Shadowing Practice: Alex Warren - Ordinary (Wedding Version) [Official Music Video] - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Alex Warren - Ordinary (Wedding Version)”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: clouds, angels, ordinary, jealous, sanctuary. This video has 44 sentences and 345 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:53. The speaker talks at a steady 120 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 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 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cloud noun | /ˈklaʊ̯d/ | A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. |
| angel noun | /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ | An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes. |
| ordinary adjective | /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/ | Having regular jurisdiction; now only used in certain phrases. |
| jealous adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛl.əs/ | Suspecting rivalry in love; troubled by worries that one might have been replaced in someone's affections; suspicious of a lover's or spouse's fidelity. |
| dust noun | /dʌst/ | Fine, dry particles of matter found in the air and covering the surface of objects, typically consisting of soil lifted up by the wind, pollen, hair, fiber… |
| knife noun | /ˈnaɪ̯f/ | A utensil or a tool designed for cutting, consisting of a flat piece of hard material, usually steel or other metal (the blade), usually sharpened on one edge… |
| sanctuary noun | /ˈsæŋkt͡ʃuˌɛɹi/ | A place of safety, refuge, or protection. |
| bury verb | /ˈbɛɹi/ | To outlive. |
| vine noun | /ˈvaɪ̯n/ | Any plant whose stem requires support and which climbs by tendrils or twining. |
| gate noun | /ˈɡeɪ̯t/ | A doorlike structure outside a house. |
| 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. |
| clay noun | /kleɪ/ | A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics. |
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| scope noun | /skəʊp/ | The breadth, depth or reach of a subject; the extent of applicability or relevance; a domain, purview or remit. |
| berry noun | /ˈbɛɹi/ | A small succulent fruit, of any one of many varieties. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| watch out | Used to warn someone of an imminent danger. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | is running · you're taking |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will fade · We'll make · will pray |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, sanctuary /ˈsæŋkt͡ʃuˌɛɹi/, hallelujah /ˌhæl.əˈl(j)uː.jə/
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 cloud, angel, ordinary.
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.