Shadowing Practice: I should have... – B1+ English Listening Test - Learn English Speaking with Video
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43 sentences
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1
Emma A few months ago, I missed a flight to Edinburgh for a job interview.
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I thought I'd given myself plenty of time, but I hadn't considered how busy the train station would be.
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I should have left the house earlier, and I definitely could have booked a taxi instead of relying on public transport.
4
Er, when I arrived at the airport...
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The gate had just closed.
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I was so frustrated.
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Looking back, I realised I might have avoided the whole situation
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If I'd packed my things the night before I spent too much time
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that morning looking for my ID
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and ironing clothes I also shouldn't have assumed the train would
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be on time It was delayed by 15 minutes In the end, I had to reschedule the interview And although it went well,
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I think I would have made a better impression If I had been there in person It was a stressful experience, but I've learned my lesson.
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Next time, I'll be more prepared.
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Last year, I got into a pretty big argument with one of my closest friends.
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He said something that really upset me, and instead of taking a moment to cool off, I just reacted.
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I should have listened more carefully to what he was trying to say, and I definitely could have handled this situation with more patience.
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I misunderstood his point completely, but at the time, I didn't give him a chance to explain.
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I said things I regret, and I know I shouldn't have raised my voice.
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Afterward, I realized I could have avoided the whole argument if I'd just taken a step back and thought before speaking.
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We didn't talk for weeks, and honestly, I might have lost that friendship for good.
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Fortunately, he accepted my repeated apologies and we're okay now,
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but I definitely learned that reacting emotionally isn't always the best option.
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I would have felt terrible if we'd never spoken again.
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At my previous job, there was a new colleague who was clearly struggling with the workload.
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I noticed she often stayed late and looked stressed, but I didn't do anything to help.
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I suppose I thought someone else would step in, or that she'd ask if she needed support.
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Looking back, I realise I should have offered to help her out.
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Even just with something small, I could have made a real difference to her day.
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I might have even learned something new by collaborating with her.
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She ended up quitting after a couple of months, and I can't help but think I should have been more supportive.
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She probably felt isolated, and I would have felt awful if I'd known how bad things were.
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I definitely should have spoken to her, even just to ask how she was doing.
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It taught me that it doesn't take much to be kind, or to make someone feel included.
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Maya Over the holidays last year, I decided not to go to a big family gathering because I felt tired and just wanted a break.
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At the time, I thought I needed the rest, but I should have made the effort to go.
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My grandmother had traveled all the way from another state, and I could have spent some quality time with her.
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I ended up really regretting my decision because a few months later, she passed away unexpectedly.
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I've been thinking about that a lot.
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I should have prioritized my family over a quiet evening at home.
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I could have managed my time better and still gone for at least a couple of hours.
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I would have felt better knowing I made the most of that opportunity.
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Now, I try not to skip special moments, even if I'm not in the mood.
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I realize you never know when it might be the last chance to see someone.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “I should have... – B1+ English Listening Test”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: felt, definitely, learned. This video has 43 sentences and 638 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:53. The speaker talks at a natural 165 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 77% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| react verb | /ɹiːˈækt/ | To act in response. |
| realise verb | Non-Oxford British standard spelling of realize. | |
| frustrate verb | /ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪt/ | To disappoint or defeat; to vex by depriving of something expected or desired. |
| misunderstand verb | /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/ | To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly. |
| prioritize verb | /pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/ | To value, do, or choose something first, or before other things. |
| reschedule verb | /ɹiˈskɛd͡ʒʊl/ | To schedule again or at a different time. |
| workload noun | The amount of work assigned to a particular worker, normally in a specified time period. | |
| collaborate verb | /kəˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/ | To work together with others to achieve a common goal. |
| isolate verb | /ˈaɪ.sə.leɪt/ | To set apart or cut off from others. |
| unexpectedly adverb | /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪdli/ | In an unexpected manner. |
| maya noun | Magic; supernatural power as held by the gods. | |
| stressful adjective | /ˈstɹɛsfəl/ | Irritating; causing stress. |
| fortunately adverb | /ˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.li/ | In a fortunate manner. |
| colleague noun | /ˈkɒliːɡ/ | A fellow member of a profession, staff, academic faculty or other organization; an associate, a workmate. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| look back verb | To think of (past events) in retrospect (in hindsight). | |
| cool off verb | To decrease in temperature, activity, or temper. | |
| pass away verb | To die. | |
| step back verb | /stɛp ˈbæk/ | To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should have · shouldn't have |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might have · might be |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was trying · was doing |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | my closest · the best |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'd, didn't, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: cloth /klɒθ/, grandmother /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/, patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/
- Long words — get the stress right: misunderstand /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/, prioritize /pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/, collaborate /kəˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/, unexpectedly /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪdli/, fortunately /ˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.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 react, realise, frustrate.
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.