Shadowing Practice: merlin being sassy for 15 minutes straight - Learn English Speaking with Video
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400 sentences
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1
You've had your fun, my friend. Do I know you?
2
Uh, I'm Merlin.
3
So I don't know you?
4
No. Yet you called me friend.
5
That was my mistake.
6
Yes, I think so.
7
Yeah.
8
I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass.
9
Look, I've told you you're an ass.
10
I just didn't realise you were a royal one.
11
I warn you, I've been trained to kill since birth.
12
Wow.
13
How long have you been training to be a prat?
14
You can't address me like that.
15
Sorry.
16
How long have you been training to be a prat?
17
My lord.
18
No. No way.
19
No. No. There must be another Arthur because this one's an idiot.
20
How could you know?
21
Yeah.
22
All right.
23
You finally found out.
24
I'll tell you.
25
I'm psychic.
26
No, you're not.
27
What else do your powers tell you?
28
That's...
29
I am only one side of a coin.
30
The brightest side, obviously.
31
That's disgusting.
32
You should be ashamed of yourself.
33
You're old enough to be her grandfather.
34
Meldon, you're alive.
35
We're supposed to be hunting.
36
It requires speed, stealth, and an agile mind.
37
So you're able to get by in two out of three, then?
38
And let that be a lesson to you!
39
If this was a time of war, I would have you flogged.
40
And since it's not, we'll let it go just this once.
41
Why does he call me Emerus?
42
Because that is your name.
43
I'm pretty sure my name's Merlin, always has been.
44
I had no idea he's so keen to die for me.
45
Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself.
46
I'm in any natural gifts, Merlin.
47
Look, what do we think?
48
I'm not naturally rude or insensitive.
49
I sometimes wonder if you know who I am.
50
Oh, I know who you are.
51
Good.
52
You're a prat. And a royal one.
53
You can be a beater on the hunt.
54
We're short of a man or two.
55
Here.
56
You'll need a beater.
57
Oh, sorry.
58
You ball clums, how do you work at it?
59
It's just one of my many gifts.
60
You'd rather be a servant.
61
Better to serve a good man than to rule with an evil one.
62
All my life, I've been treated as if I'm special.
63
I just want to be treated like everyone else.
64
Really?
65
I have no idea how lucky you are.
66
Well, any time you want to sort places, just let me know.
67
Imagine you're really arrogant.
68
Knights like to think they're so much better than everyone else.
69
It's not arrogance.
70
Ignore him.
71
He's an idiot.
72
A knight.
73
Where do you get the idea you can sit around all day doing nothing?
74
Do you think I sit around and do nothing?
75
I've never had any chance to sit around and do nothing since the day I arrived in Camelot.
76
I'm too busy running around after Arthur.
77
Do this Merlin, do that Merlin, and I'm not running around after Arthur.
78
I'm doing chores for you, and if I'm not doing that, I'm fulfilling my destiny.
79
Do you know how many times I've saved Arthur's life?
80
I've lost count.
81
Do I get any thanks?
82
No. I have four griffins.
83
Witches, bandits, I have been punched, poisoned, pelted with fruit, and all the while I have to hide where I really am,
84
because if anyone finds out, they still have me executed.
85
Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled in so many directions, I don't know which way to turn.
86
Tell me, what does he like to work for?
87
Between you and me?
88
Can't be a bit of a prop.
89
Take a bit of advice from someone who knows about women.
90
If such a person existed, I would.
91
What did you do?
92
I said distract them, not knock them out.
93
There's just no pleasing you sometimes.
94
You didn't know if they were?
95
Not for sure.
96
Now you tell me?
97
Oh, what's that wilderness eating?
98
It's all right.
99
It's just Merlin.
100
I wasn't going to say anything.
101
You were going to say it.
102
I told you so.
103
Okay.
104
I was.
105
But I'm not going to now.
106
If it didn't take to it, well.
107
Oh, you see, I told you...
108
Sorry.
109
If you say, I told you so...
110
I wasn't going to.
111
I wouldn't.
112
But it's true that if you had listened to me earlier, then...
113
Sorry.
114
The boy has clearly concocted these lies in the hope of saving his master.
