Shadowing Practice: playing basketball - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Nope That's right Nope -Why would you shoot from there?! -No, up...
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Our ball Okay, our ball Here Huh?
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Shoot! Okay No!
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Are you trying to play mind games?
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Of course it's a mind game Nope!
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Nope! -Pass -Nope Ugh, what's this?
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What is that defense?!
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Hey, you're not moving!
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Young and fam?
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I've been moving the whole time That was two against one!
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What was that?
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-Good layup! -I was moving the whole time He just walked right past -Want me to block him? -It's like you're not even there We'll block him for real You're basically not even there!
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I am Then you block him Oh, it's slippery here Violation!
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You're not there!
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Try grabbing the rebound first Huh? That's out -Never mind -It's not out That was out It wasn't Now we're -Let's go! -fighting within the group That's not okay If you want, transfer groups I think I'm going to sweat Are you helping me practice?
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Nice Back Did you decide to give up?
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-What? -Did you decide to give up?
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We said we weren't going all out so I'm not going all out Nope Yeah! That's my boy!
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They're good These teams aren't fair This guy's getting in the way What am I supposed to do?
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Hey! Like that Going solo, huh?
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Nice Yes! Okay Our ball -Okay -Okay -Let's go -Eight to three -We're just getting started -We're learning as we go!
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-Nope! -Whoa, what was that?!
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What? It's slippery over there -Whoa, that went in -Okay Eight to four?
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-Okay! -Out!
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Wasn't that out?
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-That wasn't out -That wasn't out I think you stepped on the line -That wasn't out -That wasn't out Okay -Your foot was out -I think you stepped on it We're not allowed to step out either?
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Of course not Oh, then it was out -Was it? -Yeah He's honest -I thought it was like soccer -He's so honest I thought it was only about if the ball went out In basketball, your feet count Why are you dancing while catching it?
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-No, it's not our ball -It's not?
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-No -Oh, okay -No -We had to step out Nope Oh, okay Eight to five Eight to five That's too far You have to go over there Hey, come on...!
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Okay We're kind of...
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-We're doing bad -We're bad / -Yeah Back...
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What are you doing?
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Shouldn't he step out?
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He's practicing in between If I score, we're done, right?
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-No... -Two-man score -Oh, yeah -You have to go up against two Like last time?
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Okay What was that?
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Go up against two...
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Yeah! You need to manage your team better I didn't know it'd be like this Captain?
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-I came back and joined the game -As soon as he got here...
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and the team was a mess What was it again?
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Chao James...
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He only attacks, never defends and then goes, "Defense!" so...
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But he still can't score Hey You're shooting from that far?
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Oh, then from here SEONGHYEON's got good aim Our captain taught SEONGHYEON how to play basketball Meaning, he trained their captain So of course there was a skill gap Come at me Come at me -Not bad -Not bad -Layup -Layup?
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Shadow Right away...
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We'll go right away from there Wow, it went