Shadowing Practice: Breathtaking | Starts Monday 19th February | ITV - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 24 sentences and 145 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:58. The speaker talks at a steady 149 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| virus noun | /ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/ | A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and… |
| insane adjective | /ɪnˈseɪn/ | Exhibiting unsoundness or disorder of mind; not sane; utterly mad. |
| assure verb | /əˈʃʊɹ/ | To make sure and secure; ensure. |
| madness noun | /ˈmæd.nəs/ | The state of being mad; insanity; mental disease. |
| breathtaking adjective | /ˈbɹɛθˌteɪ.kɪŋ/ | stunningly beautiful; amazing |
| guideline noun | /ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/ | A non-specific rule or principle that provides direction to action or behaviour. |
| overwhelm verb | /ˌoʊ.vɚˈwɛlm/ | To engulf, surge over and submerge. |
| prepare verb | /pɹɪˈpɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm. |
| weekend noun | /ˈwiˌkɛnd/ | The break in the working week, usually two days including the traditional holy or sabbath day. Thus in Western countries, Saturday and Sunday. |
| wonder noun | /ˈwʌndɚ/ | A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise… |
| wear verb | /wɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, perfume, etc. |
| spread verb | /spɹid/ | To stretch out, open out (a material etc.) so that it more fully covers a given area of space. |
| cast verb | /kæst/ | To throw. |
| ill adjective | /ɪl/ | Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 virus, insane, assure.
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.