Shadowing Practice: HERBERT HOOVER SPEAKS AT REPUBLICAN CONVENTION - SOUND - 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 “HERBERT HOOVER SPEAKS AT REPUBLICAN CONVENTION - SOUND”. This video has 17 sentences and 149 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:47. The speaker talks slowly, about 83 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| entrust verb | /ɪnˈtɹʌst/ | To trust to the care of. |
| totalitarian adjective | /ˌtoʊtəlɪˈtɛɹiən/ | Of or relating to a system of government where the people have virtually no authority and the state wields absolute control of every aspect of the country… |
| unconsciously adverb | /ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəsli/ | In an unconscious manner; unknowingly |
| consciously adverb | In a conscious manner; knowingly, volitionally. | |
| humane adjective | /hjuːˈmeɪn/ | Having or showing concern for the pain or suffering of another; compassionate. |
| realism noun | /ˈɹi.əlɪzəm/ | A concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary. |
| hemisphere noun | /ˈhɛmɪsfɪə/ | Half of the celestial sphere, as divided by either the ecliptic or the celestial equator . |
| devotion noun | /dɪˈvoʊʃən/ | The act or state of devoting or being devoted; a feeling of being devoted (to something). |
| entertain verb | /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ | To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably. |
| mankind noun | /mænˈkaɪnd/ | The human race in its entirety. |
| inspire verb | /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ | To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by… |
| lamp noun | /ˈlæ̝mp/ | A device that generates light, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation. Especially an electric light bulb. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| keep out of verb | To stay away from (a place or condition). |
| start over verb | to begin again; to return to the beginning |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | must be armed · is attacked |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: unconsciously /ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəsli/, devotion /dɪˈvoʊʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: totalitarian /ˌtoʊtəlɪˈtɛɹiən/, unconsciously /ˌʌnˈkɑnʃəsli/, realism /ˈɹi.əlɪzəm/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like entrust, totalitarian, unconsciously.
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.