Shadowing Practice: Can I learn TWO languages at the same time? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Can I learn TWO languages at the same time?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: language, learn, focus, learning, split. This video has 22 sentences and 357 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:40. The speaker talks fast, about 215 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 94% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pursue verb | /pɚˈsu/ | To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase. |
| passionate adjective | /ˈpæʃənɪt/ | Fired with intense feeling. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| sheer adjective | /ʃɪɚ/ | Very thin or transparent. |
| proportional adjective | At a constant ratio (to). Two magnitudes (numbers) are said to be proportional if the second varies in a direct relation arithmetically to the first. Symbol: ∝. | |
| burner noun | /ˈbɝnɚ/ | An element on a kitchen stove, hob, or cooktop that generates localized heat for cooking. |
| enrich verb | /ɪnˈɹɪt͡ʃ/ | To enhance. |
| split verb | /splɪt/ | To divide fully or partly along a more or less straight line. |
| task noun | /tæsk/ | A piece of work done as part of one’s duties. |
| recommend verb | /ˌɹɛkəˈmɛnd/ | To bestow commendation on; to represent favorably; to suggest, endorse or encourage as an appropriate choice. |
| tip noun | /tɪp/ | A gratuity; a small amount of money left for a bartender, waiter, taxi driver or other service worker as a token of appreciation, often calculated as a… |
| focus noun | /ˈfoʊ̯.kəs/ | A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge. |
| spend verb | /spɪnd/ | To pay out (money). |
| quickly adverb | /ˈkwɪk.li/ | Rapidly; with speed; fast; with expedition. |
| speed noun | /spiːd/ | The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: passionate /ˈpæʃənɪt/, sheer /ʃɪɚ/, finish /ˈfɪnɪʃ/
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 pursue, passionate, subscribe.
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.