Shadowing Practice: 9 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 6 sentences and 64 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:21.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 9 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| overnight adverb | /əʊvə(ɹ)ˈnaɪt/ | During or throughout the night, especially during the evening or night just past. |
| investigate verb | /ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪt/ | To inquire into or study in order to ascertain facts or information. |
| detective noun | /dɪˈtɛktɪv/ | A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator. |
| outskirts noun | /ˈaʊtskɝts/ | The area surrounding a city or town; suburb. |
| rural adjective | /ˈɹʊɹəl/ | Relating to the countryside or to agriculture. |
| detail noun | /ˈdi.teɪl/ | A part small enough to escape casual notice. |
| shoot verb | /ʃut/ | To fire (a weapon that releases a bullet or other projectile). |
| throughout | /θɹuːˈaʊt/ | In every part of; all through. |
| authority noun | /əˈθɔɹədi/ | Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | were called |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was following |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are now working |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: throughout /θɹuːˈaʊt/, authority /əˈθɔɹədi/
- Long words — get the stress right: investigate /ɪnˈvɛs.tə.ɡeɪt/, authority /əˈθɔɹədi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like overnight, investigate, detective.
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.