Shadowing Practice: If the Narcissist was Honest 😂 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “If the Narcissist was Honest 😂”. This video has 32 sentences and 271 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:59. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| trauma noun | /ˈtɹɔm.ə/ | Any injury to the body of a living thing. |
| complicated adjective | /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/ | Difficult or convoluted. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| pretend verb | /pɹəˈtɛnd/ | To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. |
| chip noun | /t͡ʃɪp/ | A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material. |
| boundary noun | /ˈbaʊndɹi/ | The dividing line or location between two areas. |
| charm noun | /t͡ʃɑɹm/ | An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation). |
| transparent adjective | /tɹænsˈpæɹənt/ | See-through, clear; having the property that light passes through it almost undisturbed, such that one can see through it clearly. |
| affection noun | /əˈfɛk.ʃən/ | The act of affecting or acting upon. |
| esteem verb | /ɪˈstiːm/ | To set a high value on; to regard with respect or reverence. |
| rejection noun | /ɹɪˈd͡ʒɛkʃən/ | The act of rejecting. |
| misery noun | /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹi/ | Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe. |
| fragile adjective | /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/ | Easily broken, not sturdy; of delicate material. |
| inferior adjective | /ɪnˈfɪɹ.i.ɚ/ | Lower in rank, status, or quality. |
| neglect verb | /nɪˈɡlɛkt/ | To fail to care for or attend to something. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Hey, it's great to meet you.
- Why do you need me to fall in love with you?
- Why would you do that?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 10 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/, rejection /ɹɪˈd͡ʒɛkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/, inferior /ɪnˈfɪɹ.i.ɚ/, manipulate /məˈnɪp.jʊ.leɪt/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like trauma, complicated, 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.