Shadowing Practice: Family & Friends 2 - Unit 8: What time is it? (Second Edition Full) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 111 sentences and 612 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:38. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| snake noun | /sneɪk/ | Any of the suborder Serpentes of legless reptiles with long, thin bodies and fork-shaped tongues. |
| skate noun | /skeɪt/ | A runner or blade, usually of steel, with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, made to be fastened under the foot, and used for gliding on ice. |
| asleep adjective | /əˈsliːp/ | In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting. |
| stairs noun | /ˈstɛɹz/ | A contiguous set of steps connecting two floors. |
| chant verb | /t͡ʃænt/ | To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music. |
| coat noun | /ˈkoʊ̯t/ | An outer garment covering the upper torso and arms. |
| goodbye | /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing. |
| toy noun | /tɔɪ/ | Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. |
| brush noun | /bɹʌʃ/ | An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including… |
| homework noun | /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/ | Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class. |
| grandma noun | /ˈɡɹænmɑː/ | Grandmother. |
| headphones noun | /ˈhɛdfoʊnz/ | A pair of cushioned speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer can hear the sound. |
| cereal noun | /ˈsɪə.ɹɪ.əl/ | A type of grass (such as wheat, rice or oats) cultivated for its edible grains. |
| lunchbox noun | /ˈlʌntʃˌbɒks/ | A container for transporting meals, especially lunch. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get up verb | To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 snake, skate, asleep.
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.




























