Shadowing Practice: Anxious about future events? This is for you! | @Dr.ShadeZahrai - Learn English Speaking with Video
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10 sentences
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And does the thought of an upcoming event make you even more anxious than the event itself?
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That's anticipatory anxiety.
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It's anxiety about the what -ifs even before anything's happened.
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Most advice tells you to just visualize success.
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But did you know that research shows that only focusing on a perfect outcome can actually drain your energy?
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When your brain skips over potential challenges, you're left feeling less prepared and even more anxious when things don't actually go as planned.
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So instead, try a balanced approach.
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Picture the worst case scenario and mentally map out how you would respond.
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This helps you prepare for reality.
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You reduce the fear of uncertainty and create a practical plan, making you feel more confident and more ready for whatever happens.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Anxious about future events? This is for you!”. This video has 10 sentences and 127 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:40. The speaker talks fast, about 190 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 2 of its 10 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
12 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| anxiety noun | /æŋˈzaɪ.əti/ | An unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension and obsession or concern about some uncertain event. |
| anxious adjective | /ˈæŋkʃəs/ | Nervous and worried. |
| practical adjective | /ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/ | Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis. |
| outcome noun | /ˈaʊtkʌm/ | That which is produced or occurs as a result of an event or process. |
| upcoming adjective | Happening or appearing in the relatively near future. | |
| skip verb | /skɪp/ | To move by hopping on alternate feet. |
| mentally adverb | /ˈmɛntəli/ | In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally. |
| scenario noun | /sɪˈnɛəɹioʊ/ | An outline or model of an expected or supposed sequence of events. |
| drain noun | /dɹiːn/ | A conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume; a plughole (UK) |
| uncertainty noun | /ʌnˈsɜːtənti/ | Doubt; the condition of being uncertain or without conviction. |
| anticipatory adjective | /ænˌtɪsəpəˈtɔri/ | Characterized by anticipation. |
| visualize verb | /ˈvɪʒuəˌlaɪz/ | To perceive (something) visually; to see. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: anxious /ˈæŋkʃəs/, visualize /ˈvɪʒuəˌlaɪz/
- Long words — get the stress right: anxiety /æŋˈzaɪ.əti/, uncertainty /ʌnˈsɜːtənti/, anticipatory /ænˌtɪsəpəˈtɔri/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like anxiety, anxious, practical.
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.