Shadowing Practice: Human brains don't learn well from screens - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 10 sentences and 104 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:41. The speaker talks at a natural 151 words per minute, close to everyday conversation.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| decline verb | /dɪˈklaɪn/ | To move downwards, to fall, to drop. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| classroom noun | /ˈklɑːsɹʊm/ | A room, often in a school, where classes take place. |
| cognitive adjective | /ˈkɑɡ.nɪ.tɪv/ | Relating to the part of mental functions that deals with logic, as opposed to affective which deals with emotions. |
| pale adjective | /peɪl/ | Light in color. |
| span noun | /spæn/ | The full width of an open hand from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger used as an informal unit of length. |
| imitation noun | /ɪmɪˈteɪ̯ʃən/ | The act of imitating. |
| knowledgeably adverb | In a knowledgeable manner. | |
| plummet verb | /ˈplʌmət/ | To drop swiftly, in a direct manner; to fall quickly. |
| tech noun | /tɛk/ | Technology. |
| originally adverb | /əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nə.li/ | As it was in the beginning; at first. |
| device noun | /dɪˈvaɪs/ | Any piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electrical one. |
| giant noun | /ˈd͡ʒaɪ.ənt/ | A mythical human or humanoid of very great size. |
| prize noun | /ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ | That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power. |
Pronunciation to watch
- Long words — get the stress right: imitation /ɪmɪˈteɪ̯ʃən/, originally /əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nə.li/
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 decline, skill, deeply.
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.