Shadowing Practice: Harvey Tries to Cheer Up Mike | Suits - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Harvey Tries to Cheer Up Mike”. This video has 33 sentences and 291 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:54. 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. 11 of its 33 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| forgive verb | /fɚˈɡɪv/ | To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against. |
| harsh adjective | /ˈhɑɹʃ/ | Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses. |
| steak noun | /steɪk/ | Beefsteak: a slice of beef, broiled or cut for broiling. |
| spit verb | /spɪt/ | To evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth, etc. |
| dessert noun | /dɪˈzɝt/ | The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc. |
| tally verb | /ˈtæli/ | To count something. |
| muddy adjective | /ˈmʌdi/ | Covered or splashed with, or full of, mud (“wet soil”). |
| microgram noun | /ˈmaɪ.kɹəˌɡɹæm/ | An SI unit of mass equal to 10⁻⁶ grams. Symbol: μg A unit of mass equal to one millionth of a gram, or 0.000 001 grams. |
| brilliant adjective | /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/ | Shining brightly. |
| laugh verb | /læf/ | To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and… |
| pack noun | /pæk/ | A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale. |
| zero noun | /ˈzɪɹoʊ/ | The numeric symbol that represents the cardinal number zero. |
| guilty adjective | /ˈɡɪl.ti/ | Responsible for a dishonest act. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get around to verb | To eventually begin or return to some task. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I didn't know you were keeping a tally.
- What's the real reason you were at the hospital tonight?
- What are you asking me for?
- You're the one who went muddy with him.
- You don't think that was crossing the line?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 10 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, don't, gotta. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 forgive, harsh, steak.
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.