Shadowing Practice: HE BROKE HIS LEG ON PURPOSE! - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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I got my friend to break my leg
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so I didn't have to tell my ex
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that I lost my passport a week before we were going away for three months.
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Your leg?
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I have broken my ankle.
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I've done that.
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But, like, I hope to God it wasn't, like, the femur or something.
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Because you could, like, die from that if it goes off.
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But, like, you would literally have to, like, sit with your feet up and then somebody jump on.
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Like, how would, first of all, now I need to know how.
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Yeah, please let us know.
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Hey, we're talking about you on the podcast right now.
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We need to know how your friend broke your leg and what part of your leg was broken.
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We can't go on until we know.
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When is that the best option?
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Yeah.
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When is breaking your leg the best option?
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Yeah.
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Get out of there.
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Oh, hello.
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I had a terrible feeling.
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I mean, I knew what I was doing when I responded to the message, but I had a terrible feeling that that kind of message would spark an interest.
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But here we are um yeah basically i was due to go to thailand for like three four months
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um and the week of i uh obviously lost my passport
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and basically my ex had told me like i'd lost my passport before
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and she said
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if you ever lose your passport again we're going to break
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up this isn't what initiated the breakup there was seven other things
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that went on so i took it into my best interest to try
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and find a way to be able to not go um
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that would involve me not not telling her that i lost my passport
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so i um i pulled my friend together i said to him
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that i said i need a favor um
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and immediately i could see the fear in his eyes
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and he said yeah anything what is it i goes right
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so i told him the rundown you need to do something for me
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and i spent at least seven hours trying to think of a reason um
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that was plausible to say to her but it wasn't possible
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so i said there's there's only one thing for it you're gonna have to break my leg um
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so he took his volkswagen caddy van and ran over my ankle oh oh
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so he broke his ankle oh my gosh stop wait okay
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i take back everything i said this is like the most
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chivalrous uh knight in shining armor there's ever been in the
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world he just didn't want to he just didn't want her
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to be like a bad girl who would break up with you over something like
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that but this poor angel so sorry i just want to hold this down
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and tell him it's okay okay it's okay you lost your
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passport oh i love you what i need you to run over my leg in a Cadillac it's
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so heavy I take back what I say about the friend too what a mate dude thank you
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so much for coming through
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 50 sentences and 533 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:55. The speaker talks fast, about 183 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- passport /ˈpæspɔɹt/ (noun) — An official document normally used for international journeys, which proves the identity and nationality of the person for whom it was issued.
- ankle /ˈæŋ.kəl/ (noun) — The skeletal joint which connects the foot with the leg; the uppermost portion of the foot and lowermost portion of the leg, which contain this skeletal joint.
- angel /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ (noun) — An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes.
- involve /ɪnˈvɑlv/ (verb) — To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include.
- knight /ˈnaɪ̯t/ (noun) — An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages.
- shine /ʃaɪn/ (verb) — To emit or reflect light so as to glow.
- podcast /ˈpɑdˌkæst/ (noun) — A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on…
- spark /ˈspɑɹk/ (noun) — A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire, resulting from an electrical surge or excessive heat created by friction.
- armor /ˈɑːɹ.mɚ/ (noun) — A protective layer over a body, vehicle, or other object intended to deflect or diffuse damaging forces.
- gosh /ɡɑːʃ/ — A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
- initiate /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/ (verb) — To begin; to start.
- breakup /ˈbɹeɪk.ʌp/ (noun) — The act of breaking up; disintegration or division.
- plausible /ˈplɑ.zɪ.bəl/ (adjective) — Seemingly or apparently valid, likely, or acceptable; conceivably true or likely.
- caddie /ˈkædi/ (verb) — Chiefly followed by for: to serve as a caddie (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2) for a golfer.
- chivalrous /ˈʃɪv.əl.ɹəs/ (adjective) — Honourable, especially to women; gallant.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- go on /ˈɡoʊˌɒn/ (verb) — To continue in extent.
- run over (verb) — To exceed the allotted time.
- take back (verb) — To retract or withdraw (an earlier statement).
- come through (verb) — To come into a room or other space through a door or passageway.
- get out of (verb) — To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of.
- go off (verb) — To explode.
- jump on (verb) — To board a vehicle.
- sit with (verb) — To consider (something) slowly and carefully, to reflect on.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, wasn't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shine /ʃaɪn/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, initiate /ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/, chivalrous /ˈʃɪv.əl.ɹəs/
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 passport, ankle, angel.
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.