Shadowing Practice: Describe a person who is good at learning and spea - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 18 sentences and 283 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:24. The speaker talks fast, about 202 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% 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

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

• skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
• impressive /ɪmˈpɹɛsɪv/ (adjective) — Making, or tending to make, a positive impression; having power to impress.
• lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
• presentation /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ (noun) — The act of presenting, or something presented.
• intelligent /ɪnˈtɛlɪd͡ʒənt/ (adjective) — Of high or especially quick cognitive capacity, bright.
• provincial /pɹəˈvɪn(t)ʃəl/ (adjective) — Of or pertaining to a province.
• organize /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ (verb) — To arrange in working order.
• admire /ədˈmaɪɹ/ (verb) — To regard with wonder and delight.
• vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ (noun) — A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning.
• presenter /pɹɪˈzɛntə(ɹ)/ (noun) — Someone who presents a broadcast programme; a compere or master of ceremonies.
• motivate /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ (verb) — To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate.
• fluent /ˈfluənt/ (adjective) — That flows; flowing, liquid.
• pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ (noun) — The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken.
• hardworking /ˈhɑːɹdˌwɜːɹ.kɪŋ/ (adjective) — Of a person, taking their work seriously and doing it well and rapidly.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• get into (verb) — To move into (an object), such that one ends up inside it.
• talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.

Pronunciation to watch

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: presentation /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/, provincial /pɹəˈvɪn(t)ʃəl/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: intelligent /ɪnˈtɛlɪd͡ʒənt/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like skill, impressive, lesson.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: