Shadowing Practice: Physio Appointment: I Hurt My Back at the Gym - Learn English Speaking with Video
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24 sentences
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1
Hi, come on in. Take it slowly.
2
Ow... thanks. Sorry, I'm moving like a grandma today.
3
Ha, don't worry. So, what happened?
4
I was lifting weights at the gym on Saturday.
5
I tried a heavier weight than usual,
6
and suddenly I felt a sharp pain right here.
7
I see. Does the pain go down your legs?
8
No, it just stays in my lower back.
9
Good, that's a positive sign.
10
Okay, tell me if this hurts.
11
Ouch! Yes, that's the spot!
12
It's a muscle strain. Nothing is broken.
13
Phew! So when can I go back to the gym?
14
Well... no heavy lifting for two weeks.
15
Two weeks? But I've got a competition next month!
16
If you lift too soon, it could get much worse.
17
Then you'd miss the competition completely.
18
Hmm, okay. You're right, I guess.
19
But here's the good news. You can still swim and walk.
20
And do these stretches every morning.
21
Oh, that feels better already!
22
Okay, I promise. No weights for two weeks.
23
Great. And next time, ask a trainer for help!
24
Ha, lesson learned! Thanks, see you next week.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Physio Appointment: I Hurt My Back at the Gym”. This video has 24 sentences and 182 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:19. The speaker talks at a steady 138 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 4 of its 24 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| sharp adjective | /ʃɑɹp/ | Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| muscle noun | /ˈmʌs.əl/ | A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement. |
| stretch verb | /stɹɛt͡ʃ/ | To lengthen by pulling. |
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| strain noun | /stɹeɪn/ | A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a taxonomically infraspecific one. |
| grandma noun | /ˈɡɹænmɑː/ | Grandmother. |
| trainer noun | /ˈtɹeɪnɚ/ | A person who trains another; a coach. |
| ouch | /ˈaʊt͡ʃ/ | An expression of one's own physical pain. |
| phew | /fjuː/ | Used to express relief of tension, fatigue, or surprise. |
| lift noun | /lɪft/ | An act of lifting or raising. |
| suddenly adverb | /ˈsʌd.ən.li/ | Happening quickly and with little or no warning; in a sudden manner. |
| leg noun | /ˈlɛɡ/ | A limb or appendage that an animal uses for support or locomotion on land. |
| slowly adverb | /ˈsloʊli/ | At a slow pace. |
| usual adjective | /ˈju.ʒuəl/ | Most commonly occurring; typical. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come on in verb | Synonym of come in (“to enter”). |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| go down verb | To descend; to move from a higher place to a lower one. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Sorry, I'm moving like a grandma today.
- Does the pain go down your legs?
- Then you'd miss the competition completely.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 5 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: sharp /ʃɑɹp/, usual /ˈju.ʒuəl/
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 sharp, lesson, muscle.
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.