Shadowing Practice: ADÉLA - Nicole Kidman - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “ADÉLA - Nicole Kidman”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Nicole, baby, corset, Moulin, buffet. This video has 30 sentences and 333 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:22. The speaker talks slowly, about 99 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pray verb | /pɹeɪ/ | To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc. |
| buffet noun | /bəˈfeɪ/ | A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought. |
| slide noun | /ˈslaɪ̯d/ | An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again. |
| interrupt verb | /ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/ | To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| destiny noun | /ˈdɛs.tɪ.ni/ | That to which any person or thing is destined; a predetermined state; a condition predestined by the Divine or by human will. |
| nude adjective | /n(j)uːd/ | Of a color (such as beige or tan) that evokes bare flesh. |
| dictate verb | /ˈdɪkˌteɪt/ | To order, command, control. |
| corset noun | /ˈkɔː(ɹ).sɪt/ | A woman's foundation garment, reinforced with stays, that supports the waistline, hips and bust. |
| tight adjective | /taɪt/ | Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. |
| plate noun | /ˈpleɪ̯t/ | A slightly curved but almost flat dish from which food is served or eaten. |
| princess noun | /ˈpɹɪnsɛs/ | A female member of a royal family other than a queen, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch. |
| license noun | /ˈlaɪ.səns/ | A legal document giving official permission to do something; a permit. |
| pride noun | /pɹaɪd/ | A sense of one's own worth; reasonable self-esteem and satisfaction (in oneself, in one's work, one's family, etc). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| pull up verb | /ˌpʊl ˈʌp/ | To lift upwards or vertically. |
| shut up | /ʃʌt ʌp/ | Stop talking (usually in the form of making annoying, irrelevant, or false comments, during a period of peace and quiet, or when one is not allowed to talk)… |
| stay back verb | /steɪˈbæk/ | To remain (at work, school, organisation, country, etc.) after normal hours |
| step up verb | To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can'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 pray, buffet, slide.
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.