Shadowing Practice: listen Day 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “listen Day 1”. This video has 22 sentences and 213 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:16. The speaker talks at a natural 168 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 5 of its 22 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| extraordinary adjective | /ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/ | Out of the ordinary; exceptional; unusual. |
| adjust verb | /əˈd͡ʒʌst/ | To modify. |
| workout noun | /ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/ | An exercise session; a period of physical exercise. |
| sore adjective | /soɹ/ | Causing pain or discomfort; painfully sensitive. |
| pump noun | /pʌmp/ | A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas. |
| mileage noun | /ˈmaɪləd͡ʒ/ | The total distance travelled in miles or in air miles. |
| symptom noun | /ˈsɪm(p)təm/ | A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a… |
| wrestle verb | /ˈɹɛs(ə)l/ | To take part in (a wrestling bout or match). |
| nose noun | [nəʊ̯z] | A protuberance on the face housing the nostrils, which are used to breathe or smell. |
| cross noun | /kɹɑs/ | A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other. |
| sister noun | /ˈsɪs.tɚ/ | A daughter of the same parents as another person; a female sibling. |
| focus noun | /ˈfoʊ̯.kəs/ | A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge. |
| drop noun | /dɹɑp/ | A small quantity of liquid, just large enough to hold its own rounded shape through surface tension, especially one that falls from a source of liquid. |
| hurt verb | /hɝt/ | To cause (a person or animal) physical pain and/or injury. |
| push verb | /pʊʃ/ | To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from the person or thing applying the force. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| push through verb | To force (legislation or a plan) to be passed or agreed to or a decision to be reached. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | we're having · we're just slowing · you're having |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | There's going to be · gonna slow · gonna drop |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to adjust · need to just |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 10 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, gonna, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: push /pʊʃ/, conversation /ˌkɑn.vəɹˈseɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: extraordinary /ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/, conversation /ˌkɑn.vəɹˈseɪ.ʃən/
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 extraordinary, adjust, workout.
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.