Shadowing Practice: Megaminds First Day At Schoo! 📚 | Megamind | | Mega Moments - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 58 sentences and 479 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:44. The speaker talks slowly, about 101 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:

• destined /ˈdɛstɪnd/ (adjective) — Confined to a predetermined fate or destiny; certain.
• fate /feɪt/ (noun) — The presumed cause, force, principle, or divine will that predetermines events.
• destiny /ˈdɛs.tɪ.ni/ (noun) — That to which any person or thing is destined; a predetermined state; a condition predestined by the Divine or by human will.
• lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
• epic /ˈɛp.ɪk/ (noun) — An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.
• luxury /ˈlʌk.ʃə.ɹi/ (noun) — Very wealthy and comfortable surroundings; the state of being that they create.
• praise /pɹeɪz/ (verb) — To give praise to; to commend, glorify, or worship.
• spider /ˈspaɪ̯dɚ/ (noun) — Any of various eight-legged, predatory arthropods, of the order Araneae, most of which spin webs to catch prey.
• corn /ˈkɔːn/ (noun) — Any cereal plant (or its grain) that is the main crop or staple of a country or region.
• sheep /ˈʃiːp/ (noun) — A woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis.
• rival /ˈɹaɪvəl/ (noun) — A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary…
• darling /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/ (noun) — Often used as an affectionate term of address: a person who is very dear to one.
• glorious /ˈɡlɔː.ɹi.əs/ (adjective) — Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory.
• drone /dɹoʊn/ (noun) — A male hymenopteran (ant, bee, hornet, or wasp), whose sole primary function is to mate with the queen.
• affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/ (noun) — The act of affecting or acting upon.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
• fit in (verb) — To be physically capable of going into a space.
• live with (verb) — To share an abode as an unmarried partner in a sexual relationship.
• move on (verb) — To continue; to proceed; to go on.
• run into (verb) — To enter by running.
• turn out (verb) — To end up; to result.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as didn't, I'm, wasn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: luxury /ˈlʌk.ʃə.ɹi/, sheep /ˈʃiːp/, affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/, adulation /ˌæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/, showmanship /ˈʃəʊ.mən.ʃɪp/
• Long words — get the stress right: adulation /ˌæd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/, extravagant /ɪkˈstɹævəɡənt/

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 destined, fate, destiny.