Shadowing Practice: Damiano David - The First Time (Official Visual Video) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Damiano David - The First Time”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: met, higher, baby, crashed, kiss. This video has 37 sentences and 354 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:12. The speaker talks at a steady 111 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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
12 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| compare verb | /kəmˈpɛɚ/ | To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things [“to compare X with Y”]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it… |
| angel noun | /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ | An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes. |
| nowhere adverb | /ˈnoʊ.(h)wɛɹ/ | In no place. |
| shore noun | /ʃɔɹ/ | Land adjoining a non-flowing body of water, such as an ocean, lake or pond. |
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| pill noun | /pɪl/ | A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication. |
| painter noun | /ˈpeɪntɚ/ | An artist who paints pictures. |
| choir noun | /kwaɪɚ/ | A group of people who sing together; a company of people who are trained to sing together. |
| flare noun | /flɛɚ̯/ | A sudden bright light. |
| align verb | /əˈlaɪn/ | To form a line; to fall into line. |
| craving noun | /ˈkɹeɪ.vɪŋ/ | A strong desire; yearning. |
| colourless adjective | /ˈkʌlə(ɹ).ləs/ | Having little or no colour. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've done |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was flying |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | higher than |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as couldn't, I've, ain'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 compare, angel, nowhere.
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.