Shadowing Practice: Friendly Speaking Tips for B2 Learners - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 15 sentences and 79 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:42. The speaker talks at a steady 113 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 77% 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:

• tone /ˈtəʊn/ (noun) — A specific pitch.
• everyday /ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/ (adjective) — Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
• carefully /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ (adverb) — With care; attentively, circumspectly.
• skill /skɪl/ (noun) — A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
• engage /ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ (verb) — To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied.
• phrase /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ (noun) — A short written or spoken expression.
• rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/ (noun) — The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter.
• pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ (noun) — The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken.
• intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/ (noun) — The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.
• mimic /ˈmɪm.ɪk/ (verb) — To imitate, especially in order to ridicule.
• native /ˈneɪtɪv/ (adjective) — Belonging to one by birth or ancestry.
• mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ (noun) — An error.
• confidence /ˈkɑn.fɪ.dəns/ (noun) — Self-assurance.
• repeat /ɹɪˈpiːt/ (verb) — To do or say again (and again).
• speaker /ˈspikɚ/ (noun) — One who speaks.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• ask for (verb) — To request; to order.

Pronunciation to watch

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/

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 tone, everyday, carefully.