Shadowing Practice: Comment mieux comprendre les Français quand ils parlent ? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Comment mieux comprendre les Français quand ils parlent ?”. This video has 205 sentences and 2228 words to shadow. The speech runs for 18:41. The speaker talks at a steady 119 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 20% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pour verb | /poɹ/ | To cause (liquid, or liquid-like substance) to flow in a stream, either out of a container or into it. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| dire adjective | /ˈdaɪ̯ə(ɹ)/ | Warning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous. |
| tail noun | /ˈteɪ̯l/ | An object or part of an object resembling a tail in shape, such as the thongs on a cat-o'-nine-tails; a strand of material hanging from something. |
| oral adjective | /ˈɔː.ɹəl/ | Relating to the mouth. |
| sensitivity noun | /ˌsɛn.səˈtɪv.ə.ti/ | The quality or state of being sensitive; sensitiveness. |
| tape noun | /teɪ̯p/ | Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| suite noun | /swiːt/ | A group or train of attendants, servants etc.; a retinue. |
| podcast noun | /ˈpɑdˌkæst/ | A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on… |
| accent noun | /ækˈsɛnt/ | A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to… |
| bizarre adjective | /bɪˈzɑː(ɹ)/ | Strangely unconventional; highly unusual and different from common experience, often in an extravagant, fantastic, and/or conspicuous way. |
| playlist noun | /ˈpleɪˌlɪst/ | A list of recorded songs scheduled to be played on a radio station. |
| fort noun | /fɔɹt/ | A fortified defensive structure stationed with troops. |
| comfort noun | /ˈkʌm.fət/ | Contentment, ease. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: intentions /ɪnˈtɛnʃənz/, comprehension /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/, boulangerie /buˈlɑ̃ʒɚˌɹi/, chez /ʃeɪ/, intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: sensitivity /ˌsɛn.səˈtɪv.ə.ti/, intermediate /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/, catastrophe /kəˈtæstɹəfi/, articulate /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/, boulangerie /buˈlɑ̃ʒɚˌɹi/
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 pour, phrase, dire.
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.














