Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Dicey - Learn English Speaking with Video
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15 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
These are dice.
3
But what do you think the adjective dicey means?
4
Let's listen.
5
So, Anna, is your tree cutting party still on this weekend?
6
Yes.
7
Although, the weather could be dicey.
8
Lightning, thunder, maybe a tornado.
9
Well, cutting down a tree in a storm sounds very dicey. And dumb.
10
Nah, it'll be fine.
11
What could go wrong?
12
There is no way to predict how dice are going to roll.
13
So dicey describes something that is unpredictable or risky.
14
You can use dicey when talking about lots of things.
15
weather, a physical activity, or even a business decision.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “English in a Minute: Dicey”. This video has 15 sentences and 104 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:53. The speaker talks at a steady 118 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 3 of its 15 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 |
|---|---|---|
| lightning noun | /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ | A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth. |
| thunder noun | /ˈθʌndɚ/ | The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound caused by expansion of rapidly heated air around a lightning bolt. |
| predict verb | /pɹɪˈdɪkt/ | To make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or estimate a future event on the basis of knowledge and reasoning; to prophesy a future event on the basis of… |
| risky adjective | /ˈɹɪski/ | Dangerous; involving risks. |
| tornado noun | /tɔɹˈneɪ.doʊ/ | A violent wind in the form of a mobile, rapidly rotating, funnel cloud that has contacted the ground. |
| unpredictable adjective | Unable to be predicted. | |
| dicey adjective | /ˈdaɪsi/ | Fraught with danger. |
| adjective noun | /ˈæd͡ʒ.ɪk.tɪv/ | A word that modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes a noun’s referent. |
| storm noun | /stɔɹm/ | Any disturbed state of the atmosphere causing destructive or unpleasant weather, especially one affecting the earth's surface involving strong winds (leading… |
| describe verb | /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ | To represent in words. |
| dumb verb | /dʌm/ | To make stupid. |
| weather noun | /ˈwɛðɚ/ | The short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc. |
| tree noun | /tɹiː/ | A perennial woody plant taller and larger than a shrub with a wooden trunk and, at some distance from the ground, having leaves and branches. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| physical noun | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/ | A physical examination. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cut down verb | To cut downward. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | are going to roll |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | it'll be |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: thunder /ˈθʌndɚ/, weather /ˈwɛðɚ/
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 lightning, thunder, predict.
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.