Shadowing Practice: Perrie on being a working mum #perrie #happyplacepodcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Perrie on being a working mum”. This video has 22 sentences and 231 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:00. The speaker talks fast, about 233 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 78% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| bath noun | /bɑːθ/ | A tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub. |
| greatly adverb | /ˈɡɹeɪ̯t.li/ | To a great extent or degree. |
| physically adverb | /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kli/ | In a physical manner. |
| mentally adverb | /ˈmɛntəli/ | In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally. |
| guilt noun | /ɡɪlt/ | Responsibility for wrongdoing. |
| teenager noun | /ˈtiːnˌeɪ̯d͡ʒə/ | A person between thirteen and nineteen years old (inclusive). |
| nursery noun | /ˈnɝsəɹi/ | Especially in European countries: a room or area in a household set apart for the care of children. |
| bedtime noun | /ˈbɛdtaɪm/ | The time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep. |
| schedule noun | /ˈʃɛd͡ʒuːl/ | A procedural plan, usually but not necessarily tabular in nature, indicating a sequence of operations and the planned times at which those operations are to… |
| studio noun | /ˈstudi.oʊ/ | An artist’s or photographer’s workshop or the room in which an artist works. |
| incredible adjective | /ɪŋˈkɹɛdəbəl/ | Too implausible to be credible; beyond belief. |
| perspective noun | /pɚˈspɛk.tɪv/ | A view, vista or outlook. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| start off verb | To begin. | |
| step back verb | /stɛp ˈbæk/ | To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I don't think I could.
- I don't think I physically, mentally could do it.
- I'm just making music because I love it.
- I didn't have the mum guilt.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, ain't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 bath, greatly, physically.
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.