Shadowing Practice: Donald Trump calls out Hasan Piker by name and Abdul El-Sayed - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Donald Trump calls out Hasan Piker by name and Abdul El-Sayed”. This video has 30 sentences and 307 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:45. The speaker talks at a natural 176 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 6 of its 30 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| refuse verb | /ɹɪˈfjuːz/ | To decline (a request or demand). |
| backlash noun | /ˈbækˌlæʃ/ | A suddenly reversed or backward motion, such as of a rope or elastic band when it snaps under tension. |
| ridiculous adjective | /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/ | Deserving of ridicule; foolish, absurd. |
| alongside | /əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/ | Side by side with. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| prominent adjective | /ˈpɹɑmɪnənt/ | Standing out, or projecting; jutting; protuberant. |
| communist noun | /ˈkɑ.mjə.nɪst/ | An advocate of a society based on the common ownership of property; a proponent of communism. |
| grip noun | /ˈɡɹɪp/ | A hold or way of holding, particularly with the hand. |
| nonetheless adverb | /ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs/ | Nevertheless. |
| lobby noun | /ˈlɑ.bi/ | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| oppose verb | /əˈpoʊz/ | To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against. |
| albeit | /ɔlˈbi.ɪt/ | Although, despite (it) being. |
| immense adjective | /ɪˈmɛns/ | Huge, gigantic, very large. |
| socialism noun | /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/ | Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution… |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'm not here to disavow people's views.
- America deserved not a - I'm saying it.
- I'm just gonna say that that's a ridiculous hypothetical.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was asked · are expected · were still relegated |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've heard · have disavowed · have arrived |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, gonna, won't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: nonetheless /ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs/, hypothetical /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: backlash /ˈbækˌlæʃ/, socialism /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/, fascist /ˈfæʃɪst/
- Long words — get the stress right: ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, socialism /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/, hypothetical /ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəl/, agitator /ˈædʒɪteɪtɚ/, inevitability /ɪˌnɛvɪtəˈbɪlɪti/
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 refuse, backlash, ridiculous.
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.