Shadowing Practice: Are You Forgetting English Words When Speaking? Try These Tips! - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
A common question that I get from English learners quite a bit is, what do I do when I forget a word during an English conversation?
2
So in this English lesson, I'm going to give you, five strategies, five tips, things you can do when you forget a word during an English conversation.
3
And this isn't one of the five, but I would say this.
4
Don't panic.
5
You can plan for this situation and you can handle it very, very graciously.
6
So in this English lesson, I'll teach you five little strategies, things that you can do when you forget an English word when you're having an English conversation.
7
Strategy number one, if you can't think of a specific word, just become more general.
8
What I mean is this.
9
If you can't think of the word dog, use the word pet.
10
So you're talking in general about animals that people keep, like cats or dogs.
11
If you can't think of the word car or van, use the word vehicle, a, general term to talk about the things we drive to go places.
12
So you might say, I took my pet to the vet the other day, or you might say, I took my vehicle to the garage the other day.
13
This would not sound abnormal in English.
14
So strategy number one, just speak in more general terms.
15
Instead of saying cat, say pet.
16
Instead of saying car, say vehicle.
17
Strategy number two, use actions to replace the word that you can't remember.
18
Let's say I can't remember the word for mustache.
19
I could just say, I'm just trying to grow a little bit here, you know?
20
So I didn't say the word mustache, but I indicated the area and I used the verb to grow.
21
And I think the person will know that I'm talking about mustache.
22
I could say, the other day I just went for a little.
23
And I could do this.
24
And I think you know that I mean haircut.
25
So if I can't remember the word for haircut, I can use some actions to replace the word in the sentence or in the conversation.
26
So strategy number two, use actions.
27
Oh, I did just there, didn't I?
28
Number two, use actions if you can, instead of the word that you can't remember.
29
Strategy number three, compare and contrast the word you don't know to words you do know.
30
And it'll be like a little game because you're trying to get the other person to say the word.
31
So let's say you can't remember the word for van.
32
You could say, the other day I was driving my, it's not a car, it's bigger than a car.
33
But it's not a truck, and you can put a lot of passengers in it.
34
And then the other person might say, oh, your van.
35
You would say, yes, my van.
36
Let's say you can't remember the word for cow.
37
You could say, oh, the other day I went to a farm and I saw, an animal.
38
It's bigger than a goat.
39
But it's not a horse.
40
You don't ride it.
41
It's like, about the same size as a horse.
42
And the other person might say, oh, a cow.
43
And you would say, yes, I went to a farm and I saw a cow.
44
So this actually can be a great strategy.
45
When you're having a conversation.
46
The person is probably quite eager to help you think of the word that you have forgotten.
47
So compare, say what it's like, and contrast, say what it's not like.
48
And hopefully the person you're talking to will tell you what word it is.
49
The fourth thing you can do is just ask.
50
If you're having an English conversation and you can't remember a word, you can just ask the person you're talking to what the word is.
51
Let's say you were saying, I was running late the other day because I couldn't find my.
52
What do you call the thing you use to cut your nails?
53
Or what's the word for the thing you use to cut your nails?
54
And I just think the other person will say nail clippers.
55
And it will just be a, completely normal part of the conversation.
56
They won't think badly of you because you forgot the word, because they're interested in the story that you are telling.
57
So the fourth thing you can do, just ask.
58
You can say things like, what do you call the thing?
59
Or what, what's the word for the thing?
60
And then describe what you use the word for.
61
And notice while I was doing that, I was also showing the action.
62
I think that helps in the flow of the conversation.
63
So, number four, just ask.
64
Strategy number five, change the topic.
65
If you're having an English conversation and the person starts talking about a science fiction movie that they just saw and you don't know a lot of English vocabulary, to use in that conversation, change the topic.
66
Talk about a movie that you saw.
67
Maybe you like romantic movies, and maybe you know a lot of vocabulary about love and dating and that kind of thing, change the topic, start talking about the movie you like, and use the words that you do know.
68
I know in that way you're avoiding part of the conversation, but I still think it's a great strategy.
69
But make sure you also do this when you go home that night.
70
Do some research and learn some vocabulary so if you're in that type of conversation again, you are able to talk about it in a meaningful way.
71
Well, hey, thank you so much for watching this English lesson about five strategies, five tips that you can use if you're having an English conversation and you suddenly forget a word.
72
I hope they are helpful and I hope they help you in your next English conversation.
73
If this is your first time here, don't forget to click that red subscribe button over there.
74
Give me a thumbs up.
75
Consider becoming a member.
76
There are privileges if you become a member.
77
There is a join button or a subscribe plus somewhere and leave a comment.
