Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Fair and Square - Learn English Speaking with Video
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16 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
We all like to be treated fairly, but what about being treated squarely?
3
Let's learn how to use the idiom fair and square.
4
Anna, where have you been?
5
I lost you in the crowd.
6
I was playing games.
7
I'm really good at carnival games.
8
I see that.
9
You really want a lot of stuffed animals.
10
Are you sure you didn't cheat?
11
No, I won them all fair and square and they're all mine.
12
All mine!
13
Fair and square describes winning something in an honest way and without any doubt.
14
The expression is a fun one to say because it rhymes.
15
Fair and square.
16
Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “English in a Minute: Fair and Square”. This video has 16 sentences and 111 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:56. The speaker talks at a steady 120 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 3 of its 16 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cheat verb | /ˈt͡ʃiːt/ | To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation. |
| carnival noun | /ˈkɑɹnɪvəl/ | Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent. |
| rhyme noun | /ɹaɪm/ | Rhyming verse (poetic form). |
| idiom noun | /ˈɪdiəm/ | A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people. |
| squarely adverb | /ˈskwɛə(ɹ).li/ | In the shape of a square; at right angles. |
| describe verb | /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ | To represent in words. |
| expression noun | /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ | The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. |
| fairly adverb | /ˈfeɹ.li/ | In a fair manner; fair; not biased or skewed or favouring a certain party |
| fair adjective | /ˈfɛə/ | Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent. |
| square noun | /skwɛə/ | A polygon with four straight sides of equal length and four right angles; an equilateral rectangle; a regular quadrilateral. |
| treat verb | /tɹiːt/ | To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| doubt noun | /daʊt/ | Disbelief or uncertainty (about something); (countable) a particular instance of such disbelief or uncertainty. |
| animal noun | /ˈænɪməl/ | A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants… |
| honest adjective | /ˈɑ.nɪst/ | Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Anna, where have you been?
- I'm really good at carnival games.
- Are you sure you didn't cheat?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have you been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be treated |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was playing |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'm, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 cheat, carnival, rhyme.
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.