115
Then you won't mind if we search a chamber.
116
Silence!
117
You have no authority here.
118
If we weren't sure, Emel Gose was a sorcerer before, we can be certain of it now.
119
That must have been how she defeated me.
120
She was using magic.
121
It didn't look like she was.
122
This isn't enough.
123
We've got to keep you in shape.
124
I'm fighting fit.
125
But we want to keep you that way.
126
Merlin!
127
If I need a servant in the next life...
128
Don't ask me!
129
So that means you can tell me?
130
Well, that's true, but you see, if you weren't a prince, I'd tell you to mind your own damn business.
131
Well, I've got to quite like you.
132
Yeah?
133
Now I realise you're not as big a fool as you look.
134
I feel the same.
135
Now that I realise you're not as arrogant as you sound.
136
Merlin, chances are I'm going to die.
137
Yeah, you probably would if I wasn't there.
138
Right.
139
You still think I'm arrogant?
140
No. More supercilious.
141
That's a big word, Merlin.
142
You sure you know what it means?
143
Condescending.
144
Very good.
145
Patronising.
146
It doesn't quite mean that.
147
No, these are other things you are.
148
It's your little bottom sore.
149
Yes.
150
It's not as fat as yours.
151
All you have to do is wipe it.
152
How would you know?
153
I beg your pardon, Merlin.
154
Just you've never had to do it.
155
I'm going to make you pay for that.
156
I'd like to see you try.
157
Ah, so Darian.
158
He's here for the melee.
159
She could do better than that.
160
What, she should be setting her sights higher?
161
Oh, but I forget.
162
She can't.
163
A girl of Gwen's standing?
164
Now, she can never consort with a nobleman.
165
That's the rules.
166
Merlin.
167
Shut up.
168
You guessed it.
169
You're saying I look like a toad.
170
Yeah.
171
Maybe one day you'll magically transform into a handsome prince.
172
Just magic's outlaw.
173
That'll probably never happen.
174
Come on, let's go.
175
All right, maybe I should give you some kind of reward.
176
What do you want?
177
Some peace and quiet.
178
Perhaps you've more in common than you think.
179
Or bad breath, for example.
180
Excuse me.
181
Pulling table manners.
182
Er, now hang on a minute.
183
Good sense of humour.
184
No, no, you're right, you've nothing in common.
185
Merlin!
186
What kept you?
187
Do not leave me again.
188
You were riding so fast that time, I thought you were eager for some time alone.
189
Nobody likes a clever clogs, Merlin.
190
Grunhilde has shown a certain interest toward me.
191
She likes you?
192
Oh, that is disgusting.
193
Imagine if...
194
Imagine if she kissed you.
195
Oh, Merlin!
196
Sir, I don't understand.
197
How can you not be afraid of pain?
198
I am afraid of pain.
199
There's just not going to be any.
200
Right, so you go into some sort of trance.
201
I am supposed to be doing this alone.
202
Do you want us to help you?
203
Or do you want to do this alone?
204
Merlin!
205
Cheer up, will you?
206
I was punching me in the arm meant to cheer me up.
207
It works with the knights.
208
Well, they're thick, aren't they?
209
I'm a knight.
210
There you go, then.
211
Have I wronged you in some way, old man?
212
You have wronged so many people. In so many ways.
213
You're blinded by a hatred of magic.
214
You have tortured and executed innocent people.
215
You, Uther Pendragon, are a stupid, arrogant old tyrant!
216
Do you have any idea what it's like to live with a man who constantly thinks he's the best?
217
Hmm. Must be irritating.
218
I was beginning to hope you'd forgotten me.
219
I don't think so.
220
I won that game, did I not?
221
No, you didn't.
222
One more minute.
223
One more minute and you both would have been dead.
224
Neither of you won.
225
Your plan was a half -baked disaster.
226
And if it was not for that fire, we would all be pushing up daisies.
227
Merlin, there aren't many servants who get the chance to write a prince's speech.
228
Obviously, it would be too much for you to say thank you.
229
The last one.
230
Maybe we should draw lots so you get some more.
231
I'll go.
232
I'll go with him.
233
You sure you're the right person?
