Shadowing Practice: Bonus Practice: #104 Talking about school exams | NAPLAN | SBS Learn English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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SPS learn English.
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Speak English with confidence and live well in Australia.
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Hi, I'm Josipa.
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In this bonus episode, we are going to practice our speaking skills together.
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First, let's listen to the dialogue from episode 104, talking about school exams.
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And then we'll practice speaking, slowly and clearly.
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So get ready to speak along with me.
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NAPLAN's coming up next week, and it suddenly feels very real.
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Tell me about it.
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My son's already stressing about it.
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Same here.
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We've been doing a bit of revision at home.
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We're catching up on reading.
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There's so much pressure around exams.
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True, but it's really just a snapshot, not the whole picture.
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Now let's practice together.
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First, listen to Alan and repeat after him.
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Then you'll hear Claire and it's your turn to repeat after her.
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Don't be shy.
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Say it out loud.
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Let's do it together.
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Napland's coming up next week.
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And it suddenly feels very real.
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Tell me about it.
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My son's already stressing about it.
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Same here.
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We've been doing a bit of revision at home at home.
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We're catching up on reading.
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There's so much pressure around exams.
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True, but it's really just a snapshot, not the whole process.
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It's really just a snapshot, not the whole picture.
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How did you go?
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If anything Alan or Claire said that sounded confusing, just jump back to episode 104, Talking about school exams.
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We break down each phrase and show you how to use it when you are talking about exams and tests.
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You can also find learning notes on our website sbs.com.au slash learn English.
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So keep practicing.
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I'm sure you're doing better than you think.
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I'm Josipa and you, you've got this.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Bonus Practice: Talking about school exams”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: exams, snapshot, episode, practice, English. This video has 38 sentences and 285 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:58. The speaker talks slowly, about 96 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% 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
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| exam verb | /ɪɡˈzæm/ | Shortened form of examine |
| revision noun | /ɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/ | The action or process of reviewing, editing and amending. |
| bonus noun | /ˈbəʊ.nəs/ | Something extra that is good; an added benefit. |
| 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. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| dialogue noun | /ˈdaɪəˌlɑɡ/ | A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals. |
| confuse verb | /kənˈfjuːz/ | to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand |
| snapshot noun | /ˈsnæpʃɒt/ | A photograph, especially one taken quickly or in a sudden moment of opportunity. |
| suddenly adverb | /ˈsʌd.ən.li/ | Happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner. |
| repeat verb | /ɹɪˈpiːt/ | To do or say again (and again). |
| jump verb | /d͡ʒʌmp/ | To propel oneself rapidly upward, downward and/or in any horizontal direction such that momentum causes the body to become airborne. |
| confidence noun | /ˈkɑn.fɪ.dəns/ | Self-assurance. |
| slowly adverb | /ˈsloʊli/ | At a slow pace. |
| loud adjective | /ˈlaʊ̯d/ | Of great intensity. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| break down verb | To stop functioning. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- My son's already stressing about it.
- We've been doing a bit of revision at home.
- We're catching up on reading.
- How did you go?
- I'm sure you're doing better than you think.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | We've been doing |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | practice speaking · keep practicing |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | We're catching · are talking · you're doing |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | we'll practice · you'll hear |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, we're, we've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: revision /ɹəˈvɪʒ.ən/, snapshot /ˈsnæpʃɒt/
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 exam, revision, bonus.
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.