Shadowing Practice: Cooking Verbs and Food | English Lesson - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Good afternoon.
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Oh, I'm so excited.
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Today I'm going to teach you an old family recipe.
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You are going to love it.
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In today's cooking lesson, I'm going to show you how to make beef stew.
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I always serve my stew with dinner rolls or French bread.
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Sometimes, if I'm feeling really hungry, I make mashed potatoes and I cover the mashed potatoes with the stew.
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Yummy!
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First, cut up all of the vegetables.
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I love to put carrots, potatoes, onions.
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garlic, celery, and peas in my stew.
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Some people like to add corn or some other vegetables.
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It's up to you.
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For this recipe, I use two pounds of beef.
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That's just under a kilogram.
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First, combine the flour, garlic powder, and salt and pepper.
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Then, toss the beef in the flour mixture.
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Next, heat some olive oil in a large pot.
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Cook the beef and onions until they are browned.
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I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
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The key to making meat extra tender and juicy is by searing the beef pieces before you add the stock.
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This will make a huge difference in the flavor of the soup.
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When you finish browning the beef, add the beef broth and red wine.
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Stir in all the remaining ingredients except for the peas, cornstarch, and water.
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Next, reduce the heat to medium-low.
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Cover and simmer it for one hour or until the beef is tender.
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It might take up to 90 minutes.
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Mix equal parts of cornstarch and water.
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Slowly add this to the boiling stew until it reaches the desired consistency.
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Remember, this is stew, not soup, so you want it to be thick.
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Stir in the peas and simmer between 5 and 10 minutes before serving Season with salt and pepper to taste And finally,
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the best part, last but not least, enjoy!

Context & Background

In this engaging English lesson, the speaker shares an old family recipe for beef stew while incorporating essential cooking verbs and food vocabulary. The excitement in the speaker's voice sets a warm atmosphere, perfect for learners who enjoy the culinary arts. Throughout the lesson, viewers not only learn how to prepare a delicious dish but also pick up valuable phrases and vocabulary related to cooking—a practical application of English in everyday life. By focusing on cooking, the speaker provides English learners with an enjoyable context to practice their skills, allowing them to see how language is used in a relatable setting.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Cut up: To chop or slice ingredients into smaller pieces.
  • Cook until browned: To fry or sauté until the food turns a golden brown color.
  • Add the remaining ingredients: To include the leftover items in a recipe.
  • Simmer: To cook gently on low heat.
  • Season to taste: To adjust the flavor of a dish with salt, pepper, or spices.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To utilize the shadowing technique effectively with this video, follow these steps to improve English pronunciation and fluency:

  1. Watch First: Before attempting to shadow the speaker, watch the entire video without interruption to grasp the context and flow of the language.
  2. Listen Carefully: Play the video again and listen to how the speaker enunciates cooking verbs and phrases. Pay attention to the modulation and intonation used while explaining the recipe.
  3. Repeat in Real-time: Start the shadowing practice by speaking along with the speaker. Use pauses to allow yourself to catch up, ensuring your pronunciation aligns with the original.
  4. Focus on Specific Words: Identify cooking verbs and phrases that are challenging for you. Repeat these words multiple times to enhance your comfort and confidence in using them.
  5. Record and Compare: Use a voice recording tool to capture your shadow speech. Listen to your pronunciation compared to the speaker, and make note of differences to refine your skills.

By incorporating these techniques, learners can experience significant improvements in their English speaking skills. Use this shadowing site approach with cooking content to expand your vocabulary while enjoying the process of preparation, helping you to confidently communicate your culinary experiences in English.

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.