Shadowing Practice: L2 033 Tools - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Tools.
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Tools help me make many things.
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you you you you I use a ruler to measure.
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you I use a saw to cut.
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you you you I use a hammer to nail.
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I use a screwdriver to screw.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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you I use a paintbrush to paint.
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you Ta -da!
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A birdhouse for the birds.

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 11 sentences and 58 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:57.

Key vocabulary in this video

10 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

WordPronunciationMeaning
nail noun/neɪl/The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).
hammer noun/ˈhæmɚ/A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding.
ruler noun/ˈɹulɚ/A (usually rigid), flat, rectangular measuring or drawing device with graduations in units of measurement; a straightedge with markings.
birdhouse noun/ˈbɝdhaʊs/A small house or nest box for birds.
paintbrush noun/ˈpeɪntˌbɹʌʃ/A thin brush for applying paint.
screwdriver noun/ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it.
tool noun/tul/Any physical device meant to ease or do a task.
measure noun/ˈmeɪ.ʒɚ/A limit that cannot be exceeded; a bound. (Now chiefly in set phrases.)
bird noun/ˈbɜːd/An animal of the clade (traditionally class) Aves in the phylum Chordata, characterized by being warm-blooded, having feathers and wings usually capable of…
paint verb/peɪnt/To apply paint to.

Pronunciation to watch

  • The “sh” and “zh” sounds: paintbrush /ˈpeɪntˌbɹʌʃ/, measure /ˈmeɪ.ʒɚ/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like nail, hammer, ruler.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →