Shadowing Practice: Every Defence Against the Dark Arts Lesson | Compilation | Harry Potter - 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 “Every Defence Against the Dark Arts Lesson”. This video has 501 sentences and 2652 words to shadow. The speech runs for 33:22. The speaker talks slowly, about 79 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| curse noun | /kɝs/ | A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane. |
| werewolf noun | /ˈwɛəɹwʊlf/ | A person who is transformed or can transform into a wolf or a wolflike human, often said to do so during a full moon. |
| wizard noun | /ˈwɪzɚd/ | Someone, usually male, who uses (or has skill with) magic, mystic items, and magical and mystical practices. |
| boggart noun | A shapeshifting monster that feeds on fear. | |
| wand noun | /wɑnd/ | A hand-held narrow rod, usually used for pointing or instructing, or as a traditional emblem of authority. |
| pixie noun | /ˈpɪksi/ | A playful sprite or elflike or fairy-like creature. |
| disarm verb | /dɪsˈɑɹm/ | To deprive of weapons; to deprive of the means of attack or defense; to render defenseless. |
| unforgivable adjective | Not forgivable; inexcusable. | |
| charm noun | /t͡ʃɑɹm/ | An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation). |
| animagus noun | /ˌæn.ɪˈmeɪ.ɡəs/ | A person who can transform into an animal. |
| frighten verb | /ˈfɹaɪ.tən/ | To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright. |
| incantation noun | /ɪnkænˈteɪʃən/ | The act or process of using formulas and/or usually rhyming words, sung or spoken, with occult ceremonies, for the purpose of raising spirits, producing… |
| incapable adjective | /ɪnˈkeɪpəbl̩/ | Not capable (of doing something); unable. |
| yourselves | /jəˈsɛlvz/ | You (plural), used to intensify the subject as the group addressed. |
| demonstration noun | /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/ | The act of demonstrating; showing or explaining something. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| step up verb | To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps. | |
| shut up | /ʃʌt ʌp/ | Stop talking (usually in the form of making annoying, irrelevant, or false comments, during a period of peace and quiet, or when one is not allowed to talk)… |
| fight back verb | /faɪt bæk/ | To defend oneself by fighting. |
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. | |
| jump out verb | To emerge suddenly. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| sit up verb | To assume a sitting position from a position lying down. | |
| sort out verb | To clarify by reviewing mentally. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What do we do now?
- Did you see her come in?
- What frightens you most of all?
- Do you think he's all right?
- Can't you see this bothering him?
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 | we've just begun · you've spoken · I've ever felt |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be warned · being given · is called |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 61 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: lethal /ˈliː.θəl/, theoretical /ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/, grandmother /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: incantation /ɪnkænˈteɪʃən/, demonstration /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/, contraction /kənˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/, devastation /ˌdɛ.vəˈsteɪ.ʃən/, potion /ˈpoʊ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: animagus /ˌæn.ɪˈmeɪ.ɡəs/, incantation /ɪnkænˈteɪʃən/, demonstration /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/, devastation /ˌdɛ.vəˈsteɪ.ʃən/, herbology /həɹˈbɒlədʒi/
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 curse, werewolf, wizard.
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.































