Shadowing Practice: Flexin' On Ya (2014) - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 77 sentences and 756 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:11. The speaker talks fast, about 181 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 81% 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:

• squirrel /ˈskwɪ.ɹ(ə)l/ (noun) — Any of the rodents of the family Sciuridae.
• bench /ˈbɛnt͡ʃ/ (noun) — A long seat with or without a back, found for example in parks and schools.
• translation /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/ (noun) — The conversion of text from one language to another.
• berry /ˈbɛɹi/ (noun) — A small succulent fruit, of any one of many varieties.
• bury /ˈbɛɹi/ (verb) — To outlive.
• buff /bʌf/ (noun) — Undyed leather from the skin of buffalo or similar animals.
• curious /ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/ (adjective) — Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying.
• chase /t͡ʃeɪs/ (verb) — To follow at speed.
• toilet /ˈtɔɪ.lət/ (noun) — A room, enclosed area or single-purpose building containing a fixture or fixtures used for urination and defecation; a bathroom or water closet.
• permit /pɚˈmɪt/ (verb) — To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
• trophy /ˈtɹoʊfi/ (noun) — An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
• exhibit /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ (verb) — To display or show (something) for others to see, especially at an exhibition or contest.
• approve /əˈpɹuːv/ (verb) — To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory.
• basket /ˈbæskɪt/ (noun) — A lightweight woven container, generally round, open at the top, and tapering toward the bottom.
• curse /kɝs/ (noun) — A supernatural detriment or hindrance; a bane.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• blow up (verb) — To explode or be destroyed by explosion.
• check out (verb) — To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.).
• look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
• back in (verb) — To reverse a vehicle into a space.
• cover up (verb) — To conceal or disguise.
• end up (verb) — To bring to a conclusion.
• get out of (verb) — To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of.
• go down (verb) — To descend; to move from a higher place to a lower one.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 28 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: translation /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/, flush /ˈflʌʃ/, contention /kənˈtɛnʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: elaborate /ɪˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/, apathetic /ˌæpəˈθɛtɪk/, cameraman /ˈkæm(ə)ɹəˌmæn/, intimidate /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like squirrel, bench, translation.