Shadowing Practice: Parts of a Microscope & How to Use a Microscope - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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in this video we're going to learn about microscopy which just means the use of microscopes
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so we'll cover what a microscope is what the terms object image and magnification mean
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the different parts of a light microscope and finally how to use a light microscope To start off,
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we need to know what a microscope is.
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So a microscope is a tool that we use in science to make things look much larger than they actually are, and so help us see tiny details.
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For example, we often use microscopes in biology to look at cells, which we can't see with the naked eye, but can see with a microscope.
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before we go any further we need to introduce the terms object
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and image in microscopy the term object refers to the real object
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or the sample that you're looking at so
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if we had some onion cells on our microscope slide then these cells themselves would be the object
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the term image on the other hand refers to the image that we see when we look down the microscope
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for example if we were to look down this microscope we might see something like this
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so this would be our image whereas the object is the actual onion cells on the microscope slide
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that we're looking at this brings us nicely to the next term you need to know magnification
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which we can define as how many times larger the image is than the object
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So if the image appeared 1 ,000 times larger than the object, then the magnification would be times 1 ,000.
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Next, let's move on to look at the different parts of a light microscope.
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Supporting the whole thing is the base at the bottom, and then the arm that connects the bottom to the top.
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Then we have some kind of light source, which on some microscopes would be a lamp, But in this case, it's just a mirror reflecting the light from the room.
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And just above it is the stage, which is where we put our microscope slide.
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Then in the top half, we have all of our lenses.
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So we normally have three objective lenses, which we can choose between, and each have different magnifications.
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And then also an eyepiece lens, which has a fixed magnification.
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And sits just below where we look into the microscope.
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Then the last things to notice are the body tube here
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and the coarse and fine focusing knobs which we can turn to help us get the image in focus.
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The last thing we need to cover are the main steps of how to use a light microscope.
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First, we need to set up the microscope near a window
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or a lamp to make sure there's enough light and angle the mirror to direct the light upwards.
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This will reflect the light up through the hole in the stage.
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We then need to take our specimen
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which is the scientific word for whatever it is you'll be looking at
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and place it on a thin glass plate called a slide.
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Next we take our slide with the specimen on, place it onto the stage and secure it.
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This means we put it just here so the light reflected shines through the specimen and up through the microscope.
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Now that our slide is in place, we can look through the eyepiece lens and adjust the focus.
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So first we turn the coarse focus knob to get a rough image
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and then we can turn the fine focus knob to fine
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-tune it until we have a clear magnified view of our
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specimen finally this part here where the objective lenses are can
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rotate to switch to an objective lens with a higher magnification
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then you can adjust the focus again to bring the specimen back into clear view
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if you haven't heard yet you can find all of our videos on our website cognito .org You'll also find questions,
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flashcards, exam -style questions, and past papers.
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And we track all of your progress so that you always know what to study next.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 46 sentences and 698 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:40. The speaker talks at a steady 149 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| microscope noun | /ˈmaɪ.kɹəˌskoʊp/ | An optical instrument used for observing small objects. |
| slide noun | /ˈslaɪ̯d/ | An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again. |
| lens noun | /lɛnz/ | An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it. |
| specimen noun | /ˈspɛsɪmɪn/ | An individual instance that represents a class; an example. |
| reflect verb | /ɹɪˈflɛkt/ | To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface. |
| objective noun | /ɒbˈd͡ʒɛk.tɪv/ | A material object that physically exists. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| refer verb | /ɹɪˈfɜː/ | To direct the attention of (someone toward something). |
| adjust verb | /əˈd͡ʒʌst/ | To modify. |
| lamp noun | /ˈlæ̝mp/ | A device that generates light, heat, or other electromagnetic radiation. Especially an electric light bulb. |
| onion noun | /ˈʌn.jən/ | A monocotyledonous plant (Allium cepa), allied to garlic, used as vegetable and spice. |
| thin adjective | /ˈθɪn/ | Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite. |
| naked adjective | /ˈneɪkɪd/ | Bare, not covered by clothing. |
| whereas | /(h)wɛɹˈæz/ | In contrast; whilst on the contrary; although. |
| angle noun | /ˈæŋ.ɡəl/ | A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| look down verb | To lower one's eyes; to direct one's look downwards. | |
| light up verb | To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten. | |
| look through verb | To take a view of the contents of; search in, either with the eyes or by hand. | |
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
| start off verb | To begin. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | stage, which is · lens, which has |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | larger than |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to know · need to introduce · need to cover |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | we'll cover · will reflect · you'll be |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, you'll, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, shine /ʃaɪn/, magnification /ˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, flashcard /ˈflæʃˌkɑɹd/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, biology /baɪˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, magnification /ˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, microscopy /maɪˈkɹɑ.skə.pi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like microscope, slide, lens.
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.