Chess Tips: How To Defend (Beginner to Advanced) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 412 sentences and 5225 words to shadow. The speech runs for 29:57. The speaker talks at a natural 174 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 84% 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
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pawn noun | /ˈpɔːn/ | The most numerous chess piece, or a similar piece in a similar game. In chess, each side starts with eight; moves are only forward, and attacks are only… |
| knight noun | /ˈnaɪ̯t/ | An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages. |
| defend verb | /dɪˈfɪnd/ | To ward off attacks against (something or someone). |
| bishop noun | /ˈbɪʃəp/ | An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church… |
| opponent noun | /əˈpəʊ.nənt/ | One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something. |
| defensive adjective | /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ | Intended for defence; protective. |
| beginner noun | /bəˈɡɪnɚ/ | Someone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started. |
| castle noun | /ˈkɑːsəl/ | A large residential building or compound that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king. Also, a house or… |
| defender noun | /dɪˈfɛndə(ɹ)/ | Someone who defends people or property. |
| fork noun | /fɔɹk/ | A utensil with spikes used to put solid food into the mouth, or to hold food down while cutting, or for serving food. |
| trick noun | /ˈtɹɪk/ | Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle. |
| shield noun | /ˈʃild/ | A broad piece of defensive armor, held in hand, formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body. |
| solve verb | /sɒlv/ | To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out. |
| intermediate adjective | /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/ | Being between two extremes, or in the middle of a range. |
| fortress noun | /ˈfoɹ.tɹɪs/ | A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; for example a fort, a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| close up verb | /kləʊzˈʌp/ | To close (remove a gap) completely or fully. |
| come forward verb | To offer help or information, especially about a crime. | |
| open up verb | To open. | |
| push up verb | To make (something) higher; to increase. | |
| get back verb | Return to where one came from. | |
| give away verb | To make a gift of (something). | |
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). | |
| lock up verb | /ˌlɒk ˈʌp/ | To imprison or incarcerate (someone). |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you do that, you will climb |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is castled · being attacked · can be attacked |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has moved · you've castled · I've found |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | levels, which is · threat, which is · person who is |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 96 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you're, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thumb /ˈθʌm/, threaten /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: bishop /ˈbɪʃəp/, shield /ˈʃild/, essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/, capture /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/, promotion /pɹəˈmoʊʃn̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: intermediate /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/, essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/, surprisingly /səˈpɹaɪzɪŋli/, consistently /kənˈsɪstəntli/, eliminate /ɪˈlɪm.ɪ.neɪt/
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 pawn, knight, defend.
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.









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