Shadowing Practice: Holding Back the Years - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 15 sentences and 158 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:39. The speaker talks slowly, about 34 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% 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
9 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- tear /tɛɹ/ (verb) — To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate.
- ear /ˈɪə̯/ (noun) — The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna or auricle, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea.
- fate /feɪt/ (noun) — The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
- strangle /ˈstɹæŋɡəl/ (verb) — To kill someone by squeezing the throat so as to cut off the oxygen supply.
- escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ (verb) — To get free; to free oneself.
- fear /fɪə/ (verb) — To be afraid of (something or someone); to consider or expect (something or someone) with alarm.
- somebody /ˈsʌmˌbədi/ — Some unspecified person.
- prove /ˈpɹuv/ (verb) — To demonstrate that something is true or viable; to give proof for; to bear out; to testify.
- arm /ɑɹm/ (noun) — The portion of the upper human appendage, from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- hold back (verb) — To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power.
- hold on (verb) — To grasp or grip firmly.
- point out (verb) — To identify among a group of similar subjects, or in a scene where the subject might not be readily seen or noticed, with a gesture of the body.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as I've, I'll, I'm. 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 tear, ear, fate.
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 | I've known · I've wasted |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | keep holding |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll keep |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm holding |
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.