Shadowing Practice: Intermediate French - Can you pass these tests ? (B1-B2 level) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Intermediate French - Can you pass these tests ?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: verb, expression, word, sentence. This video has 411 sentences and 5188 words to shadow. The speech runs for 48:37. The speaker talks slowly, about 107 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| tense noun | /tɛns/ | The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists. |
| plural noun | /ˈplʊəɹəl/ | The plural number. In English, referring to more or less than one of something. |
| feminine adjective | /ˈfɛmɪnɪn/ | Of or pertaining to the female gender. |
| scissors noun | /ˈsɪzəz/ | A tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when… |
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| complicated adjective | /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/ | Difficult or convoluted. |
| scroll noun | /skɹoʊl/ | A roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed into a roll. |
| masculine adjective | /ˈmæskjələn/ | Of or pertaining to the male gender. |
| noun noun | /naʊn/ | A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as person, animal, place, word, thing, phenomenon, substance, quality, or idea… |
| duck noun | /dʌk/ | Any of certain aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, having a flat bill and webbed feet, distinguished from swans and geese by generally being smaller and… |
| noon noun | /nun/ | The time of day when the Sun seems to reach its highest point in the sky; solar noon. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). | |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| watch out | Used to warn someone of an imminent danger. | |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. | |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| get up to verb | To do something, especially something that is forbidden or improper. | |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| let off verb | To cause to explode or come out; to release. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Which do you think is correct?
- Do you think this sentence is correct?
- For example, do you like music?
- Do you like your new colleague?
- Does this sentence sound natural to you?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If you like French tests, you will love |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be done · is considered · is called |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who never · someone who sometimes · someone who was |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have always said · have even said · has never wanted |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 128 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thick /θɪk/, thin /ˈθɪn/, enthusiasm /ɪnˈθuziæzəm/, clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, dish /dɪʃ/, shout /ʃaʊt/, exceptional /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/, ambitious /æmˈbɪʃ.əs/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, intermediate /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/, exceptional /ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl/
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 verb, tense, plural.
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.













