Shadowing Practice: Academy Stars 3 Unit 1 Lesson 2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 34 sentences and 237 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:35. The speaker talks slowly, about 66 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% 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

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

• classroom /ˈklɑːsɹʊm/ (noun) — A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
• mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ (noun) — An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them.
• pupil /ˈpjuːpəl/ (noun) — A learner at a school under the supervision of a teacher.
• playground /ˈpleɪɡɹaʊnd/ (noun) — A large open space for children to play in, usually having dedicated play equipment (such as swings and slides).
• recorder /ɹiˈkɔɹ.dəɹ/ (noun) — An apparatus for recording; a device which records.
• laugh /læf/ (verb) — To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and…
• strange /stɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ (adjective) — Not normal; odd, unusual, surprising, out of the ordinary, often with a negative connotation.
• teacher /ˈti.t͡ʃɚ/ (noun) — A person who teaches, especially one employed in a school; preceptor.
• computer /kəmˈpju.tɚ/ (noun) — A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large…
• sit /sɪt/ (verb) — To be in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks.
• nine /naɪn/ (noun) — The digit or figure 9.
• dear /dɪɹ/ (adjective) — High in price; expensive.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
• come in /ˌkʌm ˈɪn/ (verb) — To enter.
• look for (verb) — To seek.
• play in (verb) — Of a batsman, to settle and become comfortable with the conditions at the beginning of his innings.
• sit in (verb) — To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

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 classroom, mathematics, pupil.