Shadowing Practice: Listening A2, KET 1, Test 3, Part 5 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 33 sentences and 382 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:02. The speaker talks slowly, about 95 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 93% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mini adjective | /ˈmɪn.i/ | Miniature, tiny, small. |
| snack noun | /snæk/ | A light meal. |
| tape noun | /teɪ̯p/ | Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape. |
| sheet noun | /ʃit/ | A thin bed cloth used as a covering for a mattress or as a layer over the sleeper. |
| pound noun | /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ | A unit of weight in various measurement systems. |
| ticket noun | /ˈtɪk.ɪt/ | A pass entitling the holder to admission to a show, concert, sporting event, etc. |
| farm noun | /ˈfɑɹm/ | A place where agricultural and similar activities take place, especially the growing of crops or the raising of livestock. |
| village noun | /ˈvɪlɪd͡ʒ/ | A rural habitation of size between a hamlet and a town. |
| weekend noun | /ˈwiˌkɛnd/ | The break in the working week, usually two days including the traditional holy or sabbath day. Thus in Western countries, Saturday and Sunday. |
| drink verb | /ˈdɹɪŋk/ | To consume (a liquid) through the mouth. |
| shop noun | /ʃɑp/ | An establishment that sells goods or services to the public; originally only a physical location, but now a virtual establishment as well. |
| animal noun | /ˈænɪməl/ | A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia that is usually mobile, with cells that are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing them from plants… |
| adult noun | /ˈæd.ʌlt/ | An animal that is full-grown. |
| gift noun | /ɡɪft/ | Something given to another voluntarily, without charge. |
| lovely adjective | /ˈlʌv.li/ | Delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look around verb | To inspect a building or area. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: sheet /ʃit/, shop /ʃɑp/
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 mini, snack, tape.
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 not allowed |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will hear · will enjoy |
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.














