Shadowing Practice: Love really does take courage. - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Love really does take courage”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Rachel, plane, boarding, Ross. This video has 90 sentences and 425 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:20. The speaker talks fast, about 182 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 18 of its 90 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| goodbye | /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing. |
| differently adverb | /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt.li/ | In a different way. |
| hurry verb | /ˈhʌ.ɹi/ | To do things quickly. |
| unbelievable adjective | /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/ | Not to be believed. |
| scare verb | /skɛɚ/ | To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way. |
| downstairs adverb | /daʊnˈstɛɹz/ | Down the stairs. |
| muffin noun | /ˈmʌf.ɪn/ | A type of flattish bun, usually cut in two horizontally, toasted and spread with butter, etc., before being eaten. |
| anybody | /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/ | Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any person. |
| plane noun | /pleɪn/ | An airplane; an aeroplane. |
| stupid adjective | /ˈstjuːpɪd/ | Lacking in intelligence. |
| anyway adverb | /ˈɛniweɪ/ | Regardless; anyhow. |
| luck noun | /lʌk/ | Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence. |
| glad adjective | /ɡlæd/ | Pleased; happy; gratified. |
| airport noun | /ˈɛɹ.pɔɹt/ | An airfield (an area designated for the takeoff and landing of aircraft), including one or more runways and (for commercial airports) one or more passenger… |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. |
| get over verb | To overcome. |
| get back verb | Return to where one came from. |
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Could you get me a muffin?
- They call us when you get there?
- Do you have a boarding pass?
- What are you guys doing here?
- It's you and me, all right?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might feel · might not even go · might help |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're leaving · I'm not getting · You're scaring |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll think · will So · I'll drive |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to tell · have to talk · have to get |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 32 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: differently /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt.li/, unbelievable /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/, anybody /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/
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 goodbye, differently, hurry.
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.