Shadowing Practice: Doctor Explains: How to train your brain to be so focused it feels WEIRD to scroll - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 274 sentences and 4156 words to shadow. The speech runs for 17:53. The speaker talks fast, about 232 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 85% 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 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| urge verb | /ɜːd͡ʒ/ | To press; to push; to drive; to impel; to force onward. |
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| ladder noun | /ˈlæd.ɚ/ | A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or… |
| reset verb | /ɹiːˈsɛt/ | To set back to the initial state. |
| distraction noun | /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ | Something that distracts. |
| muscle noun | /ˈmʌs.əl/ | A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement. |
| essentially adverb | /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/ | In essence: by nature. |
| tab noun | /tæb/ | A small flap or strip of material attached to or inserted into something, for holding, manipulation, identification, opening etc. |
| meditation noun | /mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/ | A devotional exercise of, or leading to, contemplation. |
| scroll noun | /skɹoʊl/ | A roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed into a roll. |
| firstly adverb | /ˈfɜɹstli/ | In the first place; before anything else; first. |
| popcorn noun | /ˈpɑp.kɔɹn/ | A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating. |
| protector noun | /pɹəˈtɛktɚ/ | Someone who protects or guards, by assignment or on their own initiative. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| write down verb | To produce or set (something) down in writing; to record something. | |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. | |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
| start out verb | To emerge suddenly; to jump out. | |
| branch out verb | To expand in the manner of branches. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 104 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, you've, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thin /ˈθɪn/, underneath /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/, sympathetic /ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/, thickness /ˈθɪknəs/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/, meditation /mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/, addiction /əˈdɪkˌʃən/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: essentially /ɪˈsɛnʃəli/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, repetitive /ɹɪˈpɛtɪtɪv/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/
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 urge, topic, ladder.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to have · used to dread |
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | has been helping · you've been putting |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've watched · has just been yanked · I've done |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who would · two, which is · chronotype, which is |
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.
































