Shadowing Practice: Brian Chesky on the Best Startup Advice He Ever Got - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Brian Chesky on the Best Startup Advice He Ever Got”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: prototype, ocean, heat, Paul. This video has 30 sentences and 348 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:36. The speaker talks fast, about 217 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| prototype noun | /ˈpɹəʊtətaɪp/ | An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models. |
| resource noun | /ɹɪˈzɔːs/ | Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| guarantee noun | /ˌɡæɹ.ənˈtiː/ | Anything that assures a certain outcome. |
| distinct adjective | /dɪˈstɪŋkt/ | Capable of being perceived very clearly. |
| shoe noun | /ˈʃu/ | A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of… |
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| shallow adjective | /ˈʃæloʊ/ | Having little depth; significantly less deep than wide. |
| trajectory noun | /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/ | The path an object takes as it moves. |
| subset noun | /ˈsʌbˌsɛt/ | A set A such that every element of A is also an element of S. |
| industrialization noun | /ɪnˌdʌstɹɪəlɪˈzeɪʃən/ | A process of social and economic change whereby a human society is transformed from a preindustrial to an industrial state. |
| bathtub noun | /ˈbæθtʌb/ | A large container for holding water in which a person may bathe (take a bath). |
| unscalable adjective | Not scalable, that cannot be climbed. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| heat up verb | To heat, to cause to become hotter. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shoe /ˈʃu/, shallow /ˈʃæloʊ/, industrialization /ɪnˌdʌstɹɪəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: trajectory /tɹəˈd͡ʒɛktəɹi/, industrialization /ɪnˌdʌstɹɪəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
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 prototype, resource, lesson.
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.