This video has 76 sentences and 485 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:09. The speaker talks at a natural 154 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 85% 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

14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
ruin noun	/ˈɹuː.ɪn/	The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
hence adverb	/ˈhɛns/	In the future from now.
amateur noun	/ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃɚ/	A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, science, or art (such as music or painting), especially one who cultivates any study, interest, taste, or…
bore verb	/boɹ/	To inspire boredom in somebody.
intimacy noun	/ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/	Intimate relationship.
suspense noun	/səˈspɛns/	The condition of being suspended; cessation for a time.
remarry verb	/ɹiːˈmæɹi/	To marry a second or subsequent time (the same spouse or a different one) after the end of a marriage.
idiosyncrasy noun	/ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/	A behavior or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person or a group.
imperfection noun	/ɪmpɚˈfɛkʃən/	Those qualities or features that are imperfect; the characteristic, state, or quality of being imperfect.
peccadillo noun	/ˌpɛ.kəˈdɪ.loʊ/	A small flaw or sin.
anybody	/ˈɛn.i.bə.di/	Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any person.
philosophy noun	/fɪˈlɑ.sə.fi/	An academic discipline that seeks truth through reasoning rather than empiricism, often attempting to provide explanations relating to general concepts such as…
teach verb	/ˈtiːt͡ʃ/	To pass on knowledge to.
loud adjective	/ˈlaʊ̯d/	Of great intensity.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
go through verb		To travel from one end of something to the other.
find out verb		To discover, as by asking or investigating.
go out verb		To leave, especially a building.
wake up verb	/ˌweɪk ˈʌp/	To stop sleeping; to awake.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 23 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you're, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

Long words — get the stress right: intimacy /ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/, idiosyncrasy /ˌɪdiəˈsɪŋkɹəsi/, imperfection /ɪmpɚˈfɛkʃən/, peccadillo /ˌpɛ.kəˈdɪ.loʊ/, anybody /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/

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 ruin, hence, amateur.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
“Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true	used to fart
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	have been · haven't called · I've been

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson