Shadowing Practice: 300926 BBC London, Evening News - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
303 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Good evening to you from BBC London.
2
Coming up, the Met submits its final prosecution files on the Grenfell Tower fire.
3
20 organisations and 54 individuals could face criminal charges.
4
We get reaction from survivors and bereaved families.
5
It's taken far too long but for those who see it as justice i'm happy
6
that it's come to this we'll be live in north kensington also tonight
7
we return to the leaseholders without hot water
8
and heating for six months now told they could lose their
9
homes over disputed service charges plus it's not every day you
10
meet a paralympian why it was a p lesson with a difference for these london school children
11
And from gold beetles to Darwin's finds, the 70 million museum artefacts going online.
12
Hello and a very warm welcome to the programme.
13
No family should have to fight this hard for this long for justice.
14
The words of some of the Grenfell survivors and bereaved families.
15
It's after the Metropolitan Police submitted its final prosecution files on the Grenfell Tower fire, describing it as a milestone moment.
16
20 companies and 54 individuals could face criminal charges,
17
including corporate manslaughter and misconduct in public office over what happened that fateful summer night.
18
Alice Bandar Krabi reminds us of how long it's taken to get to this point.
19
It's the 14th of June 2017 and fire breaks out on the fourth floor of Grenfell Tower.
20
72 people lose their lives.
21
The following day, the government announces a public inquiry.
22
Three months later, shortly after the beginning of that public inquiry,
23
the Met Police expands its investigation to consider corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter.
24
And for the next seven years,
25
between 2017 and 2024, police conduct what they describe as one of the largest criminal investigations in UK history,
26
examining the roles of companies, individuals and public bodies.
27
On the 4th of September 2024, the Public Enquiry's final report finds the fire was avoidable
28
and sets out how a chain of failures across government and the private sector led to the disaster.
29
On the 19th of May of this year, we learn that 57 individuals and 20 organisations are put under investigation as suspects.
30
And today, the 30th of September, the Met says they've submitted the remaining evidence files to the Crown Prosecution Service,
31
seeking an array of charges against 54 individuals and 20 companies, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter,
32
health and safety offences, fraud and fraud -related offences and misconduct in public office.
33
The CPS will have to decide whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction, as well as considering whether bringing charges is in the public
34
interest it says the decisions would be made before the 14th of june 2027
35
which will be the 10th anniversary of the disaster alice bandukravi bbc london
36
as we see there it's been a long campaign for justice
37
for families of those who died the survivors who escaped the fire
38
and the local community well let's join asad now in north Kensington this evening.
39
Asad.
40
Riz, this is the first time I've been in front of the Grenfell Memorial Wall
41
and not been in the shadow of the Grenfell Tower itself.
42
It shows how quickly it's been dismantled brick by brick.
43
I can't even see the top of where they are or where they've got to from where I'm standing.
44
And I could give you lots of numbers and statistics to do with the tower, to do with the fire.
45
But as far as local people are concerned, there are only two numbers that matter.
46
That's one of them, 72, the number of people who died on that terrible night.
47
The other number that matters is 3 ,395.
48
That's the number of days
49
which have passed since the fire until the Metropolitan Police have handed in
50
and submitted their file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.
51
Now, the CPS says they're going to examine all that evidence
52
and they hope to report back with a decision before the 10th anniversary of the fire
53
which will be in the summer of next year
54
but this is a really significant day for people of the
55
area for families affected for those whose lives changed after the 14th of june 2017 as aisha Bakshi reports.
56
Grenfell Tower may be disappearing out of sight, but here in North Kensington it will never be out of mind.
57
72 people died as a result of the devastating fire over nine years ago.
58
Whole families were wiped out in one night.
59
Among the victims were 18 children.
60
Young architects Marco Gottardi and Gloria Trevasan lived on the top floor of the high -rise building.
61
Marco's parents in Italy say the wait for justice is exhausting.
62
I'm tired of waiting for justice for our kids.
63
It should be their right to have justice after all this time, because almost 10 years is too much, not knowing who should pay for the mistakes of this disaster.
64
Now the Met Police in London have sent all their investigation case files to the Crown Prosecution Service.
65
54 individuals and 20 companies are suspects.
66
The potential charges include fraud, misconduct in public office, health and safety offences and corporate manslaughter.
67
Emma O 'Connor is a survivor of the fire and says the victims must not be forgotten in the criminal process.
68
As we approach the 10 -year anniversary, there'll be nothing left, just memories,
69
holding our loved ones in our hearts forever and remembering the good times and still waiting for what they say is justice.
70
So far we know the government's own housing department has said
71
it has been referred to the CPS over a potential breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.
72
And the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has said it has been referred over three offences regarding health and safety, fire safety and corporate manslaughter.
73
With all the files now with the CPS, the Met say they're planning for any potential court proceedings.
74
Grenfell Tower will not be standing when that happens so the police are building a replica.
75
Joe Powell is the local MP.
76
I think it was a really difficult decision.
77
At some point a minister would have to have taken that decision because the tower could not have stayed where it was.
78
I'm really committed to making sure that we keep Grenfell in the public eye, that we keep bringing up in parliament, that we make sure that ministers
79
and the judiciary prioritise whatever charges come out of this so
80
that we're not waiting years and years more for a day in court.
81
As for families such as Marco Guttadis, they have no choice but to hope justice will eventually be served.
82
All this time waiting has a massive impact on us.
83
It's very hard to move forward, but I've convinced myself it's necessary to suffer a little bit longer so we can eventually arrive to justice.
84
It will now be up to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if charges should be brought,
85
while bereaved survivors and local people continue their wait for justice and accountability.
86
Well, Aisha Bakshar joins me now.
87
And, Aisha, this is yet a significant day, but another difficult day for the families.
88
Absolutely, Asad.
89
Families have been waiting so long, as you saw in my report, and they must continue their wait.
90
And we don't know, do we, when these charging decisions will be made we've been told potentially before the 10th anniversary
91
and people are still asking why have there been
92
so many delays why was the public inquiry put ahead of
93
the criminal investigation why is the tower being brought down um
94
but it's clear that this has ripped this community apart ripped families apart
95
and everywhere you go there is just one word that is on graffiti on walls said by clergy,
96
young and old, and that is their demand for justice.
97
Today we have taken that step closer to getting to justice, but the wait must continue.
98
Aisha, thanks very much for that.
99
Well, as you may have seen, and Aisha's reported a bit earlier, the Metropolitan Police has started to make a replica of a section of the Grenfell Tower.
100
That's in case there are prosecutions
101
and jurors of any future case might need to have a look to see what it was like.
102
It's another wait and see from now on, but nevertheless, a significant day forward today for many families who have been waiting for a result.
103
Back to you, Riz.
104
Indeed.
105
Asad, thank you.
106
And to Aisha as well.
107
And that is our top story this evening.
108
Plenty more to come, though, including...
109
I'll be meeting some of our top Paralympians who are doing their bit to ensure greater inclusivity in PE lessons.
110
Next, to a group of leaseholders in Croydon who, when we last met them, had no hot water or heating.
111
for more than six months and say they were caught up in layers of bureaucracy over who should pay to fix it.
112
Well, now they say they've been told they could lose their homes
113
if they don't pay a lump sum in service charges within a day for breach of their lease.
114
Our work and money correspondent, Megan Owen, has the story.
115
George and his wife have spent over six months washing out of a bucket.
116
Their gas supply, along with 64 other flats in Croydon, was switched off in March to stop serious leaks.
117
As we previously reported, residents have been stuck in limbo
118
because the original developer went into liquidation
119
and the companies involved have been unable to agree on who should pay for the repairs.
120
Having no hot water means we basically live with kettles and a big tub that we have in the bath.
121
But a week after our report, at least 19 private leaseholders in one block, received an email claiming they were in breach of lease for not paying their service charge
122
and should pay the annual amount totalling thousands in one go, despite having an agreement to pay monthly and a debt collection fee of £1 ,000.
123
They were given less than a day to pay or risk losing their homes.
124
We're not of the understanding that we're all in breach of lease.
125
We've just been paying our service charge monthly, as we agreed with the managing agents.
126
And out of nowhere, the freeholders just took over on recovering service charge and demanded it all in one go.
127
The freeholder is now pursuing legal action against companies it believes are linked to the original developer.
128
George thinks the additional charges could be intended to help pay for legal costs.
129
It's kind of speculating because we don't know exactly, but the legal avenues they're pursuing are probably quite costly,
130
so they're trying to recover funds as quickly as they can and effectively scaring people into paying £1 ,000 extra,
131
which we don't think they have any legal right to do.
132
But repossessing a property is a legal process which takes time.
133
Anyone faced with
134
that sort of charge should immediately challenge it you can do it online at the first tier tribunal
135
and you can challenge that aspect of the service charge.
136
It may be there are other aspects of the service charges
137
which you can challenge anyway because they aren't getting proper water supplies and heating supplies, I'm told.
138
The BBC contacted Grangeford, which represents the freeholder Ground Invest 101, several times, but it didn't respond.
139
The managing agent Warwick Estates said it was not part of the decision -making process, but said neither it nor the freeholder was involved until after the construction work had been carried out.
140
Meanwhile, residents are still without hot water and with the added fear of losing their homes.
141
Megan Owen, BBC London.
142
Let me bring you a roundup of some of the day's other news stories.
143
The BBC understands one of the five men from London arrested
144
near RAF Fairford in the early hours of Sunday morning had dialed 999 himself.
145
The suspect called the police almost an hour before a farmer who saw the men in balaclavas.
146
The men were detained on suspicion of explosives and later terrorism offences and had been released on bail with strict conditions.
147
A man has been jailed for a minimum of 10 years
148
for murdering a teenager whose death came 16 years after a violent assault in south -east London.
149
Jordan Burton was sentenced at the Old Bailey after being convicted
150
of the murder of Daniel Allwright who died in 2022 from
151
post -traumatic epilepsy caused by a group attack in Lewisham 20 years ago.
152
And High Street Bakery brand Greggs has announced plans to shut four of its factories, including its operation in Enfield, and cut 740 jobs.
153
The chain said its retail shops would not be affected by the proposed changes.
154
a man who lost his mum
155
and brothers says there is not enough awareness about milas syndrome a genetic disease some people will be asymptomatic
156
but others may develop muscle weakness deafness stroke -like episodes
157
or seizures george o 'neill from surrey will carry the mutation
158
but he doesn't know yet whether it will affect him
159
while he begins testing to see what his future with his
160
fiance may look like George hopes to spread awareness of the disease
161
and hopes one day there will be a cure he's been
162
speaking to Isabella holiday in the space of eight months I
163
lost my oldest brother a genetic disease with no cure Milas syndrome runs through George's family
164
and took the lives of his mum
165
and two brothers we were pretty happy family you know always
166
done things together pretty tight -knit as a 16 17 year old boy losing
167
that sort of family instantly it's just like well it took a long time to sort of get over
168
and deal with George was just sick years old when the condition unknowingly first appeared in his life.
169
He found his oldest brother Mark having a seizure.
170
Mark continued to suffer with seizures and stroke -like episodes for years.
171
His mum cared for him full -time but eventually he died.
172
It wasn't much later that his mum also lost her life to the condition.
173
Specifically after the funeral, you know, she became extremely unwell, she wasn't eating, she became very weak in herself and then she went into hospital.
174
I think the turnaround round time was about seven, eight months.
175
Six years later, George came home from a holiday to find out that his other brother, Liam, had also died from the same disease.
176
By that time, he'd lost three of his closest family members to a mitochondrial condition he knew little about.
177
And while two of George's brothers were severely affected, he's now beginning testing to find out what his future with his fiancée Mia will look like.
178
I didn't know it was hereditary.
179
So the fact that I now know I have a form of it, I don't know
180
which form from what i've seen throughout my life i've seen it be a slow progression
181
but then also an extremely aggressive progression george now waits for test results
182
and he hopes sharing his story will mean more people know
183
about milas syndrome i would hope to make them feel
184
that i'm doing right by them making sure
185
that not only their story is aware but the actual condition
186
that you know affected us as a family but then i think
187
that they would be happy that i'm doing this george Joe Neill speaking there.
188
Now, look at what's on the BBC News app in Essex, how drones are being used by engineers and surveyors to pinpoint road defects and hazards.
189
Work continues to fix a burst main in Surrey after properties were left without water on Monday.
190
And over in Hertfordshire, find out why new street signs are dividing opinion in Hemel, Hempstead.
191
For those and other local stories, just head over to the BBC News app, of course.
192
Now, it is not every day you get to meet a Paralympic gold medallist.
193
This is Nina Sparks from High Wycombe, who became Britain's first -ever female winter Paralympic snowboarder earlier this year.
194
And today, children from four London schools had the chance to meet her.
195
She was among a host of athletes in the capital to
196
help more children with disabilities get the chance to regularly take part in sport.
197
Here's Chris Slegg.
198
Fun and games for all.
199
That was the message at the launch of Equal Play PE today,
200
as some of the country's top Paralympians led the call for greater inclusivity in school sport.
201
Among them, Nina Sparks, the first woman ever to represent Great Britain in snowboarding at the Winter Paralympics.
202
Every kid that's got a disability that isn't currently finding PE to be accessible
203
and inclusive actually feels that they can take part in PE
204
and also that teachers and teaching assistants and those people
205
that work in schools can actually feel able to suitably include
206
the kids Matt Bush has never let anything stand in the
207
way of his love for sport at the Paris Paralympics he
208
won taekwondo gold he's grateful his school always included him from
209
my primary school my head teacher he got me involved in
210
every sport there was no barrier there was no thinking will
211
he be able to do it won't he be able to
212
do it he just chucked me straight in i think i was very fortunate with my teachers
213
but i don't think it's indicative of the whole of the
214
uk paralympics gb has launched equal play pe on the back of research from the activity alliance
215
which shows just one in four disabled children regularly takes part
216
in pe lessons the aim is to ensure more children get the chance to experience the joy of sports
217
and perhaps even discover some future Paralympians.
218
The scheme involves the donation of equipment and guides to help PE teachers but Paralympics GB is also calling for greater change.
219
We're asking government really to think about the curriculum what's in
220
the curriculum to really think about inclusive PE being fundamental to
221
that and for PE to be an important part of the day.
222
Your love for sport took you all the way to the top.
223
I've got to ask you, what did it feel like to become the first woman ever to compete in snowboarding for Great Britain at the Paralympics?
224
I mean, I still got goosebumps when you said that.
225
It still hasn't sunk in.
226
I'm just here living my own life, loving what I'm doing, but I am inspiring kids, and that's just mind -blowing to me.
227
I can't comprehend that that has actually happened, so it's so cool to see.
228
Inspiration and inclusivity.
229
With luck, a recipe for future success.
230
Chris Sleg, BBC London.
231
Now, many enjoy visiting London's museums to explore the wonders of the natural world.
232
But what if you could discover millions of ancient animals, plants and rocks, all from the comfort of your own home?
233
That's the idea behind a huge new digital museum which brings together specimens from many different collections.
234
Palab Ghosh has been finding out more.
235
These giant beetles are part of a vast collection at the Natural History Museum in London.
236
some iridescent others seemingly gold -plated astonishing colors
237
and all sizes a record of nature's beauty
238
and along with many other collections from across the UK a
239
hidden scientific treasure trove these beetles are among 70 million different specimens of plants animals rocks
240
and fossils that will be scanned into the new database it'll be available to the public
241
and scientists who'll be able to compare and contrast how they've changed over the entire history of the planet.
242
This will enable them to develop better models for climate change, biodiversity, food security and answer basic scientific questions.
243
In short, it'll supercharge research into the natural world.
244
Vince is photographing not just the beetle but also the tiny handwritten labels.
245
Ancient scientific knowledge
246
that had been locked away for decades even centuries now available to everyone at the touch of a button
247
because natural history collections have
248
that very long catalog of change you can see what's happened before
249
and you can then start to predict what's going to happen next
250
so if you want to understand what's happening in terms of biodiversity loss
251
or what kind of interventions you might want to make to reduce
252
that loss you need much more accurate models that we presently have
253
and data in these collections is unlocking that and it's not just animals
254
that are part of the story these beautiful press plants are from the 18th 19th
255
and 20th century each one of them a snapshot frozen in time not just of the plants themselves
256
but the environment they existed in these
257
and millions of others in collections across the uk can also
258
tell us about how the environment would change in the future
259
we've got over 18 million records collected here from over 295
260
natural science collections the team is building an online database not just of pictures
261
but important historic and scientific information what we're able to do now is to be able to connect
262
and analyze that information at a scale that's been unprecedented
263
which will really accelerate research into some of the most critical and urgent questions that we're facing for the planet,
264
things like infectious disease, biodiversity loss and climate change.
265
The scientists believe that the natural treasures of the past will help us preserve the planet for generations in the future.
266
Palabaraj.
267
Time for the weather now with Kate and a muggy end to September.
268
It's been really very humid for the last couple of days.
269
In fact, last night, good evening, temperatures didn't drop in St James' Park below 20 Celsius, so really very warm.
270
It is getting slightly fresher, not a huge amount, but slightly fresher.
271
Now, this is what's happening, low pressure, driving this cold front through.
272
That was where we had the cloud and rain earlier.
273
Behind it, high pressure is building through tomorrow and slightly cooler air.
274
So today, temperatures got up to just shy of 25 Celsius, 24 .8 at St. James' Park.
275
This was earlier on this morning, though.
276
We had a lot of cloud.
277
There was even a little bit of rain as that cold front started to move through.
278
But then this afternoon, blue sky, sunshine, and that's when the temperature rose just a little higher, bearing in mind it was 20 degrees as we started the day.
279
Now, overnight tonight, that fresher air is with us.
280
So we've got some clearer spells, a bit of patchy clouds to start with.
281
There is a possibility of maybe one or two showers, but they will clear away eastwards.
282
Minimum temperature now.
283
It still looks quite warm between 12 and 15, but if you think last night it was 20 Celsius, it is a little bit cooler, certainly a little fresher feeling.
284
So for tomorrow morning, it's a bright start.
285
We've got plenty of sunshine around on Thursday, perhaps a little bit of high cloud turning that sunshine a little bit hazy.
286
But temperatures tomorrow, cooler than today, a little bit fresher still, 21 Celsius, the maximum.
287
Now, further through the week, nothing really changes, actually.
288
That high pressure still with us, it does start to drift.
289
But we're not really seeing much evidence of those fronts heading towards the southeast.
290
So at the moment, it is looking largely dry and largely fine.
291
Now, this is Friday.
292
You can see blue sky, sunshine, a little bit of patchy cloud here and there, especially into the afternoon.
293
But like I say, it's staying dry and temperatures on Friday, similar wind reasonably light, 21 Celsius once again.
294
Of course, we're in October by now.
295
Tomorrow, of course, being the 1st of October.
296
Generally, we've got settled conditions.
297
You can see there is lots of dry with still no significant rain and temperatures widely staying in the low 20s, Riz.
298
OK, Kate, thanks very much. And that is it.
299
More stories on our Instagram.
300
And if you or someone you know has had their phone stolen, check out Can London Stop the Phone Snatchers on the BBC London YouTube channel.
301
From me and the team, thanks very much for watching and do enjoy your evening.
302
Bye -bye.
303
Thank you.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B21
210826 BBC Points West, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
280826 BBC Points West, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
280926 BBC London, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
260826 BBC Spotlight, Evening News
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
070926 BBC London, Evening News
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
240626 BBC London, Evening News
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
260826 BBC Points West, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B26
280826 BBC London, Evening News
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B25
110926 BBC Points West, Evening News
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
260826 BBC London, Evening News
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
240826 BBC London, Evening News
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2121026 BBC London, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2091026 BBC Reporting Scotland, News at Seven
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2071026 BBC London, Evening News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2250926 BBC London, Evening News
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2190826 BBC London, Evening News
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B21
89 sentences
Sig P320 Incident MAJOR UPDATE! Airman Caught Lying!
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B23
85 sentences
Should the Age of Criminal Responsibility Be Raised? | Loose Women
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
235 sentences
9News Melbourne | Wednesday August 19 | Full Bulletin
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
51 sentences
Opening Remarks by Host Matt Galloway - CJF Awards 2022
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
39 sentences
Ben and Callum talk about the wedding - EastEnders (29/08/19)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B25
9 sentences
2026 August 23 BBC One minute World News
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
44 sentences
BBC News at Ten intro 10pm 12.7.23 - Huw Edwards Named
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B23
396 sentences
Bomb Scared & Callous Callus Care | Justice for the People with Judge Milian
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
125 sentences
Deal To End ‘Bruising’ Birmingham Bin Strikes On The Table | Ollie Cole
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C12
666 sentences
Rape, Outrage and the Fight for Justice | Faye D'Souza x Daayra
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 303 sentences and 4040 words to shadow. The speech runs for 25:42. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 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
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- collections /kəˈlɛkʃənz/ (noun) — A state being beyond merely past due.
- prosecution /ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/ (noun) — The act of prosecuting a scheme or endeavor.
- cloud /ˈklaʊ̯d/ (noun) — A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air.
- survivor /sɚˈvaɪvɚ/ (noun) — One who survives, especially one who survives a traumatic experience.
- offence (noun) — UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada standard spelling of offense.
- sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/ (noun) — The direct rays, light or warmth of the sun.
- breach /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ (noun) — A gap or opening made by breaking or battering, as in a wall, fortification or levee / embankment; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence.
- lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
- disaster /dɪˈzɑːs.təː/ (noun) — An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent…
- fraud /ˈfɹɔːd/ (noun) — The crime of stealing or otherwise illegally obtaining money by use of deception tactics.
- submit /səbˈmɪt/ (verb) — To yield or give way to another.
- inquiry /ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/ (noun) — The act of inquiring; a seeking of information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning.
- syndrome /ˈsɪndɹoʊm/ (noun) — A recognizable pattern of signs, symptoms and/or behaviours, especially of a disease or medical or psychological condition.
- lease /liːs/ (noun) — An interest in land granting exclusive use or occupation of real estate for a limited period; a leasehold.
- seizure /ˈsi.ʒɚ/ (noun) — The act of taking possession, as by force or right of law.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- wait for (verb) — To wait until the specified event occurs.
- find out (verb) — To discover, as by asking or investigating.
- call for (verb) — To shout out in order to summon (a person).
- do with (verb) — Only used in to do with
- get over (verb) — To overcome.
- go into (verb) — To get involved in; to investigate or explore.
- think about /ˈθɪŋk əˌbaʊt/ (verb) — To ponder.
- bear in (verb) — To move quickly and sharply in an inward direction during a race; to veer in.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 61 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, we're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bath /bɑːθ/, nevertheless /ˌnɛvɚðəˈlɛs/, southeast /sawˈθɪjst/, athlete /ˈæθ.liːt/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: collections /kəˈlɛkʃənz/, prosecution /ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/, sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/, seizure /ˈsi.ʒɚ/, organisation /ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪˌzeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: prosecution /ˌpɹɑ.sɪˈkju.ʃən/, inquiry /ɪnˈkwaɪ(ə)ɹi/, organisation /ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪˌzeɪ.ʃən/, disability /dɪsəˈbɪlɪti/, developer /dɪˈvɛləpɚ/
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 collections, prosecution, cloud.
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 | have been waiting · We've just been paying · has been finding |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | they've submitted · it's been · I've been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are put · would be made · been dismantled |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who see · those who died · people who died |
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.