Shadowing Practice: Do you block when speaking English? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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20 sentences
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1
Do you sometimes block when you're speaking English, like in a conversation or an exam?
2
Here are four things you can do.
3
Number one, drop your shoulders.
4
It sends a message to your brain to relax and then you can speak.
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Number two, recognize the block.
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Don't fight it like, oh, I'm so stupid.
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Why can't I think?
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No, accept the block.
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Oh, my mind's gone blank.
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You can even say, my mind's gone blank.
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Number three, breathe.
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Take a deep breath.
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Number four, buy time.
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I mean, say something to gain time.
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Like, my mind's gone blank.
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I'm not sure about that.
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Let me think a minute.
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Use all of these four things to help you unblock when you're speaking English in a conversation or an exam.
19
I'm curious, what do you do to help you unblock when you're speaking English?
20
Let me know in the comments.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Do you block when speaking English?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: blank, block, speaking, gone, English. This video has 20 sentences and 148 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:09. The speaker talks at a steady 129 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 3 of its 20 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| blank noun | /ˈblæŋk/ | The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim. |
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| examination noun | /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ | The act of examining. |
| curious adjective | /ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/ | Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| unblock verb | /ʌnˈblɒk/ | To remove or clear a block or obstruction from. |
| recognize verb | /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/ | To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing. |
| shoulder noun | /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ | The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck. |
| block noun | /blɑk/ | A substantial, often approximately cuboid, piece of any substance. |
| conversation noun | /ˌkɑn.vəɹˈseɪ.ʃən/ | Expression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people; also, a set instance or occasion of such talking. |
| message noun | /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ | A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed. |
| drop noun | /dɹɑp/ | A small quantity of liquid, just large enough to hold its own rounded shape through surface tension, especially one that falls from a source of liquid. |
| minute noun | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds). |
| brain noun | /ˈbɹeɪ̯n/ | The control center of the central nervous system of an animal located in the skull, consisting of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, which is responsible… |
| stupid adjective | /ˈstjuːpɪd/ | Lacking in intelligence. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Don't fight it like, oh, I'm so stupid.
- Why can't I think?
- You can even say, my mind's gone blank.
- I'm not sure about that.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, shoulder /ˈʃoʊldɚ/, conversation /ˌkɑn.vəɹˈseɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, conversation /ˌkɑn.vəɹˈseɪ.ʃən/
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 blank, breathe, examination.
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.