Shadowing Practice: A Rumor Of Jadoo / Hello Jadoo - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 264 sentences and 1360 words to shadow. The speech runs for 14:46. The speaker talks slowly, about 92 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• rumor /ˈɹumɚ/ (noun) — A statement or claim of questionable accuracy, from no known reliable source, usually spread by word of mouth.
• soccer /ˈsɑk.ɚ/ (noun) — Association football.
• granny /ˈɡɹæni/ (noun) — A grandmother.
• spicy /ˈspaɪsi/ (adjective) — Of, pertaining to, or containing spice.
• badly /ˈbæd.li/ (adverb) — In a bad manner.
• doll /dɑl/ (noun) — A small figure resembling a human being that is used as a toy.
• youngest /ˈjʌŋ.ɡɪst/ (adjective) — Most recently begun or formed.
• gosh /ɡɑːʃ/ — A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
• yourselves /jəˈsɛlvz/ — You (plural), used to intensify the subject as the group addressed.
• pants /pænts/ (noun) — An outer garment that covers the body from the waist downwards, covering each leg separately, usually as far as the ankles; trousers.
• ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/ (adjective) — Deserving of ridicule; foolish, absurd.
• desk /dɛsk/ (noun) — A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a…
• belt /ˈbɛlt/ (noun) — A band worn around the waist to hold clothing to one's body (usually pants), hold weapons (such as a gun or sword), or serve as a decorative piece of clothing.
• layer /ˈleɪ̯ɚ/ (noun) — A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
• nurse /nɝs/ (noun) — Anyone performing this role, regardless of training or profession.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
• wait for (verb) — To wait until the specified event occurs.
• come at (verb) — To get to, especially with effort or difficulty.
• come out /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ (verb) — To be discovered; to be revealed.
• hold up (verb) — To wait or delay.
• make up /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/ (verb) — To constitute, to compose.
• move over (verb) — To move (oneself, or someone/something else) so as to free up space.
• open up (verb) — To open.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 48 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, suspicious /səˈspɪʃ.əs/, childish /ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪʃ/
• Long words — get the stress right: ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, energetic /ˌɛn.əɹˈdʒɛt.ɪk/

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 rumor, soccer, granny.

Grammar in this video

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