This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Hiccup Introduces Astrid to Toothless”. This video has 98 sentences and 359 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:47. The speaker talks slowly, about 62 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 16 of its 98 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
whoa	/woʊ/	Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.
dragon noun	/ˈdɹæɡən/	In European mythologies, a gigantic beast, typically reptilian with leathery bat-like wings, lion-like claws, scaly skin and a lizard-like body, often a…
scare verb	/skɛɚ/	To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
vacation noun	/veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/	An extended trip or journey away from home for rest or pleasure.
spin verb	/spɪn/	To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
jacket noun	/ˈd͡ʒæk.ɪt/	A piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse, often waist length to thigh length.
butt noun	/bʌt/	Body; self.
involve verb	/ɪnˈvɑlv/	To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include.
outfit noun	/ˈaʊtfɪt/	A set of clothing (with accessories).
skull noun	/ˈskʌl/	The main bones of the head considered as a unit; including the cranium, facial bones, and mandible.
gently adverb	/ˈd͡ʒɛntli/	Without strong force or quickness: softly, lightly.
bucket noun	/ˈbʌkɪt/	A container made of rigid material, often with a handle, used to carry liquids or small items.
toothless adjective	/ˈtuθləs/	Having no teeth.
reptile noun	/ˈɹɛp.taɪl/	A (typically scaly and egg-laying) cold-blooded vertebrate tetrapod animal, of the class Reptilia (excluding birds), such as a lizard, turtle, snake…

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
get down verb	/ɡɛt ˈdaʊn/	To bring or come down; to descend; to cause to bring or come down.
go ahead verb	/ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/	To proceed with; to begin.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Are you training with someone?
Why would you do that?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, where do you think you're going?
What is wrong with you?
Judas, what are you doing?

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	has decided · You've done
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now	I'm winning · We're leaving · are taking
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary	have to give · have to say

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, we're. 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.
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 whoa, dragon, scare.

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 →

Shadowing Practice: Hiccup Introduces Astrid to Toothless | How to Train Your Dragon - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson