Shadowing Practice: GUESS THE MUSLIM REVERT FT FARZY & OUSAMA ALSHURAFA - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 911 sentences and 6169 words to shadow. The speech runs for 34:17. The speaker talks fast, about 180 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- convert /kənˈvɝt/ (verb) — To transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.
- bore /boɹ/ (verb) — To inspire boredom in somebody.
- turtle /ˈtɝtl̩/ (noun) — Any land, aquatic, or semi-aquatic reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.
- reveal /ɹɪˈviːl/ (verb) — To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden.
- amen /(ˌ)ɑːˈmɛn/ — At the end of a religious prayer: so be it.
- genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/ (adverb) — In a genuine manner; truthfully, truly.
- sneak /sniːk/ (verb) — To creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen.
- prayer /pɹɛɚ/ (noun) — A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity.
- donate /ˈdoʊˌneɪt/ (verb) — To make a donation; to give away something of value to support or contribute towards a cause or for the benefit of another.
- aura /ˈɔːɹə/ (noun) — A subtle emanation or exhalation of any substance, such as an aroma or odour.
- buddy /ˈbʌdi/ — A person far removed from the conversation.
- hire /ˈhaɪɹ/ (verb) — To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment.
- reverse /ɹɪˈvɝs/ (noun) — The opposite of something.
- extend /ɛkˈstɛnd/ (verb) — To increase in extent.
- shake /ˈʃeɪk/ (verb) — To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- hold on (verb) — To grasp or grip firmly.
- come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
- figure out (verb) — To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
- lock in (verb) — To fix the value of (something potentially variable).
- mess up (verb) — To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
- bring in (verb) — To move something indoors, or into an area.
- come out /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ (verb) — To be discovered; to be revealed.
- go ahead /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ (verb) — To proceed with; to begin.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 237 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: theology /θiˈɒ.lə.d͡ʒi/, methodology /ˌmɛθ.əˈdɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, birthplace /ˈbɝθˌpleɪs/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, shock /ʃɔk/, transition /tɹænˈzɪʃ.ən/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, impression /ɪmˈpɹɛʃn̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, humanity /hjuˈmænɪti/, motivation /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.ʃən/, continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/
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 convert, bore, turtle.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been interviewing · You've been saying |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to love |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has made · I've known · I've never met |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was born · is born · was asked |
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.












