Shadowing Practice: Family and friends - unit 8 - lesson 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 29 sentences and 101 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:07. The speaker talks slowly, about 32 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

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

• bedroom /ˈbɛdˌɹum/ (noun) — A room in a house, apartment, hotel, or other dwelling where a bed is kept for sleeping.
• certificate /səˈtɪf.ɪ.kɪt/ (noun) — A document containing a certified statement.
• chant /t͡ʃænt/ (verb) — To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music.
• dine /daɪn/ (verb) — To eat; to eat dinner or supper.
• kitchen /ˈkɪt͡ʃ(ə)n/ (noun) — A room or area for preparing food.
• bathroom /ˈbæθˌɹum/ (noun) — A room containing a shower or bathtub, and (typically but not necessarily) a toilet.
• repeat /ɹɪˈpiːt/ (verb) — To do or say again (and again).
• garden /ˈɡɑː.d(ə)n/ (noun) — An outdoor area containing one or more types of plants, usually plants grown for food or ornamental purposes.
• surprise /sə(ː)ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ (noun) — Something unexpected.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• work at (verb) — To make a physical or mental effort to progress some specified task; to endeavor or struggle on an issue or project.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as aren't, I've, isn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

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 bedroom, certificate, chant.