Shadowing Practice: Denzel Washington Best Inspirational Speech Will Make You SPEECHLESS - Motivation - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 50 sentences and 372 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:42. The speaker talks slowly, about 101 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• mirror /ˈmiɹɚ/ (noun) — A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it.
• mood /muːd/ (noun) — A mental or emotional state, composure.
• sacrifice /ˈsæk.ɹɪ.faɪs/ (noun) — Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity.
• vessel /ˈvɛsəl/ (noun) — Any craft designed for transportation on or in water, such as a ship, boat, or submarine.
• gentle /ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/ (adjective) — Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.
• tweet /ˈtwiːt/ (noun) — The sound of a bird; any short high-pitched sound or whistle.
• intend /ɪnˈtɛnd/ (verb) — To fix the mind upon (something, or something to be accomplished); be intent upon
• blessing /ˈblɛs.ɪŋ/ (noun) — Some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward.
• spite /spaɪt/ (noun) — Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the desire to unjustifiably irritate, annoy, or thwart; a want to disturb or put out another; mild malice.
• punish /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ (verb) — To cause (a child, student, or someone else being looked after, or a suspect or criminal) to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action…
• meme /miːm/ (noun) — Any unit of (originally cultural) information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another in a…
• individually /ˌɪndɪˈvɪd͡ʒ(u)əli/ (adverb) — As individuals, separately, independently.
• gossip /ˈɡɑsɪp/ (noun) — Someone who likes to talk about other people's private or personal business.
• mankind /mænˈkaɪnd/ (noun) — The human race in its entirety.
• forgiveness /fɚˈɡɪvnəs/ (noun) — The action of forgiving.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• care for (verb) — To attend to the needs of, especially in the manner of a nurse or personal aide.
• shut up /ʃʌt ʌp/ — Stop talking (usually in the form of making annoying, irrelevant, or false comments, during a period of peace and quiet, or when one is not allowed to talk)…
• look in (verb) — To visit a place or person briefly and casually.
• think about /ˈθɪŋk əˌbaʊt/ (verb) — To ponder.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, we've, wouldn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• Long words — get the stress right: individually /ˌɪndɪˈvɪd͡ʒ(u)əli/, unwavering /ˌənˈweɪvəɹɪŋ/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like mirror, mood, sacrifice.