Shadowing Practice: Exploring Vietnamese Culture And Traditions #vietnam - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 18 sentences and 224 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:39. The speaker talks at a steady 136 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 61% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• belief /bɪˈliːf/ (noun) — Mental acceptance of a claim as true.
• custom /ˈkʌstəm/ (noun) — Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
• reflect /ɹɪˈflɛkt/ (verb) — To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
• folk /foʊk/ (noun) — People, persons.
• preserve /pɹəˈzɝv/ (verb) — To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
• everyday /ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/ (adjective) — Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
• alongside /əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/ — Side by side with.
• architecture /ˈɑː.kɪˌtɛk.t͡ʃə/ (noun) — The art and science of designing and managing the construction of buildings and other structures, particularly if they are well proportioned and decorated.
• spiritual /ˈspɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/ (adjective) — Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul.
• landscape /ˈlan(d)skeɪp/ (noun) — A portion of land or territory as defined by its landform, its geographical (and architectural) features.
• ethnic /ˈɛθ.nɪk/ (adjective) — Of or relating to a group of people having common racial, ancestral, national, religious or cultural origins.
• explore /ɪkˈsploɹ/ (verb) — To examine or investigate something systematically.
• craft /ˈkɹæft/ (noun) — Ability, skillfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning…
• lifestyle /ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl/ (noun) — A style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group.
• dish /dɪʃ/ (noun) — A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle.

Pronunciation to watch

• The “th” sounds: ethnic /ˈɛθ.nɪk/, breathtaking /ˈbɹɛθˌteɪ.kɪŋ/
• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: dish /dɪʃ/, shine /ʃaɪn/
• Long words — get the stress right: architecture /ˈɑː.kɪˌtɛk.t͡ʃə/, creativity /kri.eɪˈtɪv.ᵻ.ti/, harmonious /hɑɹˈmoʊni.əs/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like belief, custom, reflect.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: