Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: One Tough Cookie - Learn English Speaking with Video
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15 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
A cookie is a sweet baked treat.
3
The word tough can mean hard or strong.
4
One tough cookie.
5
Don't tell me you rode your bicycle to work today.
6
I did.
7
I probably shouldn't have.
8
You do know it's 18 degrees below freezing, right?
9
Oh, believe me.
10
I'm aware.
11
You must be one tough cookie.
12
You say someone is one tough cookie if they can handle difficult situations.
13
These situations may be physically or mentally hard.
14
Someone who is one tough cookie may also be strong-minded and determined to succeed.
15
And that's English in a Minute.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 15 sentences and 101 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:56. The speaker talks slowly, about 109 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cookie noun | /ˈkʊki/ | A small, flat, baked good which is either crisp or soft but firm. |
| physically adverb | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ | In a physical manner. |
| succeed verb | /səkˈsiːd/ | To follow something in sequence or time. |
| mentally adverb | /ˈmɛntəli/ | In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally. |
| freeze verb | /ˈfɹiːz/ | Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature. |
| bicycle noun | /ˈbaɪsɪk(ə)l/ | A vehicle that has two primary wheels, one behind the other, a steering handle, and a saddle seat or seats and is usually propelled by the action of a rider’s… |
| bake verb | /beɪk/ | To cook (something) in an oven (for someone). |
| determine verb | /dɪˈtɜː(ɹ).mɪn/ | To set the boundaries or limits of. |
| tough adjective | /tʌf/ | Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| degree noun | /dɪˈɡɹiː/ | A completed curriculum of study in tertiary education. |
| sweet adjective | /swit/ | Tasting of sugars. |
| ride verb | /ɹaɪd/ | To transport oneself by sitting on and directing a horse, later also a bicycle etc. |
| handle noun | /ˈhæn.d(ə)l/ | The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved. |
| aware adjective | /əˈwɛə/ | Vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | Someone who is |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | may be · may also be |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | shouldn't have |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, shouldn't. 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 cookie, physically, succeed.
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.