Shadowing Practice: Eileen Gu on what it takes to be the very best - Learn English Speaking with Video
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12 sentences
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I think the notion of if you want to be the very best, and this is not me saying me specifically, but just generally speaking, if you want to be the very best, if you want to be number one,
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you have to be willing to do what only one person on earth is willing to do.
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Like if you want to be the one, you literally have to do what every single other person ever is not willing to do.
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And so when you just really think about that, what that means in practice, under the like kind of a glamour of the like wow
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you know I'm working you're sacrificing for a purpose you sacrifice
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everything you work all the time like every single moment of
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the day is scheduled every moment like all of my meals are in the car
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or in the hair
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and makeup chair I'm going over work in like the most random of times
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and so the kind of like always on nature on one hand is very mundane
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but on the other it's like you really have to work
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so hard like it is so hard and I think that that is misunderstood
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Eileen Gu on what it takes to be the very best”. This video has 12 sentences and 201 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:02. The speaker talks fast, about 196 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 93% 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 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sacrifice noun | /ˈsæk.ɹɪ.faɪs/ | Originally, the killing (and often burning) of a human being or an animal as an offering to a deity; later, also the offering of an object to a deity. |
| meal noun | /ˈmiːl/ | Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity. |
| notion noun | /ˈnoʊʃən/ | Mental apprehension of whatever may be known, thought, or imagined; idea, concept. |
| glamour noun | /ˈɡlæmɚ/ | Originally, enchantment; magic charm; especially, the effect of a spell that causes one to see objects in a form that differs from reality, typically to make… |
| misunderstand verb | /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/ | To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly. |
| schedule noun | /ˈʃɛd͡ʒuːl/ | A procedural plan, usually but not necessarily tabular in nature, indicating a sequence of operations and the planned times at which those operations are to… |
| specifically adverb | /spɪˈsɪf.ɪ.kli/ | In a specific manner, applying to or naming a particular thing or things, expressly, explicitly. |
| random adjective | /ˈɹændəm/ | Occurring for no particular reason; haphazard, unpredictable. |
| nature noun | /ˈneɪ̯.t͡ʃəɹ/ | The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and… |
| generally adverb | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɹə.li/ | Popularly or widely. |
| literally adverb | /ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/ | Without overstatement or understatement, or false or misleading words. |
| purpose noun | /ˈpɜːpəs/ | The end for which something is done, is made or exists. |
| chair noun | /t͡ʃɛɚ/ | An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| going over noun | An inspection, examination, review, or investigation. |
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 | is scheduled · is misunderstood |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: notion /ˈnoʊʃən/, schedule /ˈʃɛd͡ʒuːl/
- Long words — get the stress right: misunderstand /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/, specifically /spɪˈsɪf.ɪ.kli/, literally /ˈlɪ.tə.ɹə.li/
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 sacrifice, meal, notion.
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.