Shadowing Practice: 46 The Parade - Heinemann GK - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 65 sentences and 331 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:52. The speaker talks slowly, about 86 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

12 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• boom /bum/ (verb) — To make a loud, hollow, resonant sound.
• parade /pəˈrɑd/ (noun) — Synonym of military parade: A show of troops, an assembly of troops as a show of force, to receive orders, or especially for inspection at set times.
• balloon /bəˈlun/ (noun) — An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
• clown /ˈklaʊ̯n/ (noun) — A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly…
• flower /ˈfloʊɚ/ (noun) — A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual…
• drum /ˈdɹʌm/ (noun) — A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
• bind /ˈbaɪ̯nd/ (verb) — To tie; to confine by any ligature.
• eleven /əˈlɛv.ən/ (noun) — A cricket team of eleven players. Hence first eleven - the team of best cricket players (at a school), second eleven - the "B" team, etc.
• bicycle /ˈbaɪsɪk(ə)l/ (noun) — A vehicle that has two primary wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s…
• vroom /vɹum/ — The sound of an engine, especially when it is revving up.
• truck /tɹʌk/ (noun) — A small wheel or roller, specifically the wheel of a gun carriage.
• flag /flæɡ/ (noun) — A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
• play with (verb) — To fiddle with; make small adjustments to, for example to something mechanical in order to improve its performance.
• see in (verb) — To show (someone) in: to introduce (someone) to the inside of a place.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like boom, parade, balloon.