Shadowing Practice: Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0- Ninja Warrior Course - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 224 sentences and 3862 words to shadow. The speech runs for 20:14. The speaker talks fast, about 191 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| squirrel noun | /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/ | Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae. |
| cage noun | /keɪd͡ʒ/ | An enclosure made of spaced bars, normally to hold animals while providing some ventilation. |
| obstacle noun | /ˈɑbstəkəl/ | Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress, either physically or figuratively |
| rotate verb | /ˈɹoʊ.teɪt/ | To spin, turn, or revolve. |
| trick noun | /ˈtɹɪk/ | Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle. |
| buddy | /ˈbʌdi/ | A person far removed from the conversation. |
| physics noun | /ˈfɪz.ɪks/ | The branch of science concerned with the study of the properties and interactions of space, time, matter and energy. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| seed noun | /siːd/ | Any propagative portion of a plant which may be sown, such as true seeds, seed-like fruits, tubers, or bulbs. |
| extend verb | /ɛkˈstɛnd/ | To increase in extent. |
| gram noun | /ˈɡɹæm/ | A unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a kilogram. Symbol: g. |
| walnut noun | /ˈwɔlnət/ | A hardwood tree of the genus Juglans. |
| package noun | /ˈpæk.ɪd͡ʒ/ | Something which is packed, a parcel, a box, an envelope. |
| smooth adjective | /smuːð/ | Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough. |
| pole noun | /pəʊl/ | Either of the two points on the earth's surface around which it rotates; also, similar points on any other rotating object. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get up verb | To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb. |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. |
| turn out verb | To end up; to result. |
| wipe out verb | To destroy (especially, a large number or complete set of people or things); to obliterate. |
| back down verb | To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have. |
| break away verb | To leave suddenly. |
| come along verb | To accompany. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you're wondering why I would go · if a squirrel comes, they'll grab · if they're not careful, they'll have |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was advertised · are covered · isn't covered |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've placed · I've suspended · they've earned |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | baffle, which is · stuff, which means · Tumblers, which are |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 67 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'm, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: smooth /smuːð/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, sixth /sɪksθ/, athletic /æθˈlɛt.ɪk/, underneath /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rotation /ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/, assure /əˈʃʊɹ/, illusion /ɪˈl(j)uːʒ(ə)n/, sharp /ʃɑɹp/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, adorable /əˈdoɹ.əˌbəl/, anticipate /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/
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 squirrel, cage, obstacle.
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.





























