Shadowing Practice: How to manifest a new life - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “How to manifest a new life”. This video has 403 sentences and 4836 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:29. The speaker talks fast, about 206 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| manifest noun | /ˈmæn.ɪ.fɛst/ | A list or invoice of the passengers or goods being carried by a commercial vehicle or ship. |
| therapist noun | /ˈθɛɹəpɪst/ | Someone who provides therapy, usually professionally. |
| backpack noun | /ˈbæk.pæk/ | A knapsack, sometimes mounted on a light frame, but always supported by straps, worn on a person’s back for the purpose of carrying things, especially when… |
| deplete verb | /dɪˈplit/ | To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something) |
| energetically adverb | In an energetic manner; with great energy. | |
| vibration noun | /vaɪˈbɹeɪʃən/ | The act of vibrating or the condition of being vibrated. |
| mansion noun | /ˈmæn.ʃən/ | A large luxurious house or building, usually built for the wealthy. |
| validation noun | /ˌvæl.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/ | The act of validating something. |
| diplomat noun | /ˈdɪp.lə.mæt/ | A person, such as an ambassador, who is accredited to represent a government officially in its relations with other governments or international organisations |
| liar noun | /ˈlaɪ.ɚ/ | Someone who tells a lie; especially, a person who frequently lies. |
| anyways adverb | /ˈɛn.iˌweɪz/ | Anyway, anyhow, in any case. |
| accomplish verb | /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/ | To finish successfully. |
| ashamed adjective | /əˈʃeɪmd/ | Feeling shame or guilt. |
| detachment noun | /dɪˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ | The action of detaching; separation. |
| hustler noun | /ˈhʌsləɹ/ | One who rushes or hurries; an energetic person. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| write down verb | To produce or set (something) down in writing; to record something. | |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. | |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. | |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| look up to verb | To show respect or admiration for (someone); to see (someone) as a role model. | |
| 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. | |
| work out verb | /ˌwɝk ˈaʊt/ | To calculate. |
| come up to verb | To approach. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- It's shocking to me that I'm living this life.
- What exercise do I need to do?
- Do I need to squat, whatever?
- How do I make money?
- What am I good at?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you die someone will say · if they did something wrong I would overlook · if I was stuck there, I would still |
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | i've been complaining · have been carrying |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to be · used to live |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | have been focused · is filled · be depleted |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 86 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: vibration /vaɪˈbɹeɪʃən/, mansion /ˈmæn.ʃən/, validation /ˌvæl.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/, accomplish /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/, ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/
- Long words — get the stress right: validation /ˌvæl.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/, desperation /ˌdɛspəˈɹeɪʃən/, materialistic /məˌtɪəɹ.i.əˈlɪs.tɪk/, intuition /ˌɪn.tjuːˈɪʃ.ən/, millionaire /ˌmɪl.i.əˈnɛə(ɹ)/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like manifest, therapist, backpack.
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.





























