Shadowing Practice: A reason why you should study hard by Richard Feynman in less 50 seconds. - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “A reason why you should study hard by Richard Feynman in less 50 seconds”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: miracle, ordinary, imagine. This video has 9 sentences and 117 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:45. The speaker talks at a natural 156 words per minute, close to everyday conversation.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 11 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ordinary adjective | /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/ | Having regular jurisdiction; now only used in certain phrases. |
| miracle noun | /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/ | An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin. |
| scientist noun | /ˈsaɪəntəst/ | One whose activities make use of the scientific method to answer questions regarding the measurable universe. A scientist may be involved in original research… |
| mathematics noun | /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ | An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them. |
| quantum noun | /ˈkwɑntəm/ | The total amount of something; quantity. |
| mechanic noun | /mɪˈkænɪk/ | Someone who builds or repairs machinery, a technician; now specifically, someone who works with and repairs the mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, aircraft… |
| electromagnetic adjective | /ɪˌlɛk.tɹoʊ.mæɡˈnɛ.tɪk/ | Relating to electromagnetism. |
| devote verb | /dɪˈvəʊt/ | to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate. |
| talent noun | /ˈtæl.ənt/ | A marked natural ability or skill. |
| imagine verb | /ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ | To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind. |
| ability noun | /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | person who studied |
Pronunciation to watch
- Long words — get the stress right: ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, electromagnetic /ɪˌlɛk.tɹoʊ.mæɡˈnɛ.tɪk/, ability /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
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 ordinary, miracle, scientist.
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.