Shadowing Practice: A2.1 - U20 - A really big family - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “A2.1 - U20 - A really big family”. This video has 18 sentences and 233 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:48. The speaker talks at a steady 130 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bedroom noun | /ˈbɛdˌɹum/ | A room in a house, apartment, hotel, or other dwelling where a bed is kept for sleeping. |
| mini adjective | /ˈmɪn.i/ | Miniature, tiny, small. |
| belong verb | /bɪˈlɒŋ/ | To have its proper place. |
| triple adjective | /ˈtɹɪp.əl/ | Made up of three related elements, often matching |
| tent noun | /tɛnt/ | A pavilion or portable lodge consisting of skins, canvas, or some strong cloth, stretched and sustained by poles, used for sheltering people from the weather. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
| cereal noun | /ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/ | A type of grass (such as wheat, rice or oats) cultivated for its edible grains. |
| comfortably adverb | /ˈkʌmftɚbli/ | In a comfortable manner. |
| downstairs adverb | /daʊnˈstɛɹz/ | Down the stairs. |
| litre noun | /ˈli.tɚ/ | The metric unit of fluid measure, equal to one cubic decimetre. Symbol: L, l, or ℓ. |
| bunk noun | /bʌŋk/ | One of a series of berths or beds placed in tiers. |
| cupboard noun | /ˈkʌb.əd/ | A cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture with shelves intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food; similar cabinets or closets used for storing… |
| loaf noun | /loʊf/ | A block of bread after baking. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | has to help · have to work |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as isn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 bedroom, mini, belong.
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.