Shadowing Practice: Chris Evans AOU Red Carpet Interview - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 59 sentences and 432 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:15. The speaker talks fast, about 191 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% 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:

• anytime (adverb) — At any time.
• dancer /ˈdænsəɹ/ (noun) — A person who dances, usually as a hobby, an occupation, or a profession.
• warmth /wɔɹmθ/ (noun) — A moderate degree of heat; the sensation of being warm.
• reveal /ɹɪˈviːl/ (verb) — To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden.
• expand /ɪkˈspænd/ (verb) — To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open.
• gather /ˈɡæðɚ/ (verb) — To collect normally separate things.
• excitement /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/ (noun) — The state of being excited (emotionally aroused).
• embrace /ɛmˈbɹes/ (verb) — To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
• satisfy /ˈsætɪsfaɪ/ (verb) — To be enough (for)
• enthusiastic /ɪnˌθjuːzɪˈæstɪk/ (adjective) — With zealous fervor; excited, motivated.
• comfortable /ˈkʌm(p)f.tə.bəl/ (adjective) — Providing physical comfort and ease; agreeable.
• absolutely /ˌæb.səˈlut.li/ (adverb) — In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly.
• dance /dæns/ (noun) — A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction.
• shoot /ʃut/ (verb) — To fire (a weapon that releases a bullet or other projectile).
• positive /ˈpɑzɪtɪv/ (adjective) — Included, present, characterized by affirmation.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
• grow up (verb) — To mature and become an adult.
• put out (verb) — To blind (eyes).
• work on (verb) — To apply mental or physical effort to (something) in order to shape, form, improve, investigate, solve it, etc.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “th” sounds: warmth /wɔɹmθ/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, enthusiastic /ɪnˌθjuːzɪˈæstɪk/, fourth /fɔɹθ/
• Long words — get the stress right: enthusiastic /ɪnˌθjuːzɪˈæstɪk/, absolutely /ˌæb.səˈlut.li/, environment /ɪnˈvaɪ.ɚn.mənt/, everybody /ˈɛvɹi(ˌ)bədi/

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 anytime, dancer, warmth.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: