Shadowing Practice: Do you know if you’re getting better at English? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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16 sentences
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Do you know if you're getting better in your target language?
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If you're like most self -learners, you don't.
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It's hard to know.
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You may not know if you've improved this past month or even year.
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You don't know what language mistakes you're making.
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And you may not even know your actual learning level, simply because as a learner, you can't assess yourself.
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You need an assessment from language teachers and experts, who will know if you're actually improving.
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But we have good news.
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determine your actual learning level, absolute beginner, beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
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Two, understand where you're making mistakes.
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And three, give you a learning path of lessons that's right for your level, so you can start learning, make progress, and speak and understand more of your target language.
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So, if you want to get your language skills assessed, then take our new free assessment test right now.
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How?
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Just click the link in the description, sign up for You'll know where you're making mistakes.
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You'll know your real learning level and we'll give you a learning path of lessons based on your level, so you can start learning and start progressing.
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Just click the link in the description to get your language skills assessed for free right now.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Do you know if you’re getting better at English?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: learning, language, mistakes. This video has 16 sentences and 211 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:14. The speaker talks at a natural 171 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 91% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| assess verb | /əˈsɛs/ | To determine, estimate or judge the value of; to evaluate; to estimate. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| assessment noun | /əˈsɛsmənt/ | The act of assessing or an amount (of tax, levy or duty etc) assessed. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| beginner noun | /bəˈɡɪnɚ/ | Someone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started. |
| intermediate adjective | /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/ | Being between two extremes, or in the middle of a range. |
| learner noun | /ˈlɜɹnəɹ/ | One who is learning; one receiving instruction. |
| mistake noun | /mɪˈsteɪk/ | An error. |
| advance verb | /ədˈvɑːns/ | To help the progress of (something); to further. |
| determine verb | /dɪˈtɜː(ɹ).mɪn/ | To set the boundaries or limits of. |
| expert noun | /ˈɛk.spɜːt/ | A person with extensive knowledge or ability in a given subject. |
| absolute adjective | /ˈæb.sə.luːt/ | Free of restrictions, limitations, qualifications or conditions; unconditional. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you know if you're getting better in your target language?
- If you're like most self -learners, you don't.
- You don't know what language mistakes you're making.
- Two, understand where you're making mistakes.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've improved |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | may not know · may not even know |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start learning |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're getting · you're making · you're actually improving |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, you'll. 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.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like assess, lesson, assessment.
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.