Shadowing Practice: David's Feels Sick | A1 ESL Listening | ESL Pals - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 12 sentences and 86 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:41. The speaker talks at a steady 125 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 77% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- virus /ˈvaɪ.ɹəs/ (noun) — A submicroscopic, non-cellular structure that consists of a core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, that requires a living host cell to replicate, and…
- headache /ˈhɛdeɪk/ (noun) — A pain or ache in the head.
- cough /kɔf/ (verb) — Sometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound)…
- paracetamol /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/ (noun) — A synthetic compound used as a drug to relieve and reduce fever, usually taken in tablet form.
- sneeze /sniːz/ (verb) — To expel air as a reflex induced by an irritation in the nose.
- temperature /ˈtɛm.p(ə.)ɹə.t͡ʃə/ (noun) — A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with a thermometer.
- yesterday /ˈjɛstɹdeɪ/ (noun) — The day immediately before today; one day ago.
- doctor /ˈdɑktɚ/ (noun) — A physician; a member of the medical profession; one who is trained and licensed to heal the sick or injured. The final examination and qualification may award…
- drink /ˈdɹɪŋk/ (verb) — To consume (a liquid) through the mouth.
- sick /ˈsɪk/ (adjective) — In poor health; ill.
- medicine /ˈmɛd.ɪ.sɪn/ (noun) — A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way; a pharmaceutical drug.
- hello /hɛˈloʊ/ — A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.
- tired [ˈtaɪ̯ɚd] (adjective) — In need of some rest or sleep.
Pronunciation to watch
- Long words — get the stress right: paracetamol /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/, temperature /ˈtɛm.p(ə.)ɹə.t͡ʃə/
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 virus, headache, cough.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | am coughing |
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.