Shadowing Practice: Kentucky student warns AI is taking over the classroom - Learn English Speaking with Video
B2AI Is Stealing From You
B2Call for AI to support inclusive education | Vietnam Today
B2We Have To Talk About Teacher Influencers
B2Human brains don't learn well from screens
B2NYC, the nation’s largest school system, bans AI for students through 8th grade
B2Why We’re Scared of Things That Look Too Human (Uncanny Valley)
B2Could AI Become Too Powerful to Control?
B2Sydney University staff strike over AI concerns
B2Virtual love - How dangerous are AI relationships? | DW Documentary
B2Exposing the Secrets behind Data Centers 👀🤯
B2Do Elite Degrees Still Matter In The AI Era? | Jamie Beaton from Crimson Education | EP 410
B2I think AI slop is about to trigger a renaissance, actually
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 11 sentences and 199 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:55. The speaker talks fast, about 218 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| rail noun | /ɹeɪ(ə)l/ | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| lover noun | /ˈlʌvɚ/ | One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. |
| actively adverb | /ˈæktɪvli/ | In an active manner. |
| essay noun | /ˈɛs.eɪ/ | A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject. |
| usage noun | /ˈjuːsɪd͡ʒ/ | A custom or established practice. |
| generate verb | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ə.ɹeɪt/ | To bring into being; give rise to. |
| assignment noun | /əˈsaɪn.mənt/ | The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks. |
| collapse verb | /kəˈlæps/ | To break apart and fall down suddenly; to cave in. |
| interact verb | /ɪn.təˈɹækt/ | To engage in communication and other shared activities (with someone). |
| slap noun | /slæp/ | A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat. |
| regulate verb | /ˈɹɛɡ.jə.leɪt/ | To dictate policy. |
| spit verb | /spɪt/ | To evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth, etc. |
| filmmaker noun | A producer or director of films/movies. | |
| disservice noun | /dɪ(s)ˈsɝvɪs/ | Service that results in harm; an (intentionally or unintentionally) unhelpful, harmful action. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| run off verb | To flee or depart quickly. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as isn't, they're, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 rail, lover, actively.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who are |
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.