78
I love to read them.
79
Have a great week.
80
I'll see you next week with another English lesson.
81
Bye.
📺 Same Channel
A2Let's Learn English! Topic: Everyday Verbs! 👕🐕📌
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A24
Prepositions of Place, and Other Ways to Describe Location and Motion - An English Lesson!
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B111
Learn English Words and Phrases about Clothing & How People Dress! 👕👔🧥
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
All About Canadian English and the Canadian English Accent! 🍁 (Compared Mostly to American English)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
12 English Phrases about Improving Your English!
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B14
An English Lesson on the Road! I Will Go Where You Tell Me To Go and Teach Some English!
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
Let's Learn English! Topic: Food! 🥦🥫🍲 (Lesson Only)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
Let's Learn English Downtown!
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
B12
Let's Learn English! How to Talk About Things You're Thankful For! 🍁
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
Free English Class! Topic: Cleaning! 🧹🧺🗑️ (Lesson Only)
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
Let's Learn English! Topic: English Phrases with "in the..." 🏃😉❌ (Lesson Only)
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B14
An English Lesson About Travel and Tourism 🧳🚌✈️
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B13
Learn English Tenses: The Present Perfect
Cambridge Exam PrepHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B11
3 Goals You Can Set To Help Improve Your English 🎯
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
A2Weather Talk! Learn English Words and Phrases to Talk about the Weather | Video with Subtitles
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B13
Learn How To Talk About Your Daily Routine in English Part 2
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
How To Order Food In English At A Restaurant Drive-Thru
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A29
Phrases English Speakers Use Every Day
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B11
The Two Most Important Things for Learning English
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B133
Learn How To Talk About Your Daily Routine in English by Watching Me Act Out Mine
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
✨ Recommend Video
B13
175 sentences
How to Speak English Without Fear | B1 English Listening Practice
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B173 sentences
Improve Your English Each Week With These 5 Tips!
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B14
119 sentences
Start SPEAKING ENGLISH NOW with these 10 PHRASES
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
17 sentences
English in a Minute: Tip of Your Tongue
American AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B12
178 sentences
The Easy Way to Remember Every English Word
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B13
279 sentences
English Listening and Speaking Practice | Learn English Vocabulary with a Daily Conversation ✨
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B14
61 sentences
How I Fixed My English Speaking in 5 Minutes a Day (No More Freezing)
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B23
264 sentences
You Have 30 Seconds to Answer! | English Speaking Practice | B1-B2 Speaking Challenge
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
70 sentences
50 Words To Use Instead Of VERY - Part 01 | Don’t Be A Word Bore | Stop Speaking Basic English
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B15
11 sentences
Do You Freeze When You Speak English?
British AccentInterview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B110
139 sentences
How to Keep Talking in English Without Getting Stuck
British AccentIELTS PrepInterview EnglishDaily Conversation
B1221 sentences
Forgetting words when speaking English? Let's fix it!
British AccentInterview EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Are You Forgetting English Words When Speaking? Try These Tips!”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: word, English, conversation, strategy, forget. This video has 81 sentences and 1060 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:40. The speaker talks fast, about 187 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| moustache noun | /ˈmʌstæʃ/ | A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| nail noun | /neɪl/ | The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human). |
| haircut noun | /ˈhɛə(ɹ)kʌt/ | The act of cutting of the hair, often done professionally by a barber, hair stylist, or beautician. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| clipper noun | /ˈklɪp.ɚ/ | Anything or anyone that clips. |
| graciously adverb | /ˈɡɹeɪʃəsli/ | In a gracious manner; with grace and courtesy. |
| learner noun | /ˈlɜɹnəɹ/ | One who is learning; one receiving instruction. |
| abnormal adjective | /ˌæbˈnɔɹ.ml̩/ | Not conforming to rule or system; deviating from the usual or normal type. |
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| thumb noun | /ˈθʌm/ | The shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers. |
| goat noun | /ɡoʊt/ | Any ruminant of the genus Capra. |
| eager adjective | /ˈiɡɚ/ | Desirous; keen to do or obtain something. |
| meaningful adjective | /ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fl̩/ | Having meaning, significant. |
| privilege noun | /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ | A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Let's say I can't remember the word for mustache.
- Oh, I did just there, didn't I?
- Let's say you can't remember the word for cow.
- When you're having a conversation.
- What do you call the thing you use to cut your nails?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was driving · were saying · was doing |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might say |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | starts talking · start talking · Consider becoming |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | bigger than |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 38 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, can't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: moustache /ˈmʌstæʃ/, graciously /ˈɡɹeɪʃəsli/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/
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 moustache, vocabulary, nail.
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.