Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Fall Through the Cracks - Learn English Speaking with Video
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17 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
Falling is no fun.
3
You can get hurt.
4
Falling through the cracks sounds even worse.
5
But is that what is really happening here?
6
Let's listen.
7
To fall through the cracks.
8
Hey, did you have time to look at my script?
9
Right, your script.
10
Sorry, I've been so busy that reading your script kind of fell through the cracks.
11
No problem.
12
I know when I'm busy things fall through the cracks all the time.
13
Well I have time now so I'll take a look at it.
14
When something falls through the cracks it is forgotten or overlooked.
15
In our example, Anna was so busy she forgot to read a script.
16
Often we use this expression for serious issues such as when people are lost or forgotten in a large system.
17
And that's English in a minute.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “English in a Minute: Fall Through the Cracks”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: cracks, script, busy, fall. This video has 17 sentences and 141 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:55. The speaker talks at a natural 155 words per minute, close to everyday conversation.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 8 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| crack noun | /kɹæk/ | A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material. |
| script noun | /skɹɪpt/ | A writing; a written document. |
| overlook verb | /ˈoʊ.vɚˌlʊk/ | To offer a view (of something) from a higher position. |
| expression noun | /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ | The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. |
| minute noun | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds). |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| hurt verb | /hɝt/ | To cause (a person or animal) physical pain and/or injury. |
| ill adjective | /ɪl/ | Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fall through verb | To be unsuccessful, come to nothing; to be cancelled; not to proceed. |
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 forgotten · are lost |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've been |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | is really happening |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll take |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I'm, I've. 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.
- 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 crack, script, overlook.
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.