Shadowing Practice: Part 4 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Chapter 4 On the Road They get into the truck again and drive along the motorway.
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Our next stop is near Dijon, said Andy.
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Dijon is in Burgundy.
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They make wonderful wine there.
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I don't want any wine, laughs Kim, but I do want some coffee.
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They arrive at the truck stop, just before four, and sit down in the cafe.
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Suddenly, Andy says,
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someone's looking under the truck through the window of the
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cafe they see a fat man in a green shirt he takes something out from under the truck
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and goes to a red car.
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I don't like this, says Kim quietly.
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Let's go.
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A few minutes later, Kim looks in her mirror.
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Andy, she says quietly, there's a red car behind us,
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and the man in the green shirt is driving.
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Why is he following us?
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He's got his parcel.
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No, he hasn't, says Andy with a laugh.
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He's got our sandwiches, and I've got his parcel.
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Here it is.
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He opens it carefully.
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In it are about fifty small white paper bags.
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What's this?
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Says Andy.
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Drugs, I think, says Kim.
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And the man in the green shirt wants them.
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He doesn't want your sandwiches.
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And he's angry.
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We're in danger, Andy.
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I must do something.
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The red car is only a few metres behind.
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Kim stops suddenly.
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The red car runs into the back of the truck.
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Kim drives away again very fast.
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In her mirror, she sees the man in the green shirt, standing by his car.
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He can't follow us now, Andy says with a smile.
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But the man is very angry and quickly takes out a small black mobile phone.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

What You'll Practice in This Lesson

This lesson uses a dynamic video dialogue to help you improve speaking fluency, listening comprehension, and real-world communication skills. You'll follow a suspenseful story about two characters on the road, practicing how to express urgency, describe actions, and use casual speech—perfect for IELTS speaking practice and everyday conversations. The natural pace and conversational tone make it ideal for shadowing, a technique proven to boost pronunciation and rhythm.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Motorway: A high-speed road, similar to a highway. Example: "They drove along the motorway."
  • Truck stop: A place where drivers rest and eat. Example: "They arrived at the truck stop just before four."
  • Parcel: A package. Example: "Andy opened the parcel carefully."
  • Run into: To crash into something. Example: "The red car ran into the back of the truck."
  • Shadowing: Repeating speech immediately after hearing it, a core technique for this lesson. Use a shadowing app or shadowing site to practice.

Practice Tips for Effective Shadowing

The video's dialogue has a mix of casual banter and tense moments, so focus on matching the speakers' tone—lighthearted when laughing, urgent when whispering. Start by watching the video once to understand the story, then use a shadowing site or app to pause and repeat short phrases. For example, mimic Kim's quiet "Let's go" to practice softening your voice, or Andy's laugh to master natural intonation. Shadowspeak (repeating in real time) is key here: try to keep up with the speed, even if you miss a word—this trains your brain to process and produce English quickly. This exercise isn't just for beginners; it's a powerful tool for learn english with videos at any level. By practicing daily, you'll notice improvements in your ability to speak fluently and understand fast-paced conversations, essential for exams like IELTS and real-life interactions.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →