Shadowing Practice: تقویت زبان با داستان کوتاه انگلیسی/ داستان انگلیسی / english short stories/ تقویت لغات انگلیسی - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 57 sentences and 377 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:04. The speaker talks slowly, about 75 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| instructor noun | /ɪnˈstɹʌktɚ/ | One who instructs; a teacher. |
| ignore verb | /ɪɡˈnɔː/ | To deliberately not listen or pay attention to. |
| gulf noun | /ɡʌlf/ | A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin. |
| examination noun | /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ | The act of examining. |
| essay noun | /ˈɛs.eɪ/ | A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject. |
| pile noun | /paɪl/ | A mass of things heaped together; a heap. |
| warn verb | /woɹn/ | To make (someone) aware of impending danger, evil, etc. |
| pencil noun | /ˈpɛnsəl/ | A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper. |
| furiously adverb | /ˈfjʊə̯ɹi.ə̯sli/ | In a furious manner; angrily. |
| disqualify verb | /dɪsˈkwɔləfaɪ/ | To make ineligible for something. |
| warning noun | /ˈwoɹnɪŋ/ | An instance of warning someone. |
| professor noun | /pɹəˈfɛs.ə/ | The most senior rank for an academic at a university or similar institution. |
| immediately adverb | /ɪˈmiː.di.ət.li/ | In an immediate manner; instantly or without delay. |
| therefore adverb | /ˈðɛɹ.fɔɹ/ | Consequently, by or in consequence of that or this cause; referring to something previously stated. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| walk out verb | To stage a walkout or strike. |
| put down verb | To insult, belittle, or demean. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: therefore /ˈðɛɹ.fɔɹ/, throw /θɹoʊ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, finish /ˈfɪnɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, furiously /ˈfjʊə̯ɹi.ə̯sli/, disqualify /dɪsˈkwɔləfaɪ/, immediately /ɪˈmiː.di.ət.li/
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 instructor, ignore, gulf.
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.












