Shadowing Practice: On the Wrong Tour Bus: This Isn't the Castle Tour! - Learn English Speaking with Video
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25 sentences
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1
Excuse me, roughly how long until we reach the castle?
2
The castle? I'm afraid this tour doesn't go anywhere near a castle!
3
Sorry? This is the Highlands and Castles tour, isn't it?
4
Um, no... this is Farms and Wool. We're heading to a sheep farm.
5
You're joking! I've been looking forward to that castle for months.
6
Don't panic. Could I have a look at your booking?
7
Here. It clearly says 9 a.m., George Street.
8
Ah, I see. Both tours leave from the same stop at the same time.
9
Our driver should have checked your ticket. That's our fault, not yours.
10
I've only got one day in Scotland, and now it's ruined.
11
Hang on. Let me call the office and see what can be done.
12
Right. The castle tour stops in Glenmore village for lunch at two.
13
We pass through Glenmore at half past one. Why don't we drop you off there?
14
So... I'd miss the first half, but still see the castle?
15
Exactly. And they'll refund the difference in price, too.
16
Well, that's a lot better than I expected. Thank you.
17
And in the meantime, you'll meet the best sheepdog in Scotland.
18
A sheepdog? Do they actually do a demonstration?
19
They do! Watching him round up two hundred sheep is unforgettable.
20
Fine, you've talked me into it. But he'd better be good!
21
Wow! I can't believe how fast he moves!
22
Told you. Most people say it's the best part of the trip.
23
Honestly, getting on the wrong bus was the best mistake I've made all year.
24
So shall I tell the castle tour you're not coming, then?
25
Don't you dare! I still want my castle.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “On the Wrong Tour Bus: This Isn't the Castle Tour!”. This video has 25 sentences and 275 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:50. The speaker talks at a natural 150 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 10 of its 25 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| sheep noun | /ˈʃiːp/ | A woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis. |
| roughly adverb | /ˈɹʌf.li/ | In a rough manner; without kindness, softness, or gentleness. |
| dare verb | /dɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To have enough courage (to do something). |
| ruin noun | /ˈɹuː.ɪn/ | The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle. |
| panic noun | /ˈpænɪk/ | Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; (countable) an instance of this; a fright, a scare. |
| demonstration noun | /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/ | The act of demonstrating; showing or explaining something. |
| joking verb | /ˈd͡ʒoʊkɪŋ/ | Kidding, trying to fool. |
| meantime noun | /ˈmiːntaɪm/ | The time spent waiting for another event; time in between. |
| refund noun | /ɹɪˈfʌnd/ | An amount of money returned. |
| sheepdog noun | Any of various breeds of dog used for herding sheep; an individual of such a breed. | |
| unforgettable adjective | /ˌʌnfə(ɹ)ˈɡɛtəbəl/ | Very difficult or impossible to forget. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
| pass through verb | To go through, to travel through, to transit or lie across a place or from one place to another. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Excuse me, roughly how long until we reach the castle?
- We're heading to a sheep farm.
- Could I have a look at your booking?
- Why don't we drop you off there?
- I'd miss the first half, but still see the castle?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've talked · I've made |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | We're heading · You're joking · you're not coming |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | they'll refund · you'll meet |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 18 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I've, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: sheep /ˈʃiːp/, demonstration /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: demonstration /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/, unforgettable /ˌʌnfə(ɹ)ˈɡɛtəbəl/
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 castle, sheep, roughly.
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.