Shadowing Practice: Learn to understand VERY FAST American Speech - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey everyone, welcome to another video.
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I hope you're having a great day today.
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In this video, we will work on our listening and speaking skills at the same time.
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Sounds good, doesn't it?
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I know it does.
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I already made a video like this one a long time ago
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and you guys loved that it wasn't a detailed analysis but rather a brief explanation. For one,
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this will help you start recognizing words in this continuous flow
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of speech as there's no clear boundaries between words in normal natural speech words are linked together can be reduced
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and sounds might be dropped
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and second you'll eventually with proper training be able to speak this way yourself
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if you'd like to
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but the first step is to start distinguishing between words you need to hear them first
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and to be able to do that you need to know how they link together
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so that's what we're gonna do today our next example will be from how i met your mother
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and buckle up for this one let's watch it
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and then you'll give it to him hey oh hey i don't know about all
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that okay there's a lot to unpack here so the woman said
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and then you'll give it to him
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and then barney the man said hey oh hey i don't know about all of that
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So we'll talk about and practice his words, in particular the phrase I don't know about all that, not paying attention to the words hey oh hey.
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Hey oh hey, I don't know about all that.
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The phrase I don't know was reduced to I don't know.
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And it's a very common phenomenon to reduce this phrase in spoken language.
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And it's not a true d it's a fast d it's
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not i don't know it's i don't know the word about links to the word all with the t
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and about turning into a fast d of is reduced to the schwa sound linked to all and sounds like allah allah about Allah.
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The word that is being pronounced not with a true T at the end but with a stopped T.
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You go into the position for the T but you don't release the air.
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You don't release the T.
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And the TH sound wasn't articulated fully.
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As you could hear it was said very fast.
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All the words were reduced.
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To be able to say it like that you not only need to know about all the reductions
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but also your tongue needs to be trained to make the needed movements quickly.
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Let's listen to it again and practice.
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Hey, oh, hey, I don't know about all that.
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All right, now we will say it slowly but without pauses in continuous sequence.
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I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all of that.
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And now faster.
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I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all that.
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Wait, oh wait, I don't know about all that.
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I don't know about all that.
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Okay.
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Wow, my tongue is tired.
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What about yours?
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Okay, guys, if you like this type of video, let me know in the comments and give this video a like
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so that I know that you like it even if you don't comment.
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And I'll see you in the next one.
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Bye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn to understand VERY FAST American Speech”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: word, sound, reduced, allah, phrase. This video has 55 sentences and 577 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:12. The speaker talks fast, about 180 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| continuous adjective | /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/ | Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption. |
| explanation noun | /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/ | The act or process of explaining. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| reduction noun | /ɹɪˈdʌk.ʃən/ | The act, process, or result of reducing. |
| sequence noun | /ˈsiː.kwəns/ | A set of things next to each other in a set order; a series. |
| boundary noun | /ˈbaʊndɹi/ | The dividing line or location between two areas. |
| phenomenon noun | /fəˈnɒm.ɪ.nən/ | A thing or being, event or process, perceptible through senses; or a fact or occurrence thereof. |
| pause noun | /pɔːz/ | A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation. |
| distinguish verb | /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ | To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics. |
| pronounce verb | /pɹəˈnaʊns/ | To declare formally, officially or ceremoniously. |
| articulate verb | /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/ | To make clear or effective. |
| buckle noun | /ˈbʌkəl/ | A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the… |
| schwa noun | /ʃwɑ/ | An indeterminate central vowel sound as the "a" in "about", represented as /ə/ in IPA. |
| unpack verb | /ʌnˈpæk/ | To remove from a package or container, particularly with respect to items that had previously been arranged closely and securely in a pack. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I hope you're having a great day today.
- Hey oh hey, I don't know about all that.
- Let's listen to it again and practice.
- Hey, oh, hey, I don't know about all that.
- I don't know about all that.
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 | are linked · might be dropped · was reduced |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start recognizing · start distinguishing |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will work · will help · you'll eventually |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to hear · need to know · needs to be |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 33 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, you'll, wasn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, reduction /ɹɪˈdʌk.ʃən/, distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/, schwa /ʃwɑ/
- Long words — get the stress right: continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, phenomenon /fəˈnɒm.ɪ.nən/, articulate /ɑːɹˈtɪk.jə.leɪt/
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 phrase, continuous, explanation.
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.