Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Toss-Up - Learn English Speaking with Video
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15 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
A toss is when something is thrown lightly in the air.
3
Like this.
4
Yes.
5
So Jonathan, who do you think is going to win the big football game tomorrow?
6
Oh, I don't know.
7
It's a toss-up, really.
8
Orlando has a great offense, but Baltimore has a great defense.
9
Either team could win.
10
Wow, you seem to actually know something about these teams.
11
Well, who do you think will win?
12
I'm just going to cheer for whoever's wearing the best colors. So, Orlando.
13
We use the expression toss-up to describe a situation where the result is unclear and could go either way.
14
It refers to the actual tossing of a coin and making a decision based on that.
15
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: Toss-Up”. This video has 15 sentences and 131 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:56. The speaker talks at a steady 141 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| toss verb | /tɔs/ | To throw with an initial upward direction. |
| refer verb | /ɹɪˈfɜː/ | To direct the attention of (someone toward something). |
| offense noun | /əˈfɛns/ | A crime or sin. |
| coin noun | /ˈkoɪ̯n/ | A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle. |
| lightly adverb | /ˈlaɪtli/ | In a light manner. |
| unclear adjective | /ʌnˈklɪɚ/ | Ambiguous; liable to more than one interpretation. |
| describe verb | /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ | To represent in words. |
| expression noun | /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ | The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| defense noun | /ˈdiːˌfɛns/ | The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury. |
| 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. |
| color noun | /ˈkʌl.ə/ | The spectral composition of visible light. |
| actual adjective | /ˈækʃuəl/ | relating to a person's acts or deeds; active, practical |
| throw verb | /θɹoʊ/ | To hurl; to release (an object) with some force from one’s hands, an apparatus, etc. so that it moves rapidly through the air. |
| chair noun | /t͡ʃɛɚ/ | An item of furniture used to sit on or in, comprising a seat, legs or wheels, back, and sometimes arm rests, for use by one person. |
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 thrown |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | is going to win · I'm just going to cheer |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will win |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: expression /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/, 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 toss, refer, offense.
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.