Shadowing Practice: I love to prank people - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hey friends, my name is Mary Lynn and I live in Pennsylvania.

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I was raised by a single mom who loved me to bits.

When I was very young, mom had to work really hard to put food on the table.

But she wasn't someone who gave up.

She worked her butt off and became a firefighter and I was so proud of her.

But growing up, I'd see kids have a big family and I never knew why I didn't have aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins.

Whenever I asked her, mom would say, I used to have a sister, but then she went on a trip to Mars, and I hope she stays there forever.

Well, I believed her for a while until I understood she was just kidding.

But still, I wished for a family.

But Mom made sure we were both enough.

She'd do silly dances with me while we were getting groceries.

She'd have tea parties with me and would even let me give her a makeover.

Because Mom was a total goofball, I was too.

I'd play music at the cafeteria, dance in the assembly, and whatnot.

One time I was at school and the class was just not ending.

So I took out a party horn from my pocket and blew it hard.

Who did this?

Teacher, we have no idea.

I knew no one would answer because everybody wanted that boring class to end.

But I couldn't control my giggles and she knew it was me and instantly gave me a detention.

It wasn't my first time, but seeing Axel, the hottest and most arrogant boy of the school there, made it totally worthwhile.

Hey Axel, what brings you to my kingdom?

The guy just gave me a look and rolled his eyes.

Such a diva.

Come on, tell me what happened.

Okay, fine.

Let me guess.

You started a food fight.

No, I've never seen you in the cafeteria.

Okay, you pranked some teacher?

Ah, no, no, no, you're just too much into your studies.

So you hit someone?

Ah, no, that can't be it.

That's because you're just way too sophisticated to touch someone else.

Ummm...

Oh my god, can't you just keep quiet for just a second?

I feel like my ears are bleeding.

Fine, I'll tell you, but just keep it to yourself.

I'm here cause...

What?

I'm here cause...

I can't hear you.

I'm here cause I got an F and lost

and tore the paper in the teacher's face and I was just so angry and nothing made it...

Axel seemed to be having a panic attack, and I did the only thing that I thought that would help.

I hugged him and rubbed his back.

Hey, hey, hey, breathe.

Dude, just breathe.

Slowly.

I've been in worse situations.

Okay, I'm just saying that to make you feel better, but still.

The tension is like a second home to me.

It worked, and he chuckled.

You are one crazy chick.

I've been told that before.

The next day at lunch, I was sitting with my friends, and Axel came, and everyone looked at him like he was some alien, but not me.

Yeah, you can totally sit with me.

Come on, friend.

Friend?

Um, thanks.

I like that.

After that day, Axel and my friendship only grew, and we became best friends.

Everyone thought he was a snob, but Axel was just the quiet type.

He was one in a million.

By the time I was in eighth grade, I felt like I had a crush on my best friend.

But I decided to never tell him.

When we returned to school after summer vacation, I wanted to start off the new year with something special.

So I gave Axel a chocolate bar.

Uh, geez, thanks.

And after just one bite, his face turned red.

What the heck did you put in this?

Just a lot of chili powder.

I'll get you for this.

Saying that, Axel chased after me, but someone came in front of me.

I skidded to the side and then crashed on the floor.

And then I saw Axel and a girl looking at me.

Are you okay?

Please tell me that you're alright.

Mary, you almost gave me a heart attack.

Tell me you're okay.

Yeah, I feel fine.

Axel and the girl helped me up, and then she told me that her name was Valerie, and she had just moved into the town.

And amazingly, she was with Axel and me in our class.

Pretty soon, Valerie, Axel, and I became a team.

We did everything together.

We'd study together and even go out together.

All three of us even joined the cheerleading squad together.

One time, all three of us went out for a movie.

And while Axel was in line getting us popcorn that was slower than a snail at a snail funeral, the only thing I focused on was how handsome Axel was.

Why don't you tell him how you feel?

Huh?

What?

Come on, it's all over your face.

Just tell him.

