Shadowing Practice: How We Use Water - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 28 sentences and 387 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:09. The speaker talks at a steady 123 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• wash /wɑʃ/ (verb) — To clean with water.
• electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/ (noun) — Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now…
• recreational (adjective) — For, or relating to, recreation.
• meal /ˈmiːl/ (noun) — Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
• bath /bɑːθ/ (noun) — A tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub.
• efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/ (noun) — The extent to which a resource is used for the intended purpose.
• extend /ɛkˈstɛnd/ (verb) — To increase in extent.
• fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/ (adjective) — Related to a foundation, base, or basis; serving as a foundation.
• crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/ (adjective) — Essential or decisive for determining the outcome or future of something; extremely important; vital.
• furthermore /ˈfɜː(ɹ).ðə(ɹ)ˌmɔː(ɹ)/ (adverb) — In addition; besides; further; what's more (i.e. to denote additional information).
• dish /dɪʃ/ (noun) — A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle.
• swim /swɪm/ (verb) — To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.
• crop /kɹɑp/ (noun) — A plant, grown for it, or its fruits or seeds, to be harvested as food, livestock fodder, or fuel or for any other economic purpose.
• cheers /t͡ʃɪəz/ — A common toast used when drinking in company.
• ski /skiː/ (noun) — One of a pair of long flat runners designed for gliding over snow or water.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• carry out /ˈkæ.ɹi aʊt/ (verb) — To hold while moving it out.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'll, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “th” sounds: bath /bɑːθ/, furthermore /ˈfɜː(ɹ).ðə(ɹ)ˌmɔː(ɹ)/, thermal /ˈθɜːməl/, thrive /θɹajv/
• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/, crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/, dish /dɪʃ/, nutrition /njuːˈtɹɪʃ.ən/
• Long words — get the stress right: electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/, efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/, fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/, machinery /məˈʃiːnəɹi/, irrigation /ˌɪɹəˈɡeɪʃən/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like wash, electricity, recreational.