Shadowing Practice: Big bang theory-taking train - Learn English Speaking with Video
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46 sentences
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1
Okay, Raj, hand me the number six torque screwdriver.
2
Stop.
3
We can't do this.
4
It's not right.
5
Sheldon, you have two choices.
6
Either you let him put a bigger hard drive in the TiVo, or you delete stuff before we go out of town.
7
But once you open the box, you've voided the warranty.
8
The warranty is a sacred covenant we've entered into with the manufacturer.
9
He offers to stand by his equipment, and we, in return, agree not to violate the integrity of the internal hardware.
10
This little orange sticker is all that stands between us and anarchy.
11
Okay, then we won't touch the hard drive.
12
We'll just erase the first season of Battlestar.
13
There, we're outlaws.
14
Here you go, Leonard.
15
Is this gonna be big enough?
16
It's perfect.
17
For taking daffodils to your unicorn.
18
it's just for my notebooks thanks penny oh i love san francisco
19
i wish i was going with you i understand your envy
20
this is a can't miss symposium
21
there are going to be discussions on bioorganic cellular computer devices
22
the advancements in multi -threaded task completion plus a round table
23
on the non -equilibrium green function approach to the photoionization process in atoms
24
when i go i usually just get hammered
25
and ride the cable cars
26
this conference is kind of a big thing the keynote address
27
is being delivered by george smoot oh my god the george smoot
28
you've heard of him of course
29
i haven't george smoot is a nobel prize -winning physicist one
30
of the great minds of our time his work in black body form
31
and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation cemented our understanding of the origin of the universe
32
It's kind of a funny name, though.
33
Smoot.
34
It's like talking to a chimp.
35
Okay, now that I've been completely insulted, have a good flight?
36
Yeah, I wish.
37
We're not flying.
38
We're taking the train.
39
Oh, cool.
40
Yeah, cool.
41
Seven times as long as flying and costs almost twice as much.
42
Well, then why are you doing it?
43
Well, we had a vote.
44
Three of us voted for airplanes, Sheldon voted for trains, so we're taking the train.
45
You don't say it like that, Leonard.
46
Say it like...
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Big bang theory-taking train”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: smoot, train, george. This video has 46 sentences and 371 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:21. The speaker talks at a natural 158 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| warranty noun | /ˈwɔɹ.ən.ti/ | A guarantee that a certain outcome or obligation will be fulfilled; security. |
| thread noun | /ˈθɹɛd/ | A cord formed by spinning or twisting together textile fibers or filaments into one or more continuous strands, typically used in needlework. |
| hardware noun | /ˈhɑɹdˌwɛɹ/ | Fixtures, equipment, fasteners, tools, and devices used for general-purpose construction and repair of a structure or object. Also such equipment as sold as… |
| radiation noun | /ˌɹeɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The shooting forth of anything from a point or surface, like diverging rays of light. |
| sacred adjective | /ˈseɪkɹɪd/ | Characterized by solemn religious ceremony or religious use, especially, in a positive sense; consecrated, made holy. |
| completion noun | /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/ | The act or state of being or making something complete; conclusion, accomplishment. |
| delete verb | /dɪˈliːt/ | To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device. |
| integrity noun | /ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/ | Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. |
| manufacturer noun | /ˌmænjʊˈfæktʃəɹə/ | A person or company that manufactures. |
| hammer noun | /ˈhæmɚ/ | A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding. |
| penny noun | /ˈpɛni/ | In the United Kingdom, a unit of currency worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a pound sterling, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: p. |
| void adjective | /vɔɪd/ | Containing nothing; empty; not occupied or filled. |
| insult noun | /ɪnˈsʌlt/ | Action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; (countable) a particular act or statement having this effect. |
| cement noun | /səˈmɛnt/ | A powdered substance produced by firing (calcining) calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay that develops strong cohesive properties when mixed with water. The… |
| airplane noun | /ˈɛɹˌpleɪ̯n/ | A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings: a fixed-wing aircraft with at least one engine or electric motor. |
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 | you've voided · we've entered · you've heard |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being delivered · I've been completely insulted |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 15 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, can't, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: radiation /ˌɹeɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən/, completion /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: radiation /ˌɹeɪ.diˈeɪ.ʃən/, integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/, manufacturer /ˌmænjʊˈfæktʃəɹə/, equilibrium /ɛkwɪˈlɪbɹɪəm/, anisotropy /ˌæn.aɪˈsɒ.tɹə.pi/
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 warranty, thread, hardware.
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.