Shadowing Practice: Bonus Practice: #120 Going to a wedding (Med) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hi, I'm Kate.
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It's time for us to practice the phrases from Episode 120, Going to a Wedding.
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Try some of these phrases we're about to hear next time you're invited to a wedding.
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Also, listen to the full episode or visit sbs .com .au slash learn English for more useful expressions and learning notes.
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Now, let's take a listen to Alan and Claire.
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So, I've been invited to a wedding and was wondering, would you like to come as my plus one?
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Really?
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Me?
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Sounds great.
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I'd love to.
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Where is the wedding being held?
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The ceremony's at the Botanical Gardens and the reception's at the restaurant nearby.
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Oh, the gardens are beautiful this time of year.
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Have you bought them a gift yet?
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Nah, not yet.
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They've set up a gift registry, so I'll just choose something from that.
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Ready to practice?
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First, listen to Alan and repeat after him.
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Then you'll hear Claire, and that's your cue to repeat after her too.
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So, I've been invited to a wedding.
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And was wondering, would you like to come as my plus one?
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Really?
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Me?
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Sounds great.
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I'd love to.
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Where is the wedding being held?
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The ceremony's at the botanical gardens and the reception's at the restaurant nearby.
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Oh, the gardens are beautiful this time of year.
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Have you bought them a gift yet?
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Nah, not yet.
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They've set up a GIF registry, so I'll just choose something from that.
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Thanks for practising with me.
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If anything wasn't clear, go back to episode 120,
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Going to a Wedding, and hear the phrases and vocabulary explained in more detail.
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You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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Just search for SPS Learn English.
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Wedding invitations don't come around every day, but knowing how to talk about them respectfully is very important.
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After all, it's one of life's biggest milestones for many people.
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Speak soon!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 39 sentences and 315 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:55. The speaker talks slowly, about 108 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| registry noun | /ˈɹɛd͡ʒɪstɹi/ | A building in which things are registered or where registers are kept. |
| invitation noun | /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ | The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| milestone noun | /ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ | A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of… |
| practise verb | /ˈpɹæktɪs/ | To repeat (an activity) as a way of improving one's skill in that activity. |
| botanical adjective | /bəˈtænɪkəl/ | Of or pertaining to botany; relating to the study of plants. |
| respectfully adverb | /ɹɪˈspɛkt.fə.li/ | In a respectful manner. |
| restaurant noun | /ˈɹɛst(ə)ˌɹɑnt/ | An eating establishment in which diners are served food, usually by waiters at their tables but sometimes (as in a fast food restaurant) at a counter. |
| nearby adverb | /ˌnɪə(ɹ)ˈbaɪ/ | Next to, close to. |
| repeat verb | /ɹɪˈpiːt/ | To do or say again (and again). |
| detail noun | /ˈdi.teɪl/ | A part small enough to escape casual notice. |
| expression noun | /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ | The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
| come around verb | /kʌ.məˈɹaʊnd/ | To change one's mind, especially to begin to agree or appreciate what one was reluctant to accept at first. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 14 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'd, I'll, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, expression /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: invitation /ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, botanical /bəˈtænɪkəl/, respectfully /ɹɪˈspɛkt.fə.li/
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 invite, phrase, registry.
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 | I've been invited · Have you bought · They've set |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | I've been invited · being held |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was wondering |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll just choose · you'll hear |
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.