Shadowing Practice: Axl Makes an Entire Presentation in 5 Minutes | The Middle - Learn English Speaking with Video
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120 sentences
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1
Axel!
2
Where have you been?
3
Have you even gone over the note cards we are presenting first today?
4
First!
5
Cover down, school Sue.
6
I'll practice during the announcements.
7
It's the Axel method.
8
No, that is the failing the class method.
9
Just stick to the note cards and follow my lead.
10
No improvising.
11
Let me get your apron.
12
- Oh no!
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Oh no!
14
Oh no!
15
What?
16
I grabbed the wrong bag!
17
This is your stupid stuff!
18
Oh my god!
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Oh my god, we're dead!
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Everything was in there.
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The paper, the resume, the note cards, the menus, the aprons.
22
The note reminding me to get the food for the class out of the fridge.
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I gave you one job to do.
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You gave me...
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Every job!
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Okay.
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Good.
28
That's it!
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We're gonna get an S.
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I'm a kid who gets S now.
31
That's who I am.
32
Maybe I'll just get a tattoo.
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That's it?
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You're just gonna give up?
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Oh my god.
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What is your problem?
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It's not even two yet.
38
We got like five minutes.
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We can do this.
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Hey, Steve.
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What's up?
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What up, Ax?
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Not much.
44
Hey, remember the time at the lake I introduced you to Lindsay Sullivan?
45
How's that going?
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Dude, she's my girlfriend now.
47
I owe you one.
48
Yeah.
49
You do.
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And don't forget that.
51
Okay.
52
All right!
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Hey, Michelle.
54
Need a favor.
55
Okay, I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's presentations.
56
We don't have a lot of time, so let's get started.
57
Let's see, Sue Hex signed up to go first.
58
Hi, this is Michelle with your morning announcements.
59
But first, will Axel Heck please report to the office?
60
Well, Axel, we had a presentation ordered, but if you can find someone who'd be willing, Right here.
61
I'll switch.
62
Okay, Steve, you and your partner go first.
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Axel, you can go to the office, but...
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Make it quick.
65
The class was called Life Skills, and Axel sure put his to good use.
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Hey, Erica.
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Look at you making posters.
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You're crazy good.
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Thanks.
70
Know what I could use?
71
One of these, but...
72
Pfft.
73
Alan Hung!
74
What's up, buddy?
75
You can, like, hack into people's computers, right?
76
'Cause there's this paper on my sister's computer?
77
Password is "iHeartTrying." So, you see, there are many aspects to a dry cleaning business.
78
Tagging, treatment, pressing, tailoring, collection, and distribution.
79
Beth, that's business class, isn't it?
80
Yeah, it's so boring.
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I bet.
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Know what could be fun for you?
83
Hey, Bernice.
84
Nice work on the tater tots yesterday.
85
You happy with this?
86
I need a favor.
87
Okay, it's time for our final presentation.
88
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Where are you going, Mr. Heck?
89
What's all this?
90
Hey, principal Cameron.
91
I'm actually on my way to my life skills presentation and sort of late, so...
92
I see.
93
Will these sort of have a hall pass?
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Because if not, you're going to sort of need to roll that cart all the way down to detention.
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Oh, here it is.
96
Must have been in my back pocket.
97
You know, you might want to turn those into badges so you can clip them right here or here.
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All right, get to class now.
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I like the bad side, too.
100
You're sharper than you look.
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Yes.
102
Sue.
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Where's Axel?
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Ladies and gentlemen, the axe is back.
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Hey!
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Oh, Sue!
107
Dropped a resume silly?
108
That'd have been a mess.
109
Okay, and do you have your report? Of course.
110
And it's ten pages?
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Actually eleven.
112
Hope that's okay.
113
Yes.
114
Hello.
115
This is Sue, my name is Axel, and we will be your chefs today.
116
Imagine yourselves in an Italian restaurant.
117
How do you think something like this comes together?
118
I don't know!
119
Thank you, Sue, for expressing what we're all thinking.
120
you
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 120 sentences and 630 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:35. The speaker talks at a steady 138 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| presentation noun | /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ | The act of presenting, or something presented. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| announcement noun | /əˈnaʊns.mənt/ | An act of announcing, or giving notice. |
| resume verb | /ˈɹɛz.ə.meɪ/ | To start (something) again that has been stopped or paused from the point at which it was stopped or paused; continue, carry on. |
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
| sharp adjective | /ʃɑɹp/ | Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded. |
| tag noun | /tæɡ/ | A small label. |
| aspect noun | /ˈæspɛkt/ | Any specific feature, part, or element of something. |
| buddy | /ˈbʌdi/ | A person far removed from the conversation. |
| silly adjective | /ˈsɪl.i/ | Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance. |
| introduce verb | /ˌɪntɹəˈdus/ | To cause (someone) to be acquainted (with someone else). |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| clip noun | /klɪp/ | Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another. |
| menu noun | /ˈmɛn.juː/ | The details of the food to be served at a banquet; a bill of fare. |
| chef noun | /ʃɛf/ | The presiding cook in the kitchen of a large household. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come together verb | /ˈkʌm tʊˈɡɛðɚ/ | To assemble; to congregate; to combine. |
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). | |
| go over verb | To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze. | |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have you been · Have you even gone |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll practice · I'll just get · will Axel Heck |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are presenting · I'm looking · are you going |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna get · gonna give · you're going to sort |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 21 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: presentation /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/, sharp /ʃɑɹp/, chef /ʃɛf/, detention /dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/
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 presentation, skill, announcement.
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.