Shadowing Practice: Homemade Hoverbike - Learn English Speaking with Video
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31 sentences
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1
Ford asked me to unlearn everything I know about mobility and create something like I've never built before.
2
You wanted me to fly, so I've made this.
3
It has no steering, it has no brakes, it's got two accelerators and not even a seat,
4
but can someone with no engineering qualifications and no experience of flying make something that actually leaves the ground?
5
It's the Colin Firth's Hoverbike!
6
Too soon, I'd do all of you Thanks for all the things you said I couldn't do
7
Life went down the world apart Never listen to it,
8
right back at the start It's right!
9
It's right!
10
This means everything This means everything So far and better make no issue This means nothing again
11
That is the most outrageous thing I've ever ridden and it's been an interesting project.
12
Feeling lift for the first time was such a strange feeling.
13
There have been many different designs and shapes of frames.
14
We've tied up all sorts of different ideas.
15
We've hacked bits off.
16
We've added some bits off until eventually we started seeing some results and it started to get off the ground.
17
Then I had to learn to ride it, try and control it, which of course didn't always go that smoothly.
18
Broke it again.
19
That's proper broke at that time.
20
Controlling this thing at all is a small miracle, but with a little bit of practice you can start to tame it.
21
We had various ideas of adding some stability controls to it, but we just didn't have the payload.
22
It only just lifts me off the ground, we couldn't add any extra weight.
23
But this is why I chose to do the hover bike.
24
The whole unlearned philosophy is to try new things and go in new directions.
25
I definitely think I'm doing that with this, which made me think This is kind of futuristic.
26
I have an idea.
27
So, for a plumber and a few weeks in his shed, I don't think I've done too bad, have I?
28
Cheers, Ford.
29
Cheers.
30
Let's go.
31
We'll be right back.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Homemade Hoverbike”. This video has 9 sentences and 280 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:05. The speaker talks slowly, about 91 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| stability noun | /stəˈbɪlɪti/ | The condition of being stable or in equilibrium, and thus resistant to change. |
| leaf noun | /lif/ | The usually green and flat organ that represents the most prominent feature of most vegetative plants. |
| miracle noun | /ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/ | An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin. |
| mobility noun | /mə(ʊ)ˈbɪlɪti/ | The ability to move; capacity for movement. |
| brake noun | /bɹeɪk/ | A device used to slow or stop the motion of a wheel, or of a vehicle, usually by friction (although other resistive forces, such as electromagnetic fields or… |
| qualification noun | /ˌkwɑlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | The act or process of qualifying for a position, achievement etc. |
| outrageous adjective | /aʊtˈɹeɪ.d͡ʒəs/ | Violating morality or decency; provoking indignation or affront. |
| steer verb | /stɪɹ/ | To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). |
| smoothly adverb | /ˈsmuːðli/ | in a smooth manner; smooth |
| tame verb | /teɪm/ | To make or become tame; to domesticate (an animal). |
| unlearn verb | /ʌnˈlɝn/ | To discard the knowledge of. |
| accelerator noun | /əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/ | One who, or that which, accelerates. |
| futuristic adjective | /ˌfjut͡ʃəˈɹɪstɪk/ | Of technology, a concept, etc, so far advanced as to appear to be from the future. |
| hover verb | /ˈhɒvə/ | To keep (something, such as an aircraft) in a stationary state in the air. |
| payload noun | /ˈpeɪloʊd/ | That part of a cargo that produces revenue. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. |
| try out verb | To test (something) to see how it works or whether it is suitable. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I've, we've, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: stability /stəˈbɪlɪti/, mobility /mə(ʊ)ˈbɪlɪti/, qualification /ˌkwɑlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, accelerator /əkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪ.tɚ/, futuristic /ˌfjut͡ʃəˈɹɪstɪk/
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 stability, leaf, miracle.
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.