Shadowing Practice: Dido - Thank You (Official Video) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Dido - Thank You”. This video has 18 sentences and 248 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:53. The speaker talks slowly, about 86 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 89% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
12 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| grey adjective | /ɡɹeɪ/ | Commonwealth standard spelling of gray. |
| cloud noun | /ˈklaʊ̯d/ | A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| clue noun | /kluː/ | Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion. |
| towel noun | /ˈtaʊ̯əl/ | A cloth used for wiping, especially one used for drying anything wet, such as a person after a bath. |
| imply verb | /ɪmˈplaɪ/ | To have as a necessary consequence; to lead to (something) as a consequence. |
| soak verb | /soʊk/ | To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it. |
| wonder noun | /ˈwʌndɚ/ | A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise… |
| drink verb | /ˈdɹɪŋk/ | To consume (a liquid) through the mouth. |
| push verb | /pʊʃ/ | To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force. |
| window noun | /ˈwɪndoʊ/ | An opening, usually covered by one or more panes of clear glass, to allow light and air from outside to enter a building or vehicle. |
| rain noun | /ˈɹeɪn/ | Condensed water falling from a cloud. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| fall down verb | /fɔl ˈdaʊn/ | To fall to the ground. To collapse. |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if I'm there they'll all |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might not last |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm wondering · is having · I'm soaking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, it'd. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 grey, cloud, remind.
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.