Shadowing Practice: Learn English with TV Series | Anne with an E - Learn English Speaking with Video
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People would laugh at me because I use big words, but they're exciting and descriptive words, like...
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like enraptured and glorious.
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If you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?
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Well, um...
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I suppose so.
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For example, I am enraptured by this glorious landscape!
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Careful.
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Careful.
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I'm super excited to bring you a lesson you requested with one of the best series for English learners, Anne with an E.
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This is a teenage family-friendly show based on a well-known children's book by Canadian author Ellen Montgomery called Anne of Green Gables.
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You can learn lots of great vocabulary just by reading the titles of the episodes.
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So if you plan to sit an exam or are looking for something to enrich your vocabulary, this is the show for you.
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Just like this learner who improved their skills and got an 8.5 band on the IELTS exam.
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Besides that, we also help you to understand your favorite TV series and movies without getting lost, without missing the jokes and without subtitles.
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Back to Anne.
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She's a 13-year-old girl who became orphaned when her parents died while she was still a baby.
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From a young age, she lived as a servant in various houses in an asylum.
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She imagines the possibility of having a family for the first time when she's placed with siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert,
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who decide to adopt an orphan boy to help out around their ancestral farm of Green Gables.
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I want you to know that I'm forever grateful that you're adopting me.
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You're a sight for sore eyes, Mr Cuthbert.
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I am ecstatic beyond measures that I'm going to belong to you and your sister.
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Ecstatic?
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I've never belonged to anybody before.
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I mean, you
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and your sister are practically the stuff of fiction two hard-working
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decent people lonely all their lives in their silent house longing for the love of the child
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and I will strive to be just the best daughter that anybody could ever have.
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Now you may be wondering why is the show called Anne with an E?
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Anne has only endured the hardships of life because of her vivid imagination.
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Here we can see how important it is to her to be distinguished by her name.
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Please call me Cordelia.
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Call you Cordelia?
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Is that your name? Or Penelope.
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Penelope has a very tragical ring to her.
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What is your name, child?
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Couldn't you call me either of those?
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My name is Anne.
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Playing Anne.
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Anne is a fine name.
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A sensible name.
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Could you please spell it with an E when you speak it?
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Anne with an E looks much more distinguished.
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Very well then.
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Anne with an E.
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It's time to come inside.
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As mentioned before, the Cuthberts were expecting a boy, so Anne had to make use of all of her wittiness to convince them she could stay in Green Gables.
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We want a boy to help Matthew with the farm work.
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A girl would be of no use to us, do you understand?
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I can't say that I do.
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I beg your pardon?
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I don't mean any disrespect, but couldn't I do the farm chores, even though I'm a girl?
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That's not the way of things, and you know it.
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But couldn't I?
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I'm as strong as a boy, and I prefer to be outdoors instead of cooped up in a kitchen.
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I don't understand the conundrum.
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For example, what if suddenly there were no boys in the world?
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None at all.
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Fiddlesticks.
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It doesn't make sense that girls aren't allowed to do farm work
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when girls can do anything a boy can do, and more.
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Do you consider yourself to be delicate and incapable?
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Because I certainly don't.
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I want you to know that I'm forever grateful that you're adopting me.
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You're a sight for sore eyes, Mr. Cuthbert.
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As Anne has never had a family before, when she sees that Mr Cuthbert has come to pick her up at the station, she tells him he's a sight for sore eyes.
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This means that she's really pleased to see that he has come to take her home.
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Anne uses the same expression
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when coming home after a trip to say how happy she is that Mr Cuthbert is recovering well.
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You are a sight for sore eyes Mr. Cuthbert.
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I am ecstatic for your measures that I'm going to belong to you and your sister.
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Ecstatic.
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Anne continues to express how happy she is that she'll have a family of her own.
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However, instead of using the word happy she says she's ecstatic which means extremely happy.
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Check out how many different words you can use to express how happy you are.
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Happiness is a pleasant feeling of contentment and there are different words you can use to express your degree of happiness.
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When you get good news you can say you're feeling happy, content or glad.
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These are all words you can use to refer to this feeling of satisfaction.
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Let's look at some examples.
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If you get a positive review from your boss you may say I'm glad you enjoyed the work I did.
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When a friend joins your birthday celebration you can say I'm so happy you're here.
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While observing kids playing in the park you may say they look so content playing there.
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Now if you want to express something a little more than happy you can use words like joyful, delighted or cheerful.
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To feel joyful is the same as feeling very happy like when an uplifting song cheers you up.
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When When you're delighted, you are very pleased about something, like when someone gives you great news.
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This makes me cheerful can be used for something that makes you feel happy and positive, such as coffee puts me in such a cheerful mood in the morning.
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Moving on to the next stage of happiness, there are words such as excited, thrilled, and elated.
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To feel very enthusiastic about something and eager for it to happen, such as studying or living abroad, is to be excited about it.
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It refers to a future situation.
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However, if you have the same enthusiastic feeling for something that's happening now or already happened, you can say you are thrilled.
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You can say I'm thrilled to bits to emphasize how happy you are.
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For example, I'm thrilled to bits to have seen my first grandchild.
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Elated is another word you can use to refer to something that made you feel extremely happy or excited.
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I was elated to find out I got into college.
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Finally, if the feeling you want to express is extreme happiness, you may use the word ecstatic or to be on cloud nine.
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I mean, you and your sister are practically the stuff of fiction.
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Two hardworking, decent people, lonely all their lives in their silent house, longing for the love of the child.
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How many words did Anne use to describe the Cuthbert siblings?
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That's right, she describes them as hard-working, decent and lonely.
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Hard-working is used to describe someone who puts lots of attention, time and effort into their work.
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For example, John is talented and hardworking.
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I'm sure his business will be a huge success.
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Decent here is used to say they behave according to the expected standards of society.
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I'm glad you are staying with the Millers.
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They're such a decent family.
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Lonely is someone who has no company and lives solitarily.
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Anna's writing him a letter, aren't you?
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He looks so awfully lonely.
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I think he's more sad and handsome than lonely.
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She also says the Cuthberts are longing for the love of a child.
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Longing for something is used to say that a person has a strong desire or really wants something,
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like Marilla did when referring to Anne's wish to attend school.
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Bright as she is, she had such a difficult start in life, she isn't She wasn't always equipped for certain things.
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What was the pity?
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She had such a longing for school.
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I mean, you and your sister are practically the stuff of fiction.
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Anne also said that the three characteristics mentioned before make the siblings look like the stuff of fiction.
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If you say that something is the stuff of something it means it's exactly the kind of thing
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that a certain thing consists of.
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In Anne's example she meant that hard-working, decent and lonely people are exactly what fictional characters are made of.
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Ms Stacey uses the same phrase when describing the countryside.
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This countryside is the stuff of poetry, really exquisite.
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And I will strive to be just the best daughter that anybody could ever have.
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Strive means to dedicate lots of effort or energy to do or achieve something.
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This is an advanced English word so it's quite surprising that Joey from Friends, who is not very bright when it comes to vocabulary,
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used it in this scene when apologizing to Phoebe.
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I'm so sorry.
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I know I promised you a fun road trip with your friend and I didn't deliver.
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OK, but now I know that you think being awake is an important part of friendship.
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So I will strive to stay awake for as long as I know you.
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Still, I sleep at night and stuff.
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Thank you.
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It's incredible how Friends manages to use vocabulary in a way that is natural and fun, isn't it?
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That's why we created a course for English learners entirely based on the sitcom, so you can learn and practice expressions,
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pronunciation and also learn about culture while having fun.
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Try it now for free with our three-part masterclass.
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Just click up here or the link in the description.
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Please call me Cordelia.
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Call you Cordelia?
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Is that your name? Or Penelope.
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Penelope has a very tragical ring to it.
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What is your name child?
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To have a ring to it means that something sounds appealing, appropriate or even satisfying to that particular context.
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For example, will you change your name when you get married?
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I guess Judy Spencer has a nice ring to it but no I'm keeping my own name.
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My name is Anne.
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Plain Anne.
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Anne is a fine name.
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A sensible name.
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Could you please spell it with an E when you speak it?
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Anne with an E looks much more distinguished.
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Anne invents stories and fantasizes about other names because of the tragic life she's lived so far.
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That's why she's sad to say her name is Plain Anne.
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Plain in this context means simple, ordinary, not special in any way.
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When she asks to add the letter E to it she wants to make it more distinguished.
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If something is distinguished it means that it shows dignity and authority.
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I will distinguish myself.
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I must admit I'm surprised you made such a sensible cake.
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A girl would be of no use to us, do you understand?
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I can't say that I do.
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I beg your pardon?
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I don't mean any disrespect.
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When Anne defines Marilla by saying she can't see why a girl wouldn't be helpful on the farm, the woman says, I beg your pardon.
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This is a polite and slightly old-fashioned way of saying you feel annoyed or are offended by what the other person said.
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Anne is
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used to house chores as she has been a servant from a young age.
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Chores are routine tasks mostly related to housework such as cleaning, taking the garbage out, or cooking.
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Anne says she can handle the farm chores which back then were assigned to men.
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That would include gathering eggs, tending the garden, feeding the horses and so on.
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I love school but when I'm in a household with so much to attend to, the children, the cooking, the chores, it just wasn't an option.
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That's not the way of things and you know it.
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But couldn't I?
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Have you ever wondered why English seems to be spoken so fast?
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One of the things that causes this impression is the use of contractions.
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These are a combination of two or more words.
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In a contraction, an apostrophe takes the place of missing letters.
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In the example before, you saw the words could and not become couldn't.
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Anne also linked it to the word I changing it to couldn't I?
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So you can barely hear the word not.
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But couldn't I?
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But couldn't I?
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If you listen to native speech in the news, in a restaurant or at a barbecue with your friends you'll hear contractions all the time.
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Many learners will see a contraction but won't say it as a contraction.
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So I highly recommend that after this lesson you watch this one
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because it's full of exercises for you to practice saying them.
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I'm as strong as a boy and I prefer to be outdoors instead of cooped up in a kitchen.
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What's another word for cooped up in this context?
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Closed, confined, kidnapped.
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That's right to be confined or cooped up somewhere means
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that you are in a small closed space and feel like you can't escape it.
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Seeing as you can't seem to keep out of trouble, you will confine yourself to indoor chores.
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But Marilla, I don't understand the conundrum.
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Conundrum is the same as a problem or something that's difficult to deal with.
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Well, I've always wanted to be a bride but I don't really expect to be a wife.
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Interesting.
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So you see the conundrum?
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I do.
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For example, what if suddenly there were no boys in the world?
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None at all.
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Fiddlesticks.
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Suddenly is an adverb used to refer to something that happens quickly and unexpectedly.
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Marilla is surprised by Anne's supposition of boys suddenly disappearing from the world so she uses the exclamation fiddlesticks.
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This is an old-fashioned way to say you disagree or think that something is nonsense.
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Now before watching the scene without subtitles and taking a quiz on it, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of our lessons.
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I understand that memorizing new vocabulary can be quite challenging,
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so here's a lesson we created with 14 fun activities beginner,
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intermediate and advanced learners can do to learn new words every day.
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One funny example in Portuguese and English is the Portuguese verb pretender,
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which when correctly translated is the English verb to intend, which is a more formal way of saying to plant.
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She said a girl would be useless to us.
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True or false?
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Which phrase is an alternative to I beg your pardon?
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My apologies, excuse me, I'm sorry for you.
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Can I do the farm chores even though I'm a girl?
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That's not the way of things and you know it.
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But couldn't I?
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I'm as strong as a boy and I prefer to be outdoors instead of cooped up in a kitchen.
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I don't understand the conundrum.
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What's an alternative way of saying I don't understand the conundrum?
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I don't see what the problem is.
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I don't know the problem here.
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I don't understand your problem.
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So often, learners know how to recognise contractions, but they actually won't use them.
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For example, I've been to Brazil is contracted with I and the auxiliary have.
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However, I often hear learners pronounce this like, I have been to Brazil.
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So I recommend if you see a contraction, pronounce the contraction.
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That way you're gonna be able to speak English a lot faster.
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Why "Anne with an E" is a Great Tool for English Learning
The video highlights "Anne with an E" as a top choice for English learners, thanks to its family-friendly tone and rich vocabulary. Based on L.M. Montgomery's classic novel, the show’s episode titles alone offer valuable words, making it ideal for exam prep or vocabulary building. It even shares a success story of a learner who achieved an IELTS 8.5, proving its effectiveness. Beyond vocabulary, the video emphasizes understanding shows without subtitles—key for real-world communication.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication (From the Video)
- Super excited: A casual way to express enthusiasm (e.g., "I’m super excited to start my new job").
- Sit an exam: To take a formal test (e.g., "She’s sitting her driving exam next week").
- Get lost: To fail to follow a conversation (e.g., "The accent made me get lost in the meeting").
- Enrich your vocabulary: To expand your word knowledge (e.g., Reading books helps enrich your vocabulary).
- Have fun: A simple phrase to emphasize enjoyment (e.g., "Let’s have fun while learning English").
Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for "Anne with an E"
Shadow speech—repeating lines immediately after the speaker—is a powerful way to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use the show for effective shadowing:
- Watch with subtitles first: Understand the context and note new words. Pause to mimic the intonation of phrases like "super excited" to match the speaker’s energy.
- Remove subtitles and shadow: Play short clips (5-10 seconds) and repeat them instantly. Focus on "sit an exam" or "enrich your vocabulary"—pay attention to how "sit" is stressed and "enrich" flows into "your."
- Record and compare: Record your shadowing and listen back. Check if your pronunciation of "get lost" matches the show’s rhythm. This helps identify areas to refine.
- Practice daily: Spend 10-15 minutes shadowing one scene. Consistency is key to making shadow speak a natural part of your English speaking practice.
By using "Anne with an E" and these shadowing tips, you’ll build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and gain confidence in real conversations—all while enjoying a beloved story.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be distinguished · aren't allowed · are thrilled |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've never belonged · has only endured · has never had |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | ecstatic which means · someone who puts · someone who has |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | may be · may say · may use |
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.