Shadowing Practice: Mom, stop looking at my diary. / Hello Jadoo - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 686 sentences and 4026 words to shadow. The speech runs for 34:49. The speaker talks at a steady 116 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% 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
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| whoa | /woʊ/ | Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down. |
| homework noun | /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/ | Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class. |
| notebook noun | /ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/ | A book (physical or digital) in which notes or memoranda are written. |
| mister noun | /ˈmɪstəɹ/ | Alternative spelling of Mister, especially when used as a form of address without a name. |
| scare verb | /skɛɚ/ | To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way. |
| desk noun | /dɛsk/ | A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a… |
| snail noun | /sneɪl/ | Any of very many animals (either hermaphroditic or nonhermaphroditic), of the class Gastropoda, having a coiled shell. |
| diary noun | /ˈdaɪ.ə.ɹi/ | A daily log of experiences, especially those of the writer. |
| pencil noun | /ˈpɛnsəl/ | A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper. |
| castle noun | /ˈkɑːsəl/ | A large residential building or compound that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king. Also, a house or… |
| bother verb | /ˈbɑðɚ/ | To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for. |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
| privacy noun | /ˈpɹaɪ.və.si/ | The state of being secluded from the presence, sight, or knowledge of others. |
| goodbye | /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing. |
| forgive verb | /fɚˈɡɪv/ | To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| blow out verb | To extinguish something, especially a flame, especially by means of a strong current of air or another gas. | |
| get up verb | To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb. | |
| come along verb | To accompany. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| do over verb | /ˈduˌoʊvɚ/ | To cover with; to smear or spread on to. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| get around verb | To move to the other side of (something, such as an obstruction) by deviating from a direct course or following a curved path. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | You've been walking · someone's been going · You've been acting |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've never seen · I've been · haven't finished |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | isn't even allowed · will be closed · been shattered |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | shouldn't have · should go · should take |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 145 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bother /ˈbɑðɚ/, cloth /klɒθ/, thirsty /ˈθɝs.ti/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, shoe /ˈʃu/, dish /dɪʃ/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, foolish /ˈfuː.lɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: generator /ˈdʒɛnəɹeɪtə(ɹ)/, stationary /ˈsteɪʃəˌnɛɹi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like whoa, homework, notebook.
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.



















![[Special] Movie, The Secret of Jeju Island / Hello Jadoo](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J8aSuN8Zxec/mqdefault.jpg)










