Shadowing Practice: Chapter 9 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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148 sentences
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Chapter 9 The house on the lake.
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When the lights came on, Raul ran.
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He ran downstairs and along passages.
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through the opera house to the back of the stage.
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In the passage outside Christine's dressing room, A hand took his arm.
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What's the matter, my young friend?
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Where are you running to so quickly?
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Raoul turned.
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and saw the long face of the Persian.
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under his black hat.
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Christine.
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Raoul said quickly.
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"'Erik's got her.' Where is she?
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Help me.
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How do I get to his house on the lake?
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Come with me.
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said the Persian.
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They went quickly into Christine's dressing room.
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The Persian closed the door.
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and went to the big mirror on one wall.
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There's only one door into this room.
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Raoul began.
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Wait.
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the Persian said.
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he put his hands on the big mirror, First here.
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then there.
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For a minute, nothing happened.
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then, The mirror began to move and turn.
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and a big dark hole opened in it, Raoul stared.
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Quick.
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Come with me.
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But be careful.
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The Persian said.
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I know, Eric.
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I understand his secrets.
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Put your right hand up near your head, like this.
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and keep it there all the time. But why?
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Raul asked.
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Remember Joseph Bouquet?
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and the rope around his neck.
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Eric is a clever man with ropes in the dark.
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They went down.
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down Down under the Opera House.
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"'They went through secret doors in the floors.' Then along passages, and down dark stairs.
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The Persian listened carefully all the time for strange noises.
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When do we get to the lake?
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Raoul whispered.
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We're not going by the lake.
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Eric watches it all the time.
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No. We go round the lake.
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and get into Eric's house from the back.
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I know some secret doors.
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soon.
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They were there. in the dark.
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The Persian felt the wall carefully with his hands.
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Ah.
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Here it is.
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He whispered.
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The wall moved under his hands.
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and a small door opened.
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very quietly.
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They went through.
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And then the door closed behind them.
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they could not get out.
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Inside the room it was very dark.
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They waited and listened.
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The Persian put his hands on the wall.
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Oh no!
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He whispered.
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It was the wrong door.
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This is Eric's torture room.
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"'The room of mirrors.' We are dead men, we come to Shani.
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Dead men!
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At first, Raoul did not understand. But he soon learnt.
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The lights came on.
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And they heard a man's laugh.
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Eric knew they were there.
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The room was all mirrors.
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Walls.
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Floor.
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Ceiling.
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There were pictures in the mirrors of trees and flowers and rivers.
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The pictures moved and danced in front of their eyes.
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and the room was hot.
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It got hotter, and hotter. and hotter.
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Raul was thirsty.
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hot and thirsty.
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and the rivers in the pictures danced and laughed at him.
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He closed his eyes.
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But the rivers still danced.
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"Water." He needed water.
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But the mirrors laughed at him.
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soon.
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He could not move or speak.
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or open his eyes.
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He was not thirsty now.
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Just tired. So tired.
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"Oh, Christine, I'm sorry." He thought.
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I wanted to help you.
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And now I'm dying.
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threw a mirror in the wall.
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"'Christine watched her lover in the torture room.' Behind her Eric stood.
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with his hands on her arms.
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He's dying, Christine.
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dying.
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Watch him carefully.
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No. Don't close your eyes.
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Watch him.
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Christine could not speak.
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She wanted to scream.
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But no words came.
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Then...
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She found her voice again.
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How can you do this, Eric?
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Why don't you kill me?
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Because I love you, Christine.
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"Marry me." Be my wife and love me.
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Then Raoul and the Persian can live.
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Slowly.
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Christine turned.
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She looked into Eric's terrible, ugly face.
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and spoke again.
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very quietly.
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Yes, Eric. From this minute...
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I am your wife.
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She put her arms around Eric's neck.
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and kissed him.
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kissed him slowly and lovingly, on his ugly mouth.
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Then, She took her arms away and said slowly, Poor Unhappy Eric...
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Eric stared at her.
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You kissed me?
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he whispered.
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I didn't ask you, but you kissed me.
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Really?
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Oh, Christine.
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My angel.
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That was my first kiss from a woman.
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Even my mother never kissed me.
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She gave me my first mask when I was two years old.
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She turned her face away from me every time I came near her.
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Eric put his ugly face in his hands. and cried.
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Then he went down on the floor at Christine's feet.
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You are free, Christine.
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Free.
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go away and marry your Raoul and be happy. But remember Eric sometimes.
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Go now.
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Quickly.
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Take Raoul and the Persian and go.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 148 sentences and 782 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:39. The speaker talks slowly, about 102 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- mirror /ˈmiɹɚ/ (noun) — 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.
- whisper /ˈ(h)wɪspɚ/ (verb) — To speak softly or under one's breath, so as to be heard only by one near at hand; to utter words without sonant breath; to talk without that vibration of the…
- carefully /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ (adverb) — With care; attentively, circumspectly.
- ugly /ˈʌɡli/ (adjective) — Displeasing to the eye; aesthetically unpleasing.
- passage /ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/ (noun) — A paragraph or section of text or music with particular meaning.
- thirsty /ˈθɝs.ti/ (adjective) — Needing to drink water or any liquid that can supply water.
- marry /ˈmæɹi/ (verb) — To enter into the conjugal or connubial state; to take a husband or a wife.
- opera /ˈɒp.ə.ɹə/ (noun) — A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.
- quietly /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ (adverb) — Producing little or no noise.
- torture /ˈtoɹt͡ʃɚ/ (noun) — The infliction of severe pain or anguish, especially as an interrogation technique or punishment; (usually in the plural) a technique, method, or device which…
- rope /ɹoʊp/ (noun) — Thick strings, yarn, monofilaments, metal wires, or strands of other cordage that are twisted together to form a stronger line.
- stare /stɛɚ/ (verb) — To look fixedly (at something).
- angel /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ (noun) — An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes.
- flower /ˈfloʊɚ/ (noun) — A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual…
- mask /mæsk/ (noun) — A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
- come with (verb) — To join and come along.
- go through (verb) — To travel from one end of something to the other.
- get into (verb) — To move into (an object), such that one ends up inside it.
- get out (verb) — To leave or escape.
- go away (verb) — To depart or leave a place.
- go by (verb) — To pass or go past without much interaction.
- go down (verb) — To descend; to move from a higher place to a lower one.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, didn't. 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 mirror, whisper, carefully.
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.