Shadowing Practice: Daily Conversations B1-British- Sharing good news - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Daily Conversations B1-British- Sharing good news”. This video has 35 sentences and 153 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:54. The speaker talks at a natural 171 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 35 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| select verb | /sɪˈlɛkt/ | To choose one or more elements of a set, especially a set of options. |
| shake verb | /ˈʃeɪk/ | To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly. |
| scare verb | /skɛɚ/ | To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way. |
| audition noun | /ɑˈdɪʃən/ | A performance, by an aspiring performer, to demonstrate suitability or talent. |
| practise verb | /ˈpɹæktɪs/ | To repeat (an activity) as a way of improving one's skill in that activity. |
| deserve verb | /dɪˈzɝv/ | To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have. |
| sing verb | /ˈsɪŋ/ | To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice. |
| competition noun | /ˌkɑm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ | The action of competing. |
| definitely adverb | /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/ | Without question and beyond doubt. |
| awesome adjective | /ˈɔːsəm/ | Causing awe or terror; inspiring wonder or excitement. |
| luck noun | /lʌk/ | Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence. |
| hall noun | /hɔːl/ | A corridor; a hallway. |
| worry verb | /ˈwʌ.ɹi/ | To be troubled; to give way to mental anxiety or doubt. |
| totally adverb | /ˈtəʊ.tə.li/ | To the fullest extent or degree. |
| spirit noun | /ˈspɪɹɪt/ | The soul of a person or other creature. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I've got some great news.
- I still can't believe it.
- You didn't look nervous at all.
- Definitely, but I'm also a little scared.
- Wait, will you come and watch?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best · my best |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | you'll do · will you come · I'll do |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I've, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, audition /ɑˈdɪʃən/, competition /ˌkɑm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
- Long words — get the stress right: competition /ˌkɑm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/, definitely /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/
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 select, shake, scare.
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.