Shadowing Practice: Learn English with Movies - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey guys, welcome back to the channel.
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So, last week we went to see Zootopia 2 and we loved it.
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Highly, highly recommend.
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It is such a great movie.
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There's so much great humor and actually some deep meaning and life lessons.
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So, in this video we'll be learning English, you guessed it, with Zootopia 2.
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And as usual we'll watch a couple of scenes and then talk about them.
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I do try too hard because deep down I'm afraid
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that I am what everyone thinks I am and I suppress my discomfort
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because I'm worried it makes me look weak
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and I want to be strong and I think I'm failing all the time
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and I only take what you say personally
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because you're the only one in my life who ever believed in me even
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when I don't even believe in myself and I should have told you
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that no one else in the world matters to me more than you do either.
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I have unresolved childhood trauma that I refuse to discuss because being vulnerable scares me.
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I make dangerous choices because I have an unhealthy bunny hero complex.
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And I didn't join the ZPD because I wanted to be a cop I joined
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because I always wanted to be part of a pack
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and the thought of losing you scares me because
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because you're my pack so we won't actually break down this scene
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but I just wanted to watch it
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because this was such a beautiful scene with such a deep meaning
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and it made me tear up wheels we need wheels Oh no no no!
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I'm sorry.
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I do not think we can get to Judy in time to help.
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Unless.. you happen to know the fastest driver in the history of Zootopia?
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One of my favorite characters.
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Hey, Flash, Flash, 100-yard dash.
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Partners in trouble need to get across town, ignore the laws.
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No. Problem.
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Let's hit it.
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Hey.
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Glad you're here.
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I gotta tell you, I'm not convinced a sloth is our most reliable...
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You are acting weird.
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What is your problem?
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Well, A, you railroaded me, and B, if you must know,
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I have an aversion to reptiles.
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What?
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Oh, is my discomfort hilarious to you?
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No, I'm sorry.
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You're right.
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We are partners.
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And whenever I'm uncomfortable, you are always very considerate of my feelings.
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Look how thick it is!
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Ow!
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I'm slipping.
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I'm slipping.
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I'm slipping.
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Hold the rail.
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Hold the rail.
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Hold it.
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Hold it.
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Hold it.
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Hold it.
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Stop pulling my ears.
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Stop pulling my ears.
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Never pull up on these ears.
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Never pull up on these ears.
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Never pull up on these ears.
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I think the real mystery is how you two ever solved anything. Will you slow down?
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If anything, we should be going faster. As I always say...
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I really am just a dumb bunny.
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Nick?
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I really am just so funny.
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Just so funny.
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This was a gift to symbolize our partnership.
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And it is not appropriate for this moment.
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Okay, well, first scene and the first words.
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Wheels, we need wheels.
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Wheels, we need wheels.
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No, no. So when someone says wheels, they don't literally mean just the round tires.
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In English, wheels is slang for car.
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So when they say we need wheels they just mean we need a car fast.
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I finally got some new wheels means I bought a new car or do you have wheels do you have a car?
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Now in the movie it sounds urgent short and dramatic basically he's saying we need a car.
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Notice how they don't say we need a car immediately.
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That would sound too formal and slow.
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Instead we say wheels.
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We need wheels.
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That short first word makes it feel urgent and intense and it's very natural action movie style English.
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I do not think we can get to Judy in time to help.
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I don't think we can get to Judy in time to help.
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So we'll talk about this little phrase get to someone.
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When we say get to someone we usually mean reach them arrive where they are
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or physically get to them it's about location
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and distance for example we need to get to her before it's too late i can't get to the office
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because of traffic the doctor needs to get to the patient fast
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so here get to judy means reach judy now get to
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someone can also mean emotionally affect someone annoy someone bother someone or disturb someone mentally.
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It depends completely on the context.
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But in this case, it means physically reach her.
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Now we'll talk about the phrase in time because it is very confusing for English language learners.
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I do not think we can get to Judy in time to help.
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People always confuse on time and in time.
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In time means before it's too late, early enough.
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It's about timing and urgency.
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In time to help means early enough so we can still help.
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So remember this, in time means before, before it's too late, before the scheduled time,
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whereas on time means at the exact scheduled time, on the dot.
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Unless you happen to know the fastest driver in the history of Zootopia.
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Unless you happen to know the fastest driver in the history of Zootopia.
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Here we'll talk about this little word unless that might be confusing for English language learners.
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So think of it as except if or if not.
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It introduces a condition that changes everything.
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Here's a little example for you.
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We can't go outside unless it stops raining, which basically means we can go outside only if it stops raining.
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A very important grammar point here, after unless we don't use will.
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So So unless it will stop raining is incorrect.
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It has to be unless it stops raining.
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Because unless already contains the idea of condition, future.
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Now let's talk about the meaning of and usage of happened to.
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So he says unless you happen to know the fastest driver in the history of Zootopia.
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Unless you happen to know the fastest driver in the history of Zootopia.
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means by chance, accidentally or unexpectedly.
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So unless you happen to know means unless by some chance you know.
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Adding happen to makes it sound more natural, might make it sound slightly sarcastic, less direct or more dramatic, but also polite.
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So for example, do you happen to have a pen?
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Sounds polite because it means by chance.
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I don't suppose you happen to remember his name sounds very soft, less direct and very polite.
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If you happen to see her tell her i called
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so it sounds polite it means
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if by chance you see her hey flash flash hundred yard
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dash partners in trouble need to get across town ignore the laws no
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problem let's hit it hey glad you're here let's hit it in casual English it means let's go let's start let's move
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let's begin right now it's energetic and it sounds cool
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and confident where do we use it so we usually use it
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when starting a trip starting an action starting music or taking off quickly why use hit here.
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It doesn't literally mean hit, like punch something.
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In English, hit can mean start moving quickly.
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Like hit the road means start driving.
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There's also a song, Hit the Road Jack.
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Hit the gas, press the accelerator.
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Hit the button means press it.
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So hit it has the same energy as let's move now.
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You are acting weird.
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What is your problem?
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Well, A, you railroaded me and B,
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If you must know, I have an aversion to reptiles.
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What?
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You railroaded me.
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Railroaded.
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That's a very interesting word here.
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So it means you forced me into something.
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You pressured me.
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You pushed this decision through.
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You didn't give me a real choice.
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And it has a negative feeling for sure.
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Where does it come from?
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Think about a train.
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A train can't turn.
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It goes straight on the track.
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So if someone railroads you, they put you on the track and you don't get to choose the direction.
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For example, I wasn't ready to agree but you railroaded me into singing.
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Or they railroaded him into taking the job.
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Or you can say something like I felt railroaded during that meeting.
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And it's not a playful phrase.
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It usually means that the person is frustrated, pushed, or feels not respected.
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You are acting weird.
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What is your problem?
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Well, A, you railroaded me, and B, if you must know,
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I have an aversion to reptiles.
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What?
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If you must know, I have an aversion to reptiles.
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So, if you must know, this little phrase has a little emotional flavor.
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It basically means since you're insisting, since you really want to know, or fine, I'll tell you,
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it often sounds slightly annoyed, defensive, or dramatic.
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For example, if you must know, I didn't even want to come.
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Or if you must know, I already tried that.
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Or if you must know, I'm not upset, I'm disappointed.
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Now, some people also might not be familiar with the word aversion
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so it's a stronger word than don't like and B
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if you must know I have an aversion to reptiles what
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it means a strong dislike a strong negative reaction something
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that makes you uncomfortable
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and repulsed it is more formal than I hate you could say I hate but instead of saying I hate reptiles.
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You say I have an aversion to reptiles and it sounds more polished, almost dramatic or intellectual.
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We are partners and whenever I'm uncomfortable, you are always very considerate of my feelings.
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You are always very considerate of my feelings.
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So what does considerate of mean?
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It means you think about how I feel.
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You care about how your actions affect you.
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Try not to hurt my feelings it's about being thoughtful and emotionally aware.
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Now why do we use of here with the word considerate?
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This is about verb plus adjective pattern in English.
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So the adjective considerate is followed by of when we say what we're thinking about.
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So here's a little structure considerate plus of plus person or thing.
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Considerate of my feelings, considerate of others, considerate of the rules.
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So this little word of connects the adjective to the thing you're being thoughtful about.
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But in this case, English uses of, not about.
