Shadowing Practice: Gilbert's letter to Anne - 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 “Gilbert's letter to Anne”. This video has 17 sentences and 97 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:04. The speaker talks slowly, about 91 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| reveal verb | /ɹɪˈviːl/ | To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden. |
| engage verb | /ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/ | To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied. |
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| keeper noun | /ˈkiː.pɚ/ | One who keeps (retains) something. |
| conscience noun | /ˈkɑn.ʃəns/ | The ethical or moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions. |
| affection noun | /əˈfɛk.ʃən/ | The act of affecting or acting upon. |
| gilbert noun | /ˈɡɪlbɚt/ | The CGS unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns. |
| fond adjective | /fɑnd/ | Having a liking or affection (for). |
| unburden verb | /ʌnˈbɝdn̩/ | To free from burden, or relieve from trouble. |
| desire noun | /dɪˈzaɪɹ/ | The feeling of desiring; an eager longing for something. |
| favor noun | /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ | A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone). |
| object noun | /ˈɑb.d͡ʒɛkt/ | A thing that has physical existence but is not alive. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be alarmed |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will I · will be |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are parting |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, can't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: conscience /ˈkɑn.ʃəns/, affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/
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 reveal, engage, alarm.
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.