Shadowing Practice: Marques Brownlee Forced to Shut Down His App - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Marques Brownlee Forced to Shut Down His App”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: wallpaper, app, cheese, image. This video has 48 sentences and 450 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:52. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 48 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 |
|---|---|---|
| wallpaper noun | /ˈwɔːlˌpeɪpə/ | Decorative paper-like material used to cover the inner walls of buildings. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| announce verb | /əˈnaʊn(t)s/ | To give public notice of, especially for the first time; to make known. |
| closure noun | /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/ | An event or occurrence that signifies an ending. |
| subscription noun | /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/ | Access to a resource for a period of time, generally for payment. |
| argue verb | /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ | To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply. |
| bonus noun | /ˈbəʊ.nəs/ | Something extra that is good; an added benefit. |
| premium noun | /ˈpɹiː.miː.əm/ | A prize or award. |
| controversy noun | /kənˈtɹɒv.ə.si/ | A debate or discussion of opposing opinions; (generally) strife. |
| abstract noun | /ˈæbˌstɹækt/ | An abridgement or summary of a longer publication. |
| refund noun | /ɹɪˈfʌnd/ | An amount of money returned. |
| yearly adjective | /ˈjɪɹli/ | Happening once every year. |
| backlash noun | /ˈbækˌlæʃ/ | A suddenly reversed or backward motion, such as of a rope or elastic band when it snaps under tension. |
| pixelate verb | /ˈpɪksəleɪt/ | To divide an image into pixels, or to display an image in pixels. |
| pounder noun | /ˈpaʊndɚ/ | A vessel in which something is pounded, or an implement used in pounding. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. |
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 | was caught · will be refunded |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | may have · may remember |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will be |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | aren't subscribing · is coming |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, aren't, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: closure /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/, subscription /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/, backlash /ˈbækˌlæʃ/
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 wallpaper, subscribe, announce.
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.