Shadowing Practice: Incredibles Monologue - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Incredibles Monologue”. This video has 42 sentences and 241 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:44. The speaker talks at a steady 138 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 7 of its 42 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| buddy | /ˈbʌdi/ | A person far removed from the conversation. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| trash noun | /tɹæʃ/ | Useless physical things to be discarded; rubbish; refuse. |
| tear verb | /tɛɹ/ | To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate. |
| worthy adjective | /ˈwɝ.ði/ | Having worth, merit, or value. |
| gentleman noun | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.təl.mən/ | Any well-bred, well-mannered, or charming man. |
| invention noun | /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ | Something invented. |
| sail noun | /seɪl/ | A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination… |
| modification noun | /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | The change undergone by a word when used in a construction. |
| invent verb | /ɪnˈvɛnt/ | To design a new process or mechanism. |
| monologue noun | /ˈmɑnəˌlɔɡ/ | A long speech by one person in a play; sometimes a soliloquy; other times spoken to other characters. |
| nemesis noun | /ˈnɛməsɪs/ | An enemy, especially an archenemy. |
| unleash verb | /ʌnˈliʃ/ | To free from a leash, or as from a leash. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
| turn out verb | To end up; to result. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You can't count on anyone, especially your heroes.
- How do you think I got rich?
- Am I good enough now?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | your biggest · the best |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will pay · I'll get |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: trash /tɹæʃ/, invention /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/, modification /ˌmɑdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, unleash /ʌnˈliʃ/
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 buddy, lesson, trash.
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.