Shadowing Practice: David Goggins Puts Israel Adesanya Through A BRUTAL Training Session | FULL WORKOUT - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “David Goggins Puts Israel Adesanya Through A BRUTAL Training Session”. This video has 669 sentences and 4813 words to shadow. The speech runs for 52:08. The speaker talks slowly, about 92 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% 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
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| pace noun | /peɪs/ | A step taken with the foot. |
| chip noun | /t͡ʃɪp/ | A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material. |
| drift noun | /dɹɪft/ | Anything driven at random. |
| knee noun | /ni/ | In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank. |
| mentally adverb | /ˈmɛntəli/ | In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally. |
| heel noun | /hil/ | The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg. |
| dungeon noun | /ˈdʌn.d͡ʒən/ | An underground prison or vault, typically built underneath a castle. |
| tape noun | /teɪ̯p/ | Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape. |
| darkness noun | /ˈdɑɹk.nɪs/ | The state of being dark; lack of light; the absolute or comparative absence of light. |
| physically adverb | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ | In a physical manner. |
| privilege noun | /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ | A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment. |
| rhythm noun | /ˈɹɪð.əm/ | The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. |
| workout noun | /ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/ | An exercise session; a period of physical exercise. |
| sixty noun | /ˈsɪksti/ | A commercial lasting 60 seconds. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come off verb | To become detached. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| throw up verb | To vomit. |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| fall off verb | To become detached or to drop from. |
| get back verb | Return to where one came from. |
| bounce off verb | To test (ideas) on someone. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You think they know me?
- You think you know me coming to my dungeon?
- Hey, so do we have time?
- That's your machine right there, isn't it?
- You're not holding on this time, isn't it?
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 never gone · I've said · You've done |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was run · were broken · is called |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 137 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, sixth /sɪksθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: punishment /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/, massage /məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/, flash /flæʃ/, trash /tɹæʃ/, shield /ˈʃild/
- Long words — get the stress right: motorcycle /ˈmoʊtɚˌsaɪkəl/, ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, documentary /ˌdɒk.jʊˈmɛn.tɹi/, capability /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/, momentum /ˌmə(ʊ)ˈmɛntəm/
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 breathe, pace, chip.
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.