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So he's considered of her feelings is correct.
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He's considered about her feelings is incorrect.
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Direct adjectives use different prepositions.
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This is just the pattern English chose. Will you slow down?
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If anything, we should be going faster.
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Will you slow down?
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Why did he say will you slow down and not just slow down or can you slow down?
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So in this question, it's about willingness.
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So it means are you willing to slow down?
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Please slow down is a request.
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It doesn't question the ability.
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It questions cooperation.
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It often sounds slightly impatient, urgent, or emotional.
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Can you slow down?
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This is about ability.
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It literally means are you able to slow down?
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So here's the difference.
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Are you willing to slow down and are you able to slow down?
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Which is a bit strange in this context because of course they can.
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So in real life can you slow down is also a request but technically it asks about ability.
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It usually sounds softer, more neutral, more polite.
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So what's the difference in feeling?
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Imagine someone is driving too fast and you say, can you slow down?
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It sounds more polite, more calm.
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Will you slow down?
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It sounds more emotional, more urgent.
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The second one, will you slow down?
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Sounds like I need you to slow down right now.
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Why do we use will for requests?
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Because English uses will you to ask for cooperation.
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For example, will you pass me the salt?
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Will you stop that?
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Will you listen to me? it's about willingness.
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Will you slow down?
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If anything, we should be going faster.
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If anything, we should be going faster.
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So what does if anything mean?
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It means actually, in fact, on the contrary, if there's any chance, it's the opposite.
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It's used when you're correcting or contradicting someone.
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So she's basically saying actually the opposite is true.
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It usually shows disagreement, correction, or emphasis, but not aggressively, more like confidently.
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For example, I'm not tired.
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If anything, I'm more energized.
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He's not weak.
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If anything, he's too stubborn.
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So notice the pattern here.
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Someone assumes A, but you say no. If anything, it's B.
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Okay guys, that'll be it for this video.
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As usual, I hope that you enjoyed it and you learned something new.
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And if you have watched this movie already please let me know in the comments
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if you liked it or not okay and I'll see you in the next one bye
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 242 sentences and 2156 words to shadow. The speech runs for 14:43. The speaker talks at a steady 147 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 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
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| railroad verb | /ˈɹeɪlɹoʊd/ | To transport via railroad. |
| polite adjective | /pəˈlaɪt/ | Well-mannered, civilized. |
| ear noun | /ˈɪə̯/ | The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna or auricle, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea. |
| flash verb | /flæʃ/ | To cause to shine briefly or intermittently. |
| dramatic adjective | /dɹəˈmætɪk/ | Of or relating to the drama. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| urgent adjective | /ˈɜː.d͡ʒənt/ | Requiring immediate attention. |
| slip verb | /ˈslɪp/ | To lose one’s traction on a slippery surface; to slide due to a lack of friction. |
| uncomfortable adjective | /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/ | Not comfortable; causing discomfort. |
| confuse verb | /kənˈfjuːz/ | to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand |
| ignore verb | /ɪɡˈnɔː/ | To deliberately not listen or pay attention to. |
| formal adjective | /ˈfɔɹməl/ | In accordance with established forms. |
| rail noun | /ɹeɪ(ə)l/ | A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing. |
| cooperation noun | /koʊˌɑ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ | The act of cooperating. |
| physically adverb | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ | In a physical manner. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| slow down verb | To decelerate. | |
| get across verb | To cross; to move from one side (of something) to the other, literally or figuratively. | |
| break down verb | To stop functioning. | |
| take off verb | To remove. | |
| tear up verb | /ˈtɛəɹ ˈʌp/ | To tear into pieces. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have unresolved · have watched |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is frustrated · is followed |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 51 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/, thick /θɪk/, bother /ˈbɑðɚ/, unhealthy /ʌnˈhɛl.θi/, sloth /slɔθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: flash /flæʃ/, cooperation /koʊˌɑ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/, dash /ˈdæʃ/, partnership /ˈpɑɹtnɚʃɪp/
- Long words — get the stress right: uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, cooperation /koʊˌɑ.pəˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/, disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/, intellectual /ˌɪntəˈlɛkt͡ʃʊəl/
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 railroad, polite, ear.
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.