Shadowing Practice: 5 simple habits to be a better communicator - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 15 sentences and 158 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:04. The speaker talks at a steady 149 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• quietly /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ (adverb) — Producing little or no noise.
• pause /pɔːz/ (noun) — A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
• mirror /ˈmiɹɚ/ (noun) — A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.
• pitch /pɪt͡ʃ/ (noun) — A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand.
• skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
• occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ (noun) — An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a…
• adjust /əˈd͡ʒʌst/ (verb) — To modify.
• recreation /ɹiːkɹiˈeɪʃən/ (noun) — Any activity, such as play, that amuses, diverts or stimulates.
• cringey /ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒi/ (adjective) — Characterised by causing feelings of embarrassment; embarrassing.
• filler /ˈfɪlɚ/ (noun) — One who fills.
• communication /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (noun) — The act or fact of communicating anything; transmission.
• comfortable /ˈkʌm(p)f.tə.bəl/ (adjective) — Providing physical comfort and ease; agreeable.
• sentence /ˈsɛn.təns/ (noun) — The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• get down to (verb) — To start focusing on doing something serious
• talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as you'll, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/, recreation /ɹiːkɹiˈeɪʃən/, communication /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/, recreation /ɹiːkɹiˈeɪʃən/, communication /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

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 quietly, pause, mirror.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: