Shadowing Practice: DRIVING IN GERMANY l RM's VLOG - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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-I'll take it a little slow -All right Let's go, let's go Let's get moving I'm getting quiet Everyone drives so carefully It's weird because it doesn't accelerate the way I expect it to You have to step down harder for this car Right This is a diesel car Oh, it's a diesel So that's why it feels different This feels awkward I think this is a highway We have to take the exit on the right up ahead -700 meters to go -Okay Does it not lock like this?
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-Oh! -Technology's come a long way The theme for today is "car" But what's important isn't the car It's the person driving it That's what I think Wow, that's awesome No way...
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I didn't even take out my phone I'll be right back This view is unreal Oh, there's a tower over there It's Namsan Tower... Namsan Tower and...
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I'm not sure what that is A transmission tower?
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Whoa...!!!
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We're not on the Autobahn yet, right?
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I don't... think...
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we are...?!
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I'm not sure Are we on it?
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-But there's an 80 km/h speed limit... -What?
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Maybe we're just at the beginning It says to go straight for 176 km!!!

Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

Learning English with YouTube just got better—this casual vlog is packed with natural, everyday dialogue that’s ideal for building fluency. The relaxed tone and real-life situations make it a goldmine for IELTS speaking practice, as it mirrors the kind of unscripted conversations you’ll encounter. Plus, the mix of questions, exclamations, and observations gives you a chance to work on intonation and rhythm—key skills for sounding confident. Whether you’re using a shadowing app or just repeating lines aloud, this clip is a fun way to level up your speaking.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases

  • “I'll take it a little slow”: This phrase uses “a little” to soften the statement, making it sound polite and conversational. Native speakers often avoid harsh terms like “very” in casual talk—this is a great example of how small words make a big difference in fluency.
  • “It's weird because it doesn't accelerate the way I expect it to”: The structure “the way I expect it to” is a common way to explain differences. It’s more natural than saying “how I thought it would,” showing how to connect ideas smoothly in English.
  • “We have to take the exit on the right up ahead”: “Up ahead” is a phrasal verb that adds specificity without complexity. Using such phrases helps you sound more like a native, which is crucial for IELTS speaking practice.

Your Simple Shadow Speech Routine

Ready to practice? Try this repeat-and-record loop: First, watch the video and listen closely to the rhythm of the dialogue. Then, pause after each line and repeat it aloud, mimicking the tone and speed—this is called shadow speech, and it’s one of the best ways to improve pronunciation. Use your phone to record yourself, then compare it to the original. Notice how the speaker stresses certain words (like “weird” or “unreal”) and try to match that emphasis. For extra help, a shadowing app can guide you, but even a basic voice recorder works. Do this for 5-10 minutes a day, and you’ll start to feel more comfortable with natural English flow. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Keep at it, and you’ll be acing those IELTS speaking tasks in no time!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionI'll take · I'll be
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around nowI'm getting
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryhave to step

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →