Shadowing Practice: Oxytocin: The Love Hormone (#short) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Oxytocin: The Love Hormone”. This video has 7 sentences and 150 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:53. The speaker talks at a natural 170 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 77% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| oxytocin noun | /ɑksiˈtoʊsɪn/ | A hormone that stimulates contractions during labor, and then the production of milk; also plays a role in social bonding. |
| intimacy noun | /ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/ | Intimate relationship. |
| hormone noun | /ˈhoɹmoʊn/ | Any substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity. |
| cognition noun | /kɑɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ | The process of knowing, of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought and through the senses. |
| cuddle verb | /ˈkʌd.l̩/ | To lie together snugly (with someone), in an intimate physical embrace; to snuggle. |
| neurotransmitter noun | Any substance, such as acetylcholine or dopamine, responsible for sending nerve signals across a synapse between two neurons. | |
| fuzzy adjective | /ˈfʌzi/ | Covered with fuzz or a large number of tiny loose fibres like a carpet or many stuffed animals. |
| gaze verb | /ɡeɪz/ | To stare intently or earnestly. |
| empathy noun | /ˈɛmpəθi/ | Identification with or understanding of the thoughts, feelings, or emotional state of another person. |
| attachment noun | /əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ | The act or process of (physically or figuratively) attaching. |
| distress noun | /dɪˈstɹɛs/ | Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. |
| strengthen verb | /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/ | To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is released · has been shown |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been shown |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: empathy /ˈɛmpəθi/, strengthen /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/
- Long words — get the stress right: oxytocin /ɑksiˈtoʊsɪn/, intimacy /ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/
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 oxytocin, intimacy, hormone.
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.