Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 13 Test 4 Section 1 Listening - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 105 sentences and 848 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:58. The speaker talks at a steady 122 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| wage noun | /weɪd͡ʒ/ | An amount of money paid to a worker for a specified quantity of work, usually calculated on an hourly basis and expressed in an amount of money per hour. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| occasion noun | /əˈkeɪ̯ʒən/ | A favorable opportunity; a convenient or timely chance. |
| organisation noun | /ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪˌzeɪ.ʃən/ | Non-Oxford British English and Australian standard spelling of organization. |
| jacket noun | /ˈd͡ʒæk.ɪt/ | A piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse, often waist length to thigh length. |
| exam verb | /ɪɡˈzæm/ | Shortened form of examine |
| relate verb | /ɹɪˈleɪt/ | To tell in a descriptive way. |
| casual adjective | /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/ | Happening by chance. |
| mathematics noun | /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ | An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them. |
| jeans noun | /d͡ʒiːnz/ | A pair of trousers made from denim cotton. |
| skirt noun | /skɚt/ | A separate article of clothing, usually worn by women and girls, that hangs from the waist and covers the lower torso and part of the legs. |
| diploma noun | /dɪˈploʊmə/ | A document issued by an educational institution testifying that the recipient has earned a degree or has successfully completed a particular course of study. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get on with verb | To proceed with; to begin or continue, especially after an interruption. |
| go up verb | To move upwards. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 23 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, didn't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: occasion /əˈkeɪ̯ʒən/, organisation /ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪˌzeɪ.ʃən/, casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/
- Long words — get the stress right: organisation /ˈɔː.ɡə.naɪˌzeɪ.ʃən/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/
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 skill, mirror, carefully.
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 | has been done · has been written · I've heard |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | has been done · will be played · has been written |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should answer · should wear |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm ringing · I'm applying · I'm still working |
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.






















