Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Pinch Hit - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “English in a Minute: Pinch Hit”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: pinch, Dan, baseball. This video has 12 sentences and 106 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:54. The speaker talks at a steady 118 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 3 of its 12 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pinch verb | /pɪnt͡ʃ/ | To squeeze a small amount of a person's skin and flesh, making it hurt. |
| hitter noun | /ˈhɪtɚ/ | One who or that which hits. |
| substitute noun | /ˈsʌb.stɪ.tʃuːt/ | A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose. |
| lineup noun | /ˈlaɪn.ʌp/ | A physical or photographic queue of people allegedly involved in a crime, allowing a witness to identify them. |
| batter verb | /ˈbætə/ | To hit or strike violently and repeatedly. |
| baseball noun | /ˈbeɪs.bɔl/ | A sport common in North America, the Caribbean, and East Asia, in which the objective is to strike a ball so that one of a nine-person team can run… |
| shirt noun | /ʃɜɹt/ | An article of clothing that is worn on the upper part of the body, often with sleeves that cover some or all of the arms. |
| replace verb | /ɹɪˈpleɪs/ | To restore to a former place, position, condition, etc.; to put back. |
| wear verb | /wɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, perfume, etc. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| notice verb | /ˈnoʊ.tɪs/ | To become aware of; to observe. |
| critical adjective | /ˈkɹɪt.ɪ.kəl/ | Inclined to find fault or criticize. |
| host noun | /hoʊst/ | One which receives or entertains a guest, socially, commercially, or officially. |
| emergency noun | /ɪˈmɝ.d͡ʒən.si/ | A situation which poses an immediate risk and which requires urgent attention. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Dan, did you notice something different?
- You're wearing a new shirt.
- I'm talking about our show.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you'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 pinch, hitter, substitute.
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.