Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Pack Rat - Learn English Speaking with Video
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15 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
A rat is a small animal that can be bothersome inside homes and also spread diseases.
3
Is this an actual type of rat?
4
Let's listen.
5
Have you seen Ashley's desk lately?
6
Yes, I have.
7
She is such a pack rat.
8
I know.
9
There is stuff everywhere.
10
Old shoes, magazines, computer parts.
11
I even saw a newspaper from the 1960s.
12
A pack rat refers to someone who likes to keep things instead of getting rid of them.
13
Often this person collects things they do not really need.
14
Another term for a pack rat is a hoarder.
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 107 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:57. The speaker talks at a steady 113 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| refer verb | /ɹɪˈfɜː/ | To direct the attention of (someone toward something). |
| desk noun | /dɛsk/ | A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a… |
| lately adverb | /ˈleɪt.li/ | Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since. |
| collect verb | /ˈkɑlɪkt/ | To gather together; amass. |
| shoe noun | /ˈʃu/ | A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of… |
| bothersome adjective | /ˈbɑðɚsəm/ | Causing trouble, annoyance, inconvenience, irritation, or perplexity. |
| hoarder noun | /ˈhɔɹdɚ/ | One who hoards; one who accumulates, collects, and stores, especially one who does so to excess. |
| pack noun | /pæk/ | A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale. |
| everywhere adverb | /ˈɛv.ɹi.(h)wɛɹ/ | In or to all locations under discussion. |
| newspaper noun | /ˈnjuːsˌpeɪpə/ | A publication, usually published daily or weekly, containing news and other articles. Traditionally a print publication typically printed on cheap, low-quality… |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| computer noun | /kəmˈpju.tɚ/ | A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large… |
| disease noun | /dɪˈziːz/ | An abnormal condition of a human, animal or plant that causes discomfort or dysfunction; distinct from injury insofar as the latter is usually instantaneously… |
| actual adjective | /ˈækʃuəl/ | relating to a person's acts or deeds; active, practical |
| 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… |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shoe /ˈʃu/, actual /ˈækʃuəl/
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 refer, desk, lately.
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 seen |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who likes |
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.