Shadowing Practice: Fix These 5 Settings ⚙️ #contentmarketing #contentcreation #marketing - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Fix These 5 Settings ⚙️”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: account, settings, Instagram. This video has 15 sentences and 177 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:56. The speaker talks fast, about 189 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% 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
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| shadow noun | /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ | A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object. |
| privacy noun | /ˈpɹaɪ.və.si/ | The state of being secluded from the presence, sight, or knowledge of others. |
| edit verb | /ˈɛdɪt/ | To change a text, or a document. |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| default noun | /dɪˈfɔlt/ | The condition of failing to meet an obligation. |
| suggestion noun | /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/ | Something suggested (with subsequent adposition being for) |
| desktop noun | /ˈdɛsktɒp/ | The top surface of a desk. |
| competitor noun | /kəmˈpɛt.ɪ.tɚ/ | A person or organization against whom one is competing. |
| reel verb | /ˈɹiːl/ | To wind on a reel. |
| fake adjective | /feɪ̯k/ | Not real; false, fraudulent. |
| flag noun | /flæɡ/ | A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol. |
| ban verb | /ˈbæn/ | To prohibit; to interdict; to proscribe; to forbid or block from participation. |
| automatically adverb | /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.k(ə.)li/ | In an automatic manner. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). |
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 | are checked · can be shown · is turned |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have gotten |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: competitor /kəmˈpɛt.ɪ.tɚ/, automatically /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.k(ə.)li/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like shadow, privacy, edit.
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.