Shadowing Practice: Experimental Variables - Learn English Speaking with Video

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A student wants to find out whether the amount of light a plant receives affects how tall it grows.
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She sets up three identical potted plants, one in normal sunlight, one under a bright grow lamp,
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and one in a dark cupboard.
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you you Thank you.
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But to get a reliable answer, she needs to design this experiment carefully.
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She needs to understand three types of variables.
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The first is the independent variable.
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This is the one thing she deliberately changes, the cause she's testing.
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Here, that's the amount of light.
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She's testing three levels: normal, Hi and None you An easy way to remember it I change it.
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I for independent, I.
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The second is the dependent variable.
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This is what she measures, the result.
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Here, that's the height of each plant, measured in centimeters after a set number of weeks.
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She doesn't control this value.
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She simply records what happens.
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An easy way to remember, it gives you your data.
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D for dependent, D for data.
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you The third is the controlled variables.
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These are everything else that must stay exactly the same to keep the test fair.
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She uses the same pot size, the same soil, and gives each plant the same amount of water.
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If she gave one plant more water than the others, she wouldn't know whether it was the light or the extra water that caused any difference in growth.
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An easy way to remember: keep it fair.
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Change one thing, measure one thing, keep everything else the same.
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you That's what makes an experiment fair, and that's how scientists find out what really causes what.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "Experimental Variables" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →