Shadowing Practice: Fala Inglês Rápido | Tarefas de Casa em Inglês - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Fala Inglês Rápido”. This video has 361 sentences and 2810 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:32. The speaker talks at a steady 131 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 50% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 59 of its 361 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| paragraph noun | /ˈpæɹəɡɹæf/ | A passage in text that starts on a new line, the first line sometimes being indented, and usually marks a change of topic. |
| sweep verb | /swiːp/ | To clean (a surface) by means of a stroking motion of a broom or brush. |
| dish noun | /dɪʃ/ | A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle. |
| continuous adjective | /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/ | Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption. |
| ess noun | /ˈɛs/ | The name of the Latin script letter S/s. |
| laundry noun | /ˈlɔːn.dɹi/ | A laundering; a washing. |
| furniture noun | /ˈfɝ.nɪ.t͡ʃɚ/ | Large movable item(s), usually in a room, which enhance(s) the room's characteristics, functionally or decoratively. |
| chore noun | /t͡ʃoɹ/ | A task, especially a regularly needed task for the upkeep of a home or similar, such as cleaning or preparing meals. |
| commodore noun | /ˈkɑ.mə.dɔɹ/ | A naval officer holding a rank between captain and rear admiral. |
| mop noun | /mɑp/ | An implement for washing floors or similar, made of a piece of cloth, or a collection of thrums, or coarse yarn, fastened to a handle. |
| var noun | A unit of electrical power, in an AC circuit, equal to the power dissipated when 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere. | |
| cosy adjective | /ˈkoʊzi/ | Affording comfort and warmth; snug; social and comfortable. |
| laver noun | /ˈleɪvɚ/ | A red alga/seaweed, Porphyra umbilicalis (syn. Porphyra laciniata), eaten as a vegetable. |
| cama noun | /ˈkɑːmə/ | A hybrid animal produced by breeding a camel and a llama. |
| diz noun | /dɪz/ | A tool, often a flat circle, with one or more holes for passing wool through to form roving of a specified thickness. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| take out verb | To remove. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
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 focused · is called |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are seeing · are using · are starting |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will work · will talk · will always put |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | We're going to put · we're not going to repeat · It's going to take |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 30 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, don't, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: dish /dɪʃ/, contraction /kənˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/, junction /ˈd͡ʒʌŋkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/
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 paragraph, sweep, dish.
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.











