Shadowing Practice: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Intro (Cutscenes) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

81 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
- Tommy Vecetti?
2
Ha, shit.
3
Didn't think they'd ever let him out.
4
- He kept his head down, helps people forget.
5
- People will remember soon enough.
6
When they see him walking down the streets of their neighborhoods, it will be bad for business.
7
What are we gonna do, Sonny?
8
We treat him like an old friend and keep him busy out of town.
9
Okay?
10
We've been talking about his spanning down south, right?
11
Vice City is 24 karat gold these days.
12
The Colombians, the Mexicans, hell, even those Cuban refugees are cutting themselves a piece of some nice action.
13
But it's all drugs, Sonny.
14
None of the families will touch that shit.
15
Times are changing.
16
The families can't keep their backs turned while our enemies reap the rewards.
17
So, we send someone down to do the dirty work for us and cut ourselves a nice, quiet slice, okay?
18
Who's our contact down there?
19
Ken Rosenberg, schmuck of a lawyer.
20
How's he gonna hold Vicetti's leash?
21
Alright, see how he's done.
22
Hey, hey guys!
23
It's Ken Rosenberg here!
24
Hey!
25
Hey, hey, hey!
26
Great, hey!
27
Well, I'm gonna drive you guys to the meet, okay?
28
Now, I've talked to the suppliers and they are very keen to start a business relationship, so if all goes well,
29
we should be doing very nice of ourselves, which is, you know... does the fly.
30
Okay, that's them and the chopper.
31
Alright, here's the deal: they want a straight exchange on open ground.
32
Alright?
33
Okay, stay tight, let's go.
34
Got it?
35
100 % pure grade A Colombian, my friend.
36
Let me see it.
37
The greens?
38
10s and 20s.
39
Used.
40
I think we have a deal, my friend.
41
Shit!
42
I poked my head out of the gutter for one freaking second and fate shovels shit in my face.
43
Go get some sleep.
44
What are you gonna do?
45
I'll drop by your office tomorrow and we can start sorting this mess out.
46
- Hello, Sonny.
47
- Tommy!
48
Tommy!
49
It's been too long.
50
uh...
51
I know, I know.
52
You're just overwhelmed with emotion.
53
15 years.
54
Seems like only yesterday.
55
I guess that's a perspective.
56
Hey!
57
Doing time for the family is no piece of cake, but the family looks after its own, OK?
58
That's how the deal go down.
59
You sitting on some white gold?
60
look sunny we were set up The deal was an ambush.
61
Harry and Lee are dead.
62
You better be kidding me, Tommy!
63
Tell me you still got the money!
64
No, Sonny.
65
I don't have the money.
66
That was my money, Tommy!
67
My money!
68
You better not be screwing me Tommy because you know I'm not a man to be screwed with wait sonny oh
69
You have my personal assurance that I'm gonna get you your money back.
70
And the drugs.
71
And I'm gonna mail you the dicks of those responsible.
72
Hey, I already know that.
73
You're not a fool, Tommy, but I warn you.
74
Neither am I.
75
If it was anybody else, you'd be dead!
76
Already, but because it's you.
77
because we got history.
78
I'm gonna let you handle this.
79
Look Sonny, you got my word.
80
I'll be in touch.
81
- Thank you.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing

Context & Background

The dialogue featured in the "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Intro" cutscenes introduces us to the characters and sets the stage for their relationships and intrigue in a crime-ridden environment. The conversation primarily revolves around Tommy Vercetti, who has just been released from prison and is stepping back into a world filled with power struggles and shady dealings. The characters discuss their strategy for navigating the criminal landscape of Vice City, highlighting essential themes of loyalty, betrayal, and ambition that are central to the game's narrative. For learners of English, understanding the context of these conversations is crucial, as it provides insight into the informal language, slang, and cultural references that are often used in real-life dialogues.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Didn’t think they’d ever let him out” - A casual way to express disbelief about someone’s release from confinement.
  • “Keep his head down” - An idiomatic expression meaning to avoid drawing attention to oneself.
  • “Bad for business” - A phrase indicating that something will have negative effects on financial operations.
  • “We treat him like an old friend” - Suggests a strategy of showing warmth or friendship to manipulate a situation.
  • “Got it?” - A straightforward way to check if someone understands what has been communicated, useful in everyday conversations.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Improving your English speaking skills through shadowing can be highly effective, and this video provides rich material for practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the shadowing technique with this video:

  1. Watch the Video Once: Familiarize yourself with the overall story and context without worrying about details.
  2. Listen Actively: Play the video again, focusing on the dialogue. Take note of specific phrases and expressions that catch your attention.
  3. Pause and Repeat: Use the "shadowspeak" method by pausing after each sentence. Repeat it out loud, mimicking the intonation and rhythm of the speakers.
  4. Record Yourself: After practicing, record your voice. Compare it to the original dialogue to identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency.
  5. Practice Consistently: Integrate this practice into your routine. The more often you use the shadowing technique, the more natural your English speaking will become.

By immersing yourself in the dialogues and employing shadowspeaks, you will enhance both your comprehension and spoken English skills, paving the way for effective communication in everyday settings.

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowI've talked · It's been
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwere set · be screwed

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 →