Shadowing Practice: How To Cook The Perfect Pasta | Gordon Ramsay - Learn English Speaking with Video

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It can be easily undercooked or overcooked.
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Here's how to do it properly.
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First, water in.
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Nice large pan to make sure the pasta's got sufficient room to cook evenly.
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Nicely seasoned, absolutely crucial.
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Olive oil in.
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That stops the pasta from sticking together.
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Bring it up to the boil.
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That's a rolling boil.
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The secret there, it stops the pasta from sticking together and it gently rolls it around.
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Now, this is angel pasta, nice thin pasta.
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Takes three and a half to four minutes.
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So, into the pan, as it hits the water, it melts, and then you turn it around.
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Tongs, as that starts to melt, gently twist that into the pan, bring it back up to the boil.
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If you're bad at timing, then set a timer.
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Beautiful.
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To test it, lift a little strand.
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You can actually feel it with your fingers.
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It's still nice and firm.
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Mmm.
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Al dente.
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Not a bite, not a strong bite, but just really nice and firm inside.
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Definitely not crunchy.
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And then, into a colander, drain the pasta in a light seasoning.
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Salt and pepper.
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A tablespoon of olive oil.
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Mix that through.
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That stops it from sticking together.
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And look, there you go.
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Beautiful pasta, al dente.
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Mmm, cooked perfectly.
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Just as those carrots start going nice and soft, don't overcook them.
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You want that nice texture in there, slightly smooth and just rinse the rice.
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That stops the rice from becoming clumpy in the pan.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "How To Cook The Perfect Pasta | Gordon Ramsay" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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.