Shadowing Practice: My Brother Goes to Court! - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 642 sentences and 6135 words to shadow. The speech runs for 26:02. The speaker talks fast, about 236 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| meanwhile adverb | /ˈmiːnwaɪl/ | During the time that something is happening, often specifically in a different place. |
| basket noun | /ˈbæskɪt/ | A lightweight woven container, generally round, open at the top, and tapering toward the bottom. |
| giveaway noun | Something that is given away or handed out for free. | |
| legendary adjective | /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənˌdɛɹ.i/ | Of or pertaining to a legend or to legends. |
| gate noun | /ˈɡeɪ̯t/ | A doorlike structure outside a house. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| mystery noun | /ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/ | Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown. |
| tape noun | /teɪ̯p/ | Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape. |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
| lightning noun | /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ | A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth. |
| hurry verb | /ˈhʌ.ɹi/ | To do things quickly. |
| charm noun | /t͡ʃɑɹm/ | An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation). |
| randomly adverb | /ˈɹændm̩li/ | In a random manner. |
| cinnamon noun | /ˈsɪnəmən/ | A small evergreen tree native to Sri Lanka and southern India, Cinnamomum verum or Cinnamomum zeylanicum, belonging to the family Lauraceae. |
| custom noun | /ˈkʌstəm/ | Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| pull over verb | To come to a stop, and turn off the road (i.e. onto the roadside or hard shoulder). | |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| crack up verb | /ˈkɹæk ˈʌp/ | To laugh heartily. |
| drive up verb | To cause or force a price, quantity, rate, etc. to increase. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| go over verb | To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze. |
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 | I've been loving · haven't been giving · I've been watching |
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If I got this, I would cry · if it doesn't don't worry i'll add · if you're in LA, I'll come |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is closed · are not guaranteed · are subscribed |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have done · have planned · we've just arrived |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 334 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, gonna, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shade /ʃeɪd/, rush /ɹʌʃ/, brush /bɹʌʃ/, casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/
- Long words — get the stress right: legendary /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənˌdɛɹ.i/, disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/, technically /ˈtɛk.nɪˌkəl.i/, deodorant /diˈoʊ.də.ɹənt/, teriyaki /ˌtɛ.ɹiˈjɑ.ki/
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 meanwhile, basket, giveaway.
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.














