Shadowing Practice: Oliver Tree - One & Only [Music Video] - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 17 sentences and 213 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:31. The speaker talks slowly, about 85 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% 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

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

• grateful /ˈɡɹeɪtf(ə)l/ (adjective) — Of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation; appreciative, thankful.
• lonely /ˈloʊnli/ (adjective) — Unhappy due to feeling isolated from contact with other people.
• explode /ɪkˈsploʊd/ (verb) — To fly apart with sudden violent force; to blow up, to burst, to detonate, to go off.
• till /tɪl/ — Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
• exist /ɪɡˈzɪst/ (verb) — to be; have existence; have being or reality
• wonder /ˈwʌndɚ/ (noun) — A sense of awe, astonishment and curiosity, inspired by unexpected events, novel experiences and inexplicable circumstances, sometimes accompanied by surprise…
• anyway /ˈɛniweɪ/ (adverb) — Regardless; anyhow.
• realize /ˈɹi(.ə)ˌlaɪz/ (verb) — To become aware of, understand, or appreciate (a fact or situation, especially something which has been true for some time).
• search /sɝt͡ʃ/ (verb) — To look in (a place) for something.
• catch /kæt͡ʃ/ (verb) — To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).
• surprise /sə(ː)ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ (noun) — Something unexpected.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• look for (verb) — To seek.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 24 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

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 grateful, lonely, explode.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: