Shadowing Practice: Gordon Ramsay Learns How To Prepare Vietnamese Soup | Gordon's Great Escape - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
The next day I head south past Ho Chi Minh City and into the Mekong Delta.
2
This fertile region is crisscrossed with hundreds of waterways.
3
It's home to a floating food market where I'm heading to learn a Vietnamese classic that's essential to my culinary education.
4
Inside this market is a lady who is a bit of a legend.
5
She has a reputation for her broths.
6
And if I'm going to get up to speed quickly, within a week, about Vietnamese cooking, the broth is the harpy.
7
The broth queen, Mrs. Zihaim, is a veteran.
8
She's been selling her soup for 40 years and today I'm rolling up my sleeves to work with her.
9
Good morning.
10
Chef Luc Nguyen is here to help too.
11
So she's a master of broths?
12
She's a master of broths.
13
So let's go check it out.
14
The only way to do it is to get in there and do it yourself.
15
And we're all going to fit on that boat?
16
You are, and I am as well.
17
It's a bit rocky.
18
Jesus.
19
You all right?
20
Yep.
21
See, Hy's boat is the equivalent of a market cafe and her soup recipe is the ultimate in fast food.
22
And now she's going to teach me how to make it.
23
So, the broth, where did the original recipe come from?
24
Is it from her mum?
25
She's from eating.
26
She eats on the street, she eats in these little stores, and she trains the palate to make it the best that she can on this floating river here.
27
Yep.
28
What's she putting out there?
29
So that is the...
30
So we've got banana blossom there, bean sprout, and then shredded water spinach stems, and throw some vermicelli noodles behind you.
31
So here we've just got some hot water, boiled water.
32
So I'm just going to...
33
Okay, so she cooks it very, very quickly.
34
Now in Vietnamese cuisine, the clearer the broth, the better.
35
Right.
36
It doesn't have much flavour, but you sip it and it's just, wow, very complex.
37
Zihai's trick is to put the dish together in seconds to ensure it retains its Vietnamese crunch.
38
Don't you move so quickly.
39
Thank you.
40
Wow, that is delicious.
41
And the fragrance of the herbs at the end as well.
42
Yes.
43
Lovely.
44
Coriander, the sweet basil.
45
The texture, balance of flavour, lightness.
46
That's Vietnamese cuisine in the nutshell there for you.
47
There's no more time for me to practice.
48
Today, I take Mrs Zihai's place serving her regulars.
49
She needs to sell 60 to break even, 60 bowls, 80 bowls to make some money.
50
So roughly she'll make around $10 a day.
51
Incredible.
52
How much does that go for?
53
Less than a dollar.
54
Less than a dollar.
55
So we're looking at 50 pence.
56
Should we get to work?
57
What's amazing about Vietnam is this is how she advertises her dish.
58
She sings it out.
59
So she's saying both dishes, but she sings it in this melodic tune.
60
It's quite beautiful to listen to.
61
That's what you have to do now.
62
Durian.
63
Oh, fuck me.
64
Half past seven in the morning, singing for your breakfast.
65
Hotel Bonville.
66
I don't think they heard you.
67
Oh, Jesus.
68
Hotel Bonville.
69
60 portions a day minimum.
70
60. We're going to do 80 today.
71
Let's make it some money.
72
Hotel Bonneville!
73
It's a great effect.
74
That was really good.
75
Look at them rushing.
76
Not one portion sold yet, 80 to go!
77
Mrs Zihai spent most of her life working this patch, but I could ruin her reputation in just one morning.
78
Hotel Bonville.
79
Bonville.
80
Bonville, okay.
81
Thank God for that.
82
Bonville, coming now.
83
Finally, bean sprouts.
84
Just a bit more noodles.
85
It's obviously a regular of hers.
86
Yeah.
87
Don't know.
88
You're saying you're doing well.
89
First one of the day.
90
Thank you so much.
91
Hotel Bonville.
92
Jesus.
93
It's incredible the way they work.
94
Incredible way they were laying behind you she wants Jesus unreal come on wake up Said it's fantastic.
95
She's happy.
96
She's happy.
97
This is serious drafting beyond belief.
98
I mean incredible wearing sold 20 portions yet I'm not
99
Just the speed you've got to work at I'm being something tanked all into one little spot here cooking without moving
100
I've never known making soup to be so difficult.
101
Z's broth is a triumph, and I'd like to do it justice.
102
Hotchill!
103
Bonneville!
104
Here we are.
105
Thank you.
106
No chilli.
107
Thank you.
108
Thank you.
109
Thank you.
110
What do you think?
111
Bonneville.
112
She's very quiet.
113
I think she's seen a customer customer.
114
She's going to rush her.
115
That's it?
116
Yep.
117
Hold on.
118
Someone's called her over.
119
Back to work.
120
Yeah, we'll have my call film.
121
Excuse me.
122
What about my bra?
123
Madam!
124
Madam!
125
This is hot, hard work, and I only managed to sell a fraction of what Z High serves up every day.
126
Please enjoy.
127
Thank you.
128
Tell her I'm a chef in the UK and I've never sat still
129
and had to cook in one place for so long.
130
For that long?
131
She said quite funny.
132
She said, do you think it's hard work?
133
This is beyond hard work.
134
I've been to lots of Vietnamese restaurants in London and the broth and the soup is absolutely fine, but nowhere near as delicious as this.
135
Yes.
136
You're an amazing lady.
137
A few days into my adventure, and I've got a brand-new respect for Vietnamese food.
138
V was right.
139
Mastering this cuisine in a week is going to be a tall order.
140
I'm nervous because I wasn't blasé, but I thought Vietnamese food was similar to Thai, but it's completely different.
141
So I think it's going to be harder to understand than any other country I've ever visited. so

Context & Background

In the engaging episode "Gordon Ramsay Learns How To Prepare Vietnamese Soup," the famous chef embarks on a culinary adventure in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. He explores a floating food market, where he seeks the expertise of Mrs. Zihaim, a legendary soup vendor known for her mastery of broths. As Ramsay learns the intricate details of preparing traditional Vietnamese soup, he immerses himself in the local culture, emphasizing the importance of flavor balance, freshness, and quick preparation. This setting provides an excellent backdrop for English learners who want to enhance their conversational skills while engaging with culinary vocabulary.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Where did the original recipe come from?” - A useful question for gathering information.
  • “The only way to do it is to get in there and do it yourself.” - This phrase encourages hands-on learning.
  • “Wow, that is delicious.” - A great expression for complimenting food.
  • “The clearer the broth, the better.” - Useful for discussing quality and standards.
  • “It retains its Vietnamese crunch.” - A phrase that highlights texture in cuisine.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively practice English speaking using the shadowing technique with this video, follow these steps:

  1. Watch the Video Without Sound: Familiarize yourself with the visuals and the context of the soup-making process.
  2. Listen Carefully: Play the video and focus on the spoken phrases. Use a shadowing app to pause and repeat phrases after the speaker.
  3. Emphasize Pronunciation: Pay attention to the intonation and stress in every phrase. Try to mimic Gatsby’s rhythm for more natural speech.
  4. Practice in Segments: Break the video into smaller sections. Repeat each segment several times until you feel comfortable.
  5. Engage with the Content: Create dialogue based on the video. Discuss the recipe and experience with an English-speaking partner or on a shadowing site.

Utilizing these steps will not only enhance your English speaking practice but also deepen your understanding of culinary terms and expressions, making your learning experience both engaging and effective. Embrace this unique opportunity to blend language and culture, allowing you to gain confidence in your communication skills through the shadowspeak method!

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.