Right then I saw Axel coming and Valerie started giggling.

Um, did I miss something?

No. Mary wants to tell you something.

Something very important.

100

Yeah, I did.

101

I just totally forgot to tell you what a cute little girl you look like in that pink t-shirt.

102

Seriously, dude?

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Um, you bought it for me.

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So, thanks, I guess.

105

So that was it?

106

Come on, the movie's starting, let's go.

107

Gosh, I could never tell Axel that I liked him.

108

Like, in a different way.

109

When we finally had our summer vacations, Axel went to his grandma's in Florida and I missed him a lot.

110

But thank God I had Valerie now.

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She once invited me to her home and I was literally shocked to see how big it was.

112

Whoa, Valerie, you're rich.

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Yeah, my mom actually won the lottery before I was born.

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Can you believe it?

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It's so crazy.

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Wow, lucky you.

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Valerie's mom was so nice and I was having an amazing time with them.

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A few days later, there was a carnival in our town.

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And we both met there in the evening.

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Mom was running late, so while Valerie's mom sat, we both went to the Ferris wheel ride.

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We were having so much fun and then heard noises and looked down.

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I was shocked to see Mom arguing with Valerie's mom.

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Don't tell me where to live and where not to.

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I can do whatever I want.

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Oh yeah?

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Like steal more things?

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You stole from your own sister.

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I won that lottery.

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And you stole the ticket and just vanished.

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And now you have the guts to show your face after all these years?

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What the heck?

132

Valerie's mom was my mom's sister?

133

Before Valerie and I could say anything, both of our moms grabbed our hands and left.

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I didn't get to talk to Valerie for the rest of the summer vacation.

135

But when we went back to school, I really wanted to sort things out.

136

After all, she was my cousin.

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But the moment I said hi to her, she blew me off.

138

Stay away from me.

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I don't ever want to talk to you.

140

Your mom calls my mom a thief.

141

OK, that really pissed me off.

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Don't be a jerk.

143

The big house you were flaunting that day, it's all thanks to my mom.

144

The fact remains the same.

145

Your mom is a thief.

146

Hearing this, she pushed me hard and I landed in the dustbin.

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Stay there, or I swear I'll ruin you.

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You know what?

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I'll tell Axel you have a crush on him.

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No, on second thought, I'll make sure that he hates you.

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Watch me destroy you, Mary.

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What did she think I was?

153

A coward?

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I jumped and grabbed her hair.

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And before we knew it, we were both in a cat fight.

156

We were later taken to the principal's office, and both of our moms were called, and it turned into a battleground.

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I had never seen the sight of my mom, and it just made me realize her sister hurt her bad.

158

After that day, things got tough.

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Valerie would always pick on me, and I would always retaliate.

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It seemed she was a totally different person.

161

One time we were in art class, and I was minding my own business, when Valerie came and started telling me how bad my painting was, like I ever needed her approval.

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I was so done with her, so I pushed her, just a little.

163

But the girl landed on her painting, knocking out all of the paints from the table in a really dramatic way.

164

And then she literally started screaming like a banshee.

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Ouch, my foot!

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Mary, why would you do that?

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I told you I'm sorry for everything, and still...

168

OMG, what a liar!

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The teacher and all the kids in the class gathered around us, and Valerie kept on with her fake crying.

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Shut up, Valerie, or else I'll...

171

Stop it, you two.

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Mary, what has gotten into you?

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I couldn't believe Axel was on her side.

174

I told him she was faking it, but Valerie cried harder, and Axel looked so concerned about her.

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Ignoring me, he picked up Valerie, took her out of the class, while I was sent to the principal's office.

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And I got detention.

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When it was time to go home, Axel came to see me and kept telling me how I had hurt Valerie.

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I wished he wasn't that blind.

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For God's sake, she's faking it.

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Axel, you have to choose.

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It's either me or Valerie.

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Mary, you're both my friends.

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I just can't choose.

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Whoa.

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Oh, I see.