234
When have you known how to collect firewood?
235
You're meant to be.. dying.
236
Sorry.
237
I'm really looking forward to it.
238
Because you have the mind of a child.
239
And yet I'm still more intelligent than you.
240
I heard that.
241
I broke a pot.
242
So if you haven't come all this way to kill me, why have you come here?
243
I take it you didn't come all this way just to smash my favourite pot?
244
Arthur's right about you.
245
You don't have to do this at all But I have
246
No, you can use Merlin's you'll just have to walk back
247
you would make your servant walk back to come a lot I have a good mind not to help you
248
Did you just kick me now who's wasting time yeah
249
Now just wait here one moment Why?
250
Questions, so many questions.
251
For once in your life would you just do what you're told?
252
All right.
253
You're a hero.
254
Thank you, Merlin.
255
Not to me.
256
To your people.
257
Right.
258
You think different.
259
Maybe I know something they don't. Which is?
260
You know.
261
What's your cabbage head?
262
Couldn't do me a favour, could you?
263
Let Arthur know.
264
He still thinks of me as an underachiever, but I'm quite proud of those accomplishments.
265
I can die.
266
Happy.
267
Will that do the job?
268
Oh, yes, that will do the job nicely.
269
What is the job, is actually?
270
To kill Arthur.
271
Driving you mad, is he?
272
Not for much longer.
273
Don't do that again, Merlin.
274
My heart cannot take the strain.
275
Yes, well, you are getting on a bit.
276
You stink worse than your food.
277
What is this?
278
It's a special welcome home.
279
Your favourite.
280
I think that you should stick to cooking up potions, guys.
281
This tastes like the bog Arthur found me in.
282
Look, I know you like to take every opportunity to be by your side, but this is just getting ridiculous.
283
You'll be pouring his bath water next.
284
Raelan, are you all right?
285
I'm pacing.
286
Yes, I can see that.
287
A man who is all right does not pace, Gaius.
288
Sometimes two heads are better than one.
289
Yes, but not when one of them's yours.
290
Are you threatening the life of our king?
291
Pass him off!
292
That is a sword, it does hurt.
293
But if you don't let me go, then there is every chance that I will kill your king!
294
Say that again.
295
Why have you got ale in your ears?
296
I'd have to think about that one.
297
Well, don't think too hard.
298
I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself.
299
Merlin.
300
Fancy me seeing you here.
301
What the hell are you doing creeping around in the woods?
302
I'm following you.
303
What the hell are you doing creeping around in the woods?
304
The man who freed it, which unite the land of Albi and rule over the greatest kingdom the world has ever known.
305
That man is you, Arthur.
306
You're making this up.
307
Why would I do that?
308
Your head's already as big as your waist.
309
Merlin, is there anything you're actually capable of doing?
310
Putting up with you?
311
You know, if Magani doesn't kill you, I will.
312
Learning your king is treason, Merlin.
313
I'm about threatening an ass.
314
Heard that.
315
Merlin, I've always known you were stupid, but not that stupid.
316
No, I really am that stupid, and if you don't believe me, watch.
317
Merlin!
318
What are you doing?
319
Nothing.
320
Thinking.
321
You thinking?
322
Well, now I'm really getting worried.
323
Some people still think you're a foolish, arrogant ass. Who?
324
Sorry.
325
Infortunate I'm not easily frightened.
326
Really?
327
Because it looked like you jumped out of your skin.
328
Who are you?
329
What kind of a dumb fool question is that?
330
I am who I am and I am who I was and I am who I will always be.
331
That's no answer.
332
What other answer is there?
333
And mischief means theft.
334
No, it doesn't.
335
And theft means my pies.
336
Your pies?
337
Why on earth would anyone want to steal your godforsaken pies?
338
My...
339
I'm visiting the cells, as you perfectly well know.
340
No, you're not.
341
Unless we say so, you're not.
342
But you already said so.
343
Only ten minutes ago you said so.
344
You said so and I did so.
345
We didn't.
346
What on earth is wrong with you?
347
Something interesting in your tea is there?
348
It's hardly any wonder your prisoners are being murdered.
349
If you can't even remember who you're letting in and who you're letting out, you're letting me in.
350
And I thank you for that.
351
And now, apparently, I have to let myself out.
352
Ah!
353
Goodbye.
354
What would you know about the king and my dumplings?
355
Oh, good grief.
356
Should have done that years ago.
357
Who are you?
358
My name is Daigo.
359
How'd you get in here?
360
It wasn't difficult.
361
Really?
362
Get out.
363
I think they mean to kill the king.
364
If I hadn't had my suspicions, I wouldn't have followed you.
365
Merlin acting strangely.
366
Are you the Dolma?
367
Ancient sorceress of the Cauldron of Arrynrod?
368
Who else would I be?
369
Aren't you forgetting something?
370
I don't think so.
371
The boy?
372
Ah.
373
Ah.
374
Of course, I thought everything had gone unusually smoothly.
375
That boy was your surety, great king.
376
Without him, your queen would still be lost.
377
Not sure that's quite true.
378
And I say it is.
379
Yeah.
380
And this one too, ready?
381
I think my dog can catch better than you.
382
Possibly because you treat him better.
383
Yeah, we all caught something.
384
Including Merlin.
385
What does he catch?
386
A cold.
387
If you learn to track, you'd enjoy it more.
388
I'm the best tracker here.
389
There's no disgrace for a servant to lose to his king.
390
Or a king to his servant.
391
Well.
392
You put me off.
393
What are you talking about?
394
You just coughed.
395
It's clear in my throat.
396
You just coughed deliberately.
397
Ah.
398
I knew you'd discover my secret in the end.
399
There is just no fooling you, my lord.
400
All right.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “merlin being sassy for 15 minutes straight”. This video has 400 sentences and 2436 words to shadow. The speech runs for 15:34. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 83 of its 400 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 |
|---|---|---|
| servant noun | /ˈsɝvənt/ | One who is hired to perform regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. As opposed to a slave. |
| arrogant adjective | /ˈæɹəɡənt/ | Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others. |
| knight noun | /ˈnaɪ̯t/ | An armored and mounted warrior of the Middle Ages. |
| realise verb | Non-Oxford British standard spelling of realize. | |
| pie noun | /paɪ/ | A type of pastry that consists of an outer crust and a filling. (Savory pies are more popular in the UK and sweet pies are more popular in the US, so "pie"… |
| pace noun | /peɪs/ | A step taken with the foot. |
| punch noun | /pʌnt͡ʃ/ | A hit or strike with one's fist. |
| disgusting adjective | /dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ/ | Causing disgust; repulsive; distasteful. |
| theft noun | /θɛft/ | The act of stealing property. |
| cough verb | /kɔf/ | Sometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound)… |
| execute verb | /ˈɛksɪˌkjuːt/ | To kill, especially as punishment for a capital crime. |
| threaten verb | /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/ | To make a threat against someone; to use threats. |
| creep verb | /kɹiːp/ | To move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground. |
| ignore verb | /ɪɡˈnɔː/ | To deliberately not listen or pay attention to. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sit around verb | To spend time sitting idly, not doing anything important. |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. |
| run around verb | To be very busy doing many different things. |
| cheer up verb | To become happier or less downcast. |
| get out verb | To leave or escape. |
| let out verb | To release. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
| push up verb | To make (something) higher; to increase. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You didn't know if they were?
- You still think I'm arrogant?
- You sure you're the right person?
- Couldn't do me a favour, could you?
- Merlin, is there anything you're actually capable of doing?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If such a person existed, I would · if you weren't a prince, I'd tell · if Magani doesn't kill you, I will |
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | have you been training |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've had · I've told · I've been trained |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | I've been trained · I've been treated · be treated |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 130 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: theft /θɛft/, threaten /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/, thick /θɪk/, bath /bɑːθ/, throat /ˈθɹoʊt/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: smash /smæʃ/, ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/, suspicion /səˈspɪʃ.ən/, foolish /ˈfuː.lɪʃ/, unusually /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/
- Long words — get the stress right: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, intelligent /ɪnˈtɛlɪd͡ʒənt/, deliberately /dɪˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹət.li/, unusually /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/
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 servant, arrogant, knight.
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.