Shadowing Practice: Asking a Friend to Return My Drill - Learn English Speaking with Video
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32 sentences
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1
Hey, come in! What brings you over on a Sunday?
2
Oh, nothing much. I was just passing by, actually.
3
So... I'm finally putting up those shelves this weekend.
4
Nice! About time. They've been leaning against your wall since spring.
5
Exactly. The thing is, you need a proper drill for that...
6
Oh, definitely. Don't even try it with a screwdriver.
7
You know what? You should just invest in a good one.
8
Well... I did buy a good one. Last year, in fact.
9
Oh, great! Then you're all set, aren't you?
10
Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it.
11
You borrowed my drill back in March, remember?
12
Wait, that was yours? I thought it was Tom's!
13
No, it was definitely mine. The green one, in a case.
14
Oh no. I'm so sorry, it completely slipped my mind.
15
Hang on, it should be in the hall closet.
16
Hmm, that's strange. It's not here, and it's not in the garage.
17
Don't worry, there's no rush. I'm not going anywhere.
18
Oh no... I know exactly where it is.
19
My brother asked to borrow it when he moved apartments.
20
And I'm afraid I never got it back from him.
21
Hold on. So my drill has been lent out twice?
22
Well... when you put it like that, it sounds terrible.
23
Ha! It does a bit. Honestly, though, I'm relieved.
24
I was starting to think it had been lost for good.
25
I'm texting him right now. He only lives ten minutes away.
26
Oh, he's replied already! He's bringing it over.
27
Wow, that was quick! Your brother clearly owes you one.
28
Look, to make it up to you, I'll help with the shelves.
29
Really? That would be amazing. You're on!
30
Just promise you won't lend it to anyone else!
31
Cross my heart. Well, unless my brother asks nicely...
32
Don't even think about it!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Asking a Friend to Return My Drill”. This video has 32 sentences and 306 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:04. The speaker talks at a steady 149 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 7 of its 32 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| drill noun | /dɹɪl/ | A tool or machine used to remove material so as to create a hole, typically by plunging a rotating cutting bit into a stationary workpiece. |
| shelf noun | /ʃɛlf/ | A flat, rigid structure, fixed at right angles to a wall or forming a part of a cabinet, desk, etc., and used to display, store, or support objects. |
| borrow verb | /ˈbɑɹ.oʊ/ | To receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it. |
| lend verb | /ˈlɛnd/ | To allow to be used by someone temporarily, on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned. |
| rush verb | /ɹʌʃ/ | To hurry; to perform a task with great haste, often not properly or without thinking carefully. |
| invest verb | /ɪnˈvɛst/ | To spend money, time, or energy on something, especially for some benefit or purpose; used with in. |
| slip verb | /ˈslɪp/ | To lose one’s traction on a slippery surface; to slide due to a lack of friction. |
| garage noun | /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/ | A building (or section of a building) used to store a car or cars, tools and other miscellaneous items. |
| lean verb | /ˈliːn/ | To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating. |
| closet noun | /ˈklɑzɪt/ | A small room within a house used to store clothing, food, or other household supplies. |
| owe verb | /oʊ/ | To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone. |
| nicely adverb | /ˈnaɪs.li/ | Precisely; with fine discernment or judgement. |
| relieve verb | /ɹɪˈliːv/ | To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. |
| screwdriver noun | /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/ | A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| put up verb | To place in a high location. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'm finally putting up those shelves this weekend.
- They've been leaning against your wall since spring.
- Then you're all set, aren't you?
- I'm so sorry, it completely slipped my mind.
- I'm texting him right now.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | has been lent · had been lost |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was just passing · was starting |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm finally putting · I'm not going · I'm texting |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll help · won't lend |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 16 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shelf /ʃɛlf/, rush /ɹʌʃ/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/
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 drill, shelf, borrow.
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.