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Well, fine.

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I couldn't believe this.

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I pushed him out of the way and ran home.

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That was It was the worst day of my life!

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Axel tried to talk to me at school.

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He called me and texted me so many times.

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He even visited me at home, but I didn't want to see him because I was just so angry.

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I even stopped talking to my friends and would eat lunch in the classroom, alone.

194

I just couldn't see Valerie and Axel sitting together and the way she gave me those wicked smirks.

195

I hated her so much, but I channeled all of my attention into my studies, and sometimes Even the teachers would ask me to crack a joke or something,

196

saying they missed the goofy old Mary.

197

But that Mary?

198

Well, she was gone.

199

After ninth grade, I switched schools and cut off all ties with my friends from there.

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I wanted to start new, and I was going to do well in my new school.

201

I got into competitive cheerleading, and one time in high school, we had a competition, and after the first routine, I spotted Axel backstage.

202

The moment our eyes met, I tripped and scraped my knee.

203

At once, Axel came running to me and helped me out, and then he brought out a bandage to put it on the little scrape.

204

He still cared for me, like he used to.

205

He had just gotten even more handsome.

206

Um, it's good now.

207

You'll survive the next round.

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So, um, how have you been?

209

Without even answering, I got up to leave, but he held my hand.

210

Aw, Mary, I've missed you so much.

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I am so sorry.

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I tried contacting you, but you shut me out.

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I had been meaning to tell you how I felt, then everything got crazy, but just hear me out, please.

214

Gosh, I had missed him too, like crazy in these two years.

215

But when I was about to say something, I heard an ugly voice.

216

Come on, Axel.

217

It's our routine.

218

Oh, a blast from the past.

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Hmm.

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I see you're still a clumsy little thing.

221

Oh, I see that you're still a little witch.

222

I was determined to win the competition because I knew what it meant to Valerie.

223

So I put my all into these routines.

224

When Valerie's team performed, their performance was all glitz and glamour with fireworks at the end. So extra.

225

When we were all called onto the stage for the results, it turned out Valerie and my team had a tie.

226

And we had to share the trophy.

227

No way.

228

This trophy is mine.

229

Not on my watch.

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Just then, I let go of the trophy and Valerie went crashing backwards.

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She totally deserved it.

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All of a sudden, there was smoke and someone screamed fire.

233

Turned out the stupid fireworks Valerie and her team did at the end of the routine caused a fire.

234

It was panic and chaos all over.

235

The entire hall had been emptied, but while running to the exit, I realized Valerie was still there, where she had fallen.

236

I just couldn't leave her.

237

Valerie, where are you?

238

Mary, I'm here.

239

I'm stuck.

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Just when I moved forward to look for her, someone grabbed me and dragged me out of the hall.

241

It was Axel.

242

Oh my god, Valerie's still in there.

243

Someone's gotta help her!

244

Axel, we've got to go back in there!

245

Oh no!

246

Valerie!

247

Someone, please get my baby out of there!

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Please!

249

The fire was blazing and I felt my heart sink.

250

But then Mom came to my aunt.

251

Don't worry, I'll get her.

252

Don't you dare lose hope.

253

Everyone, stay back.

254

Mom went inside and each minute felt like a thousand years.

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I was so worried.

256

Seeing my aunt cry, I went and sat by her side and she instantly hugged me.

257

I'm so sorry, honey.

258

I'm so sorry for everything.

259

I hurt your mom.

260

Because of what I did, your and Valerie's friendship suffered.

261

I'm so sorry for everything.

262

I just hope my Valerie will be alright.

263

At that moment, I regretted each and every mean word I'd ever said to Valerie.

264

All the drama, all the fights.

265

None of that mattered right now.

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The only thing that mattered was family.

267

And just then, I saw mom coming out of the hall.

268

She was carrying Valerie in her arms.

269

Thank God they were both safe!

270

All of a sudden, there were cheers and happy tears and we all hugged.

271

Me, Mom, Valerie and my aunt, we all hugged like there was no tomorrow.

272

After we were given first aid, Axel and I sat on a bench and watched as Mom and my aunt patched things up and were all in tears.

273

After my aunt thanked and apologized so much, it seemed Mom was willing to give her another chance.

274

You gotta admit, you have one really dramatic family.

275

Says the boy who blew his own fuse getting an F.

276

Yep, I still remember that.

277

By the way, what were you saying earlier?

278

Something you wanted to tell me?

279

Oh, that.

280

That was nothing.

281

I mean, it was something.

282

Like, you know.

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Oh my gosh!

284

Mary, Axel likes you.

285

A lot.

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And Mary likes you too.

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Sorry guys, I had to.

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You guys would have taken forever!

289

I just shook my head and laughed, and then looked into Axel's eyes.

290

We kissed for the first time and it was perfect.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “I love to prank people”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Axel, Valerie, mom, Mary. This video has 290 sentences and 2565 words to shadow. The speech runs for 13:27. The speaker talks fast, about 191 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
aunt noun	/ɑːnt/	The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent.
hug verb	/hʌɡ/	To cling closely together.
gosh	/ɡɑːʃ/	A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
trophy noun	/ˈtɹoʊfi/	An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
cafeteria noun	/ˌkæ.fə.ˈtɪ(ə).ɹi.ə/	A restaurant in which customers select their food at a counter then carry it on a tray to a table to eat.
cheerleading noun		A physical activity and sport in which cheerleaders organize elements of dance, gymnastics, and tumbling for judgment or to cheer on a team.
firework noun	/ˈfaɪɚˌwɚk/	A device using gunpowder and other chemicals which, when lit, emits a combination of coloured flames, sparks, whistles or bangs, and sometimes made to rocket…
giggle verb	/ˈɡɪɡl̩/	To laugh gently in a playful, nervous, or affected manner.
scrape verb	/skɹeɪp/	To draw (an object, especially a sharp or angular one), along (something) while exerting pressure.
snail noun	/sneɪl/	Any of very many animals (either hermaphroditic or nonhermaphroditic), of the class Gastropoda, having a coiled shell.
whoa	/woʊ/	Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.
thief noun	/ˈθiːf/	One who carries out a theft.
detention noun	/dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/	The act of detaining or the state of being detained; hindrance.
lottery noun	/ˈlɑtɚi/	A scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance, especially a gaming scheme in which one or more tickets bearing particular numbers draw prizes, the…
heck	/hɛk/	Hell.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
turn out verb		To end up; to result.
bring out verb		To elicit, evoke, or emphasize (a particular quality).
cut off verb	/ˌkʌt ˈɔf/ [ˌkɐɾ ˈɔf]	To remove by cutting.
get up to verb		To do something, especially something that is forbidden or improper.
give up verb		To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone).
go back to verb		To stem from; to originate in.
go out verb		To leave, especially a building.
grow up verb		To mature and become an adult.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

What the heck did you put in this?
Why don't you tell him how you feel?
Valerie's mom was my mom's sister?
What did she think I was?
Mary, why would you do that?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	was raised · I've been told · was born
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've never seen · I've been · I've been told
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	was just kidding · were getting · was just not ending
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	started giggling · started telling · started screaming

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 60 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: thief /ˈθiːf/, breathe /bɹiːð/, worthwhile /ˌwɜː(ɹ)θˈwaɪl/, ninth /naɪnθ/, eighth /eɪtθ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, detention /dɪˈtɛnʃn̩/, crush /kɹʌʃ/, vanish /ˈvænɪʃ/, tension /ˈtɛnʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: cafeteria /ˌkæ.fə.ˈtɪ(ə).ɹi.ə/, firefighter /ˈfaɪ.ɚˌfaɪ.tɚ/, retaliate /ɹɪˈtæl.i.eɪt/, amazingly /əˈmeɪzɪŋli/, apologize /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/

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 aunt, hug, gosh.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: I love to prank people - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?