Shadowing Practice: Database Administrators Career Video - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Database Administrators Career Video”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: database, administrators, users. This video has 11 sentences and 197 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:26. The speaker talks at a steady 137 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 74% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| database noun | /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ | A collection of (usually) organized information in a regular structure, usually but not necessarily in a machine-readable format accessible by a computer. |
| administrator noun | /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹeɪ.tɚ/ | One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager. |
| establish verb | /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/ | To make stable or firm; to confirm. |
| occur verb | /əˈkɜː/ | To happen or take place. |
| sensitive adjective | /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/ | Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| obtain verb | /əbˈteɪn/ | To get hold of; to gain possession of, to procure; to acquire, in any way. |
| vital adjective | /ˈvaɪtəl/ | Relating to or characteristic of life. |
| monitor noun | /ˈmɑ.nɪ.tɚ/ | Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone. |
| rely verb | /ɹɪˈlaɪ/ | To trust; to have confidence in; to depend. |
| integrity noun | /ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/ | Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. |
| intend verb | /ɪnˈtɛnd/ | To fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon |
| accomplish verb | /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/ | To finish successfully. |
| visitor noun | /ˈvɪzɪtɚ/ | Someone who visits someone else; someone staying as a guest. |
| organize verb | /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ | To arrange in working order. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| back up verb | To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so. |
| keep out verb | To refrain from entering a place or condition. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is established |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: establish /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/, accomplish /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: administrator /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹeɪ.tɚ/, integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡɹəti/
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 database, administrator, establish.
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.