Shadowing Practice: ELI KALOGERAS Does Her Makeup On Us! - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “ELI KALOGERAS Does Her Makeup On Us!”. This video has 730 sentences and 5241 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:24. The speaker talks fast, about 224 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 116 of its 730 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| blend verb | /blɛnd/ | To mingle; to mix; to unite intimately; to pass or shade insensibly into each other. |
| mascara noun | /ˌmæsˈkæɹə/ | A cosmetic used to darken and thicken the eyelashes. |
| eyelash noun | /ˈaɪlæʃ/ | One of the hairs which grows along the edge of eyelids. |
| bronze noun | /bɹɑnz/ | A naturally occurring or man-made alloy of copper, usually in combination with tin, but also with one or more other metals. |
| eyelid noun | /ˈaɪ.lɪd/ | A thin skin membrane that covers and moves over an eye. |
| forehead noun | /ˈfɔɹ.hɛd/ | The part of the face above the eyebrows and below the hairline. |
| concealer noun | Something that, or someone who, conceals. | |
| crease noun | /kɹiːs/ | A line or mark made by folding or doubling any pliable substance; hence, a similar mark, however produced. |
| eyeliner noun | /ˈaɪˌlaɪnɚ/ | Makeup used to outline the eye, generally applied along or close to the lashline. |
| nickel noun | /ˈnɪk.əl/ | A silvery elemental metal with an atomic number of 28 and symbol Ni. |
| chin noun | /ˈt͡ʃɪn/ | The bottom of a face, (specifically) the typically jutting jawline below the mouth. |
| penny noun | /ˈpɛni/ | In the United Kingdom, a unit of currency worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a pound sterling, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: p. |
| posture noun | /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/ | The way a person holds and positions their body. |
| blender noun | /ˈblɛn.dɚ/ | A machine with sharp rotating blades in a bowl, for mashing, crushing, or liquefying food ingredients. |
| curl noun | /kɜɹl/ | A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| look up verb | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | To have better prospects. |
| clean up verb | To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy. | |
| go in with verb | To commit to something with; to partner with. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| back down verb | To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have. | |
| break out verb | To escape, especially forcefully or defiantly. | |
| close off verb | To seal or block the entrance to a road, an area, or a building so that people cannot enter. | |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- When's the last time you cleaned them?
- Doesn't it look like it's me as me?
- You're going to gatekeep even for the viewers?
- Yo, you're wearing a bra?
- Where's the step when you make this look good?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been trying · I've been using · I've been working |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to do · used to fuck |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | We've done · have changed · hasn't changed |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is unblended · should be frustrated · is advised |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 235 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: eyelash /ˈaɪlæʃ/, brush /bɹʌʃ/, ashy /ˈæʃi/, lash /læʃ/, blush /ˈblʌʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/, dermatitis /ˌdɜː(ɹ)m.əˈtaɪ.tɪs/, stimulation /stɪm.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/, incorporate /ɪŋˈkɔɹ.pɚ.eɪt/, curiosity /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/
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 blend, mascara, eyelash.
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.















