Shadowing Practice: Build data-driven lesson plans with Claude for Teachers - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 37 sentences and 512 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:52. The speaker talks at a natural 178 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• classroom /ˈklɑːsɹʊm/ (noun) — A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
• folder /ˈfoʊldɚ/ (noun) — An organizer that papers are kept in, usually with an index tab, to be stored as a single unit in a filing cabinet.
• lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
• extension /ɪkˈstɛnʃən/ (noun) — The act of extending; a stretching out; enlargement in length, breadth, or time; an increase.
• attendance /əˈtɛn.dəns/ (noun) — The act of attending; the state of being present; presence.
• differentiate /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/ (verb) — To modify so as to create a difference or distinction.
• assessment /əˈsɛsmənt/ (noun) — The act of assessing or an amount (of tax, levy or duty etc) assessed.
• skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
• solve /sɒlv/ (verb) — To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.
• confirm /kənˈfɝm/ (verb) — To strengthen; to make firm or resolute.
• connect /kəˈnɛkt/ (verb) — To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
• privacy /ˈpɹaɪ.və.si/ (noun) — The state of being secluded from the presence, sight, or knowledge of others.
• exit /ˈɛɡzət/ (noun) — An act of going out or going away, or leaving; a departure.
• absence /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ (noun) — A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship
• stem /stɛm/ (noun) — The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• back up (verb) — To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
• give up (verb) — To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone).
• live in (verb) — To reside on the premises of one's employer (used especially of domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, maids, etc.)
• look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
• look in (verb) — To visit a place or person briefly and casually.
• pile up (verb) — To form a pile, stack, or heap.
• pull up /ˌpʊl ˈʌp/ (verb) — To lift upwards or vertically.
• sit in (verb) — To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'd, I'm, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: extension /ɪkˈstɛnʃən/, differentiate /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/, equation /ɪˈkweɪ.ʒən/, differentiation /dɪf.əˌɹɛn.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/, preposition /ˌpɹɛpəˈzɪʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: differentiate /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪt/, diagnostic /ˌdaɪ.əɡˈnɑ.stɪk/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, differentiation /dɪf.əˌɹɛn.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/, multilingual /ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like classroom, folder, lesson.