Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Bend Over Backwards - Learn English Speaking with Video
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13 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
Bending over backwards is not easy.
3
The person doing the stretching must be in very good shape.
4
Bend over backwards.
5
So, are Ana and Jonathan talking about some strange new exercise?
6
I heard your local representative, your neighbor Connie, is seeking re-election.
7
Are you planning to vote for her?
8
Not at all.
9
The last time she ran for office, I bent over backwards for her, raised money, wrote speeches, and she didn't even thank me.
10
As we said, bending over backwards is physically hard.
11
So when you bend over backwards for another person, you do a lot of hard work for them.
12
You do more than what is expected of you.
13
And that's English in a Minute.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “English in a Minute: Bend Over Backwards”. This video has 13 sentences and 124 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:55. The speaker talks at a steady 135 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 2 of its 13 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bend verb | /bɛnd/ | To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means. |
| backward adjective | /ˈbækwɚd/ | Situated toward or at the rear of something. |
| stretch verb | /stɹɛt͡ʃ/ | To lengthen by pulling. |
| physically adverb | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ | In a physical manner. |
| neighbour noun | /ˈneɪbɚ/ | A person living on adjacent or nearby land; a person situated adjacently or nearby; anything (of the same type of thing as the subject) in an adjacent or… |
| exercise noun | /ˈɛk.sə.saɪz/ | Any activity designed to develop or hone a skill or ability. |
| strange adjective | /stɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ | Not normal; odd, unusual, surprising, out of the ordinary, often with a negative connotation. |
| seek verb | /ˈsiːk/ | To try to find; to look for; to search for. |
| representative noun | /ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt(ət)ɪv/ | Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| speech noun | /spiːt͡ʃ/ | The ability to speak; the faculty of uttering words or articulate sounds and vocalizations to communicate. |
| raise verb | /ɹeɪz/ | To cause to rise; to lift or elevate. |
| shape noun | /ˈʃeɪ̯p/ | The status or condition of something |
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 expected |
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like bend, backward, stretch.
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.