Shadowing Practice: Game of Thrones - War Stories - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Game of Thrones - War Stories”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Lannister, grace, empty, boy. This video has 61 sentences and 428 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:30. The speaker talks slowly, about 95 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 13 of its 61 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hammer noun | /ˈhæmɚ/ | A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding. |
| outlaw noun | /ˈaʊt.lɔ/ | A fugitive from the law. |
| cousin noun | /ˈkʌz(ə)n/ | Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a… |
| sword noun | /soɹd/ | A long bladed weapon with a grip and typically a pommel and crossguard (together forming a hilt), which is designed to cut, stab, slash and/or hack. |
| knock verb | /nɑk/ | To rap one's knuckles against something, especially wood. |
| swing verb | /ˈswɪŋ/ | To rotate about an off-centre fixed point. |
| knee noun | /ni/ | In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank. |
| fighter noun | /ˈfaɪtɚ/ | A person who fights; a combatant. |
| cave noun | /keɪv/ | A large, naturally-occurring cavity formed underground or in the face of a cliff or a hillside. |
| arrow noun | /ˈæɹəʊ/ | A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow. |
| bend verb | /bɛnd/ | To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means. |
| mighty adjective | /ˈmaɪti/ | Very strong; possessing might. |
| miserable adjective | /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹəbəl/ | In a state of misery: very sad, ill, or poor. |
| shout verb | /ʃaʊt/ | To utter a sudden and loud cry, as in joy, triumph, exultation or anger, or to attract attention, to animate others, etc. |
| satisfy verb | /ˈsætɪsfaɪ/ | To be enough (for) |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| head off verb | To begin moving away. |
| stand out verb | To jut out, protrude (from a surface etc.). |
| stand over verb | To be very watchful of. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You remember your first?
- How do you do it?
- Who named you some halfwit with a stutter?
- What do you mean, it's empty?
- Did he call you a traitor?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 5 contractions and reduced forms, such as he'd, don't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shout /ʃaʊt/, shatter /ˈʃætɚ/
- Long words — get the stress right: miserable /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹəbəl/, rebellion /ɹɪˈbɛl.i.ən/
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 hammer, outlaw, cousin.
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.