Shadowing Practice: Mike Muir - Interview 1990 - Suicidal Tendencies - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 18 sentences and 267 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:05. The speaker talks fast, about 248 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• suicidal /ˌsu.əˈsaɪ.dəl/ (adjective) — Pertaining to suicide.
• rob /ɹɑb/ (verb) — To steal from, especially using force or violence.
• psychiatrist /ˌsaɪˈkaɪ.ə.tɹɪst/ (noun) — A medical doctor specializing in psychiatry.
• vulnerable /ˈvʌln(ə)ɹəbl̩/ (adjective) — More or most likely to be exposed to the chance of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
• tendency /ˈtɛn.dən.si/ (noun) — A likelihood of behaving in a particular way or going in a particular direction; a tending toward.
• bind /ˈbaɪ̯nd/ (verb) — To tie; to confine by any ligature.
• satanic /seɪˈtænɪk/ (adjective) — Evil, fiendish, devilish or diabolical.
• personally /ˈpɜː.sə.nə.li/ (adverb) — In a personal manner.
• drug /ˈdɹʌɡ/ (noun) — A substance used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose.
• murder /ˈmɝ.dɚ/ (noun) — An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.
• drink /ˈdɹɪŋk/ (verb) — To consume (a liquid) through the mouth.
• grade /ɡɹeɪd/ (noun) — A rating.
• influence /ɪnˈflu.əns/ (noun) — The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or…
• kick /kɪk/ (verb) — To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• go out (verb) — To leave, especially a building.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 16 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, they're, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• Long words — get the stress right: suicidal /ˌsu.əˈsaɪ.dəl/, psychiatrist /ˌsaɪˈkaɪ.ə.tɹɪst/, personally /ˈpɜː.sə.nə.li/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like suicidal, rob, psychiatrist.