Shadowing Practice: Grade 12 Unit 2 Listening - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 31 sentences and 245 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:52. The speaker talks at a steady 132 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

14 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• childish /ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪʃ/ (adjective) — Immature in thought or behaviour.
• trick /ˈtɹɪk/ (noun) — Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle.
• custom /ˈkʌstəm/ (noun) — Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
• scary /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ (adjective) — Causing fear or anxiety
• ruin /ˈɹuː.ɪn/ (noun) — The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
• costume /ˈkɑsˌt(j)um/ (noun) — A style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period or people.
• haunt /hɔnt/ (verb) — To inhabit or to visit frequently (most often used in reference to ghosts).
• classmate /ˈklæs.meɪt/ (noun) — A student who is in the same class at school.
• originate /əˈɹɪd͡ʒɪneɪt/ (verb) — To cause (someone or something) to be; to bring (someone or something) into existence; to produce or initiate a person or thing.
• celebrate /ˈsɛl.ɪ.bɹeɪt/ (verb) — To extol or honour in a solemn manner.
• ancient /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ (adjective) — Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.
• appeal /əˈpiːl/ (verb) — Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an…
• origin /ˈɒɹ.ɪ.d͡ʒɪn/ (noun) — The beginning of something.
• prepare /pɹɪˈpɛ(ə)ɹ/ (verb) — To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• think about /ˈθɪŋk əˌbaʊt/ (verb) — To ponder.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, didn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: childish /ˈt͡ʃaɪldɪʃ/, ancient /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

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 childish, trick, custom.

Grammar in this video

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