Shadowing Practice: Looney Tunes | Best Cold Opens Vol. 2 | WB Kids - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 442 sentences and 2270 words to shadow. The speech runs for 20:53. The speaker talks slowly, about 109 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• scissors /ˈsɪzəz/ (noun) — A tool used for cutting thin material, consisting of two crossing blades attached at a pivot point in such a way that the blades slide across each other when…
• carrot /ˈkæɹət/ (noun) — A vegetable with a nutritious, juicy, sweet root that is often orange in colour, Daucus carota, family Apiaceae, especially the subspecies sativus.
• compact /kəmˈpækt/ (adjective) — Closely packed or densely constituted; having much material in a small volume.
• whoa /woʊ/ — Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.
• lobster /ˈlɑb.stɚ/ (noun) — A crustacean of the Nephropidae family, dark green or blue-black in colour turning bright red when cooked, with a hard shell and claws, which is used as a…
• egg /ɛɡ/ (noun) — An approximately spherical or ellipsoidal body produced by birds, insects, reptiles, and other animals, often housing an embryo within a membrane or shell…
• pizza /ˈpi.tsə/ (noun) — A baked Italian dish of a thinly rolled bread crust typically topped before baking with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients such as meat or vegetables.
• toilet /ˈtɔɪ.lət/ (noun) — A room, enclosed area or single-purpose building containing a fixture or fixtures used for urination and defecation; a bathroom or water closet.
• climb /ˈklaɪ̯m/ (verb) — To traverse a slope or contour, either upwards (ascending) or downwards (descending).
• pleasant /ˈplɛz.ənt/ (adjective) — Giving pleasure; pleasing in manner.
• lip /lɪp/ (noun) — Either of the two fleshy protrusions around the opening of the mouth.
• workout /ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/ (noun) — An exercise session; a period of physical exercise.
• purse /pɚs/ (noun) — A small bag for carrying money.
• bully /ˈbʊli/ (noun) — A person who is intentionally physically or emotionally cruel to others, especially to those whom they perceive as being vulnerable or of less power or…
• glove /ɡlʌv/ (noun) — An item of clothing, covering all or part of the hand and fingers, but usually allowing independent movement of the fingers.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.
• come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
• do with (verb) — Only used in to do with
• get along (verb) — To interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble.
• play with (verb) — To fiddle with; make small adjustments to, for example to something mechanical in order to improve its performance.
• back up (verb) — To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
• bring out (verb) — To elicit, evoke, or emphasize (a particular quality).
• come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 128 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “th” sounds: thrust /θɹʌst/, warmth /wɔɹmθ/, bathtub /ˈbæθtʌb/
• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: ignition /ɪɡˈnɪʃən/, rush /ɹʌʃ/, violation /ˌvaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/, shout /ʃaʊt/, subscription /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/
• Long words — get the stress right: violation /ˌvaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən/, defibrillator /diːˈfɪbɹɪˌleɪtə(ɹ)/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like scissors, carrot, compact.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: