Shadowing Practice: American Gangster extortion - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “American Gangster extortion”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: strong, Frank, Bumpy, sir. This video has 36 sentences and 281 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:55. The speaker talks at a steady 146 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 91% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 8 of its 36 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
10 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tango noun | /ˈtæ̝ŋɡoʊ̯/ | A standard ballroom dance in 4/4 time; or a social dance, the Argentine tango. |
| legitimate adjective | /lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət/ | In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements. |
| lease noun | /liːs/ | An interest in land granting exclusive use or occupation of real estate for a limited period; a leasehold. |
| dope noun | [doʊp] | Any viscous liquid or paste, such as a lubricant, used in preparing a surface. |
| landlord noun | /ˈlæn(d).lɔɹd/ | A person that leases real property; a lessor. |
| sell verb | /sɛl/ | To transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money. |
| drug noun | /ˈdɹʌɡ/ | A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose. |
| estate noun | /ɪˈsteɪt/ | The collective property and liabilities of someone, especially a deceased person. |
| somebody | /ˈsʌmˌbədi/ | Some unspecified person. |
| profit noun | /ˈpɹɑfɪt/ | Total income or cash flow minus expenditures. The money or other benefit a non-governmental organization or individual receives in exchange for products and… |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What I got to do?
- Is that what you need?
- What do I got left?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, gonna, I'll. 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 tango, legitimate, lease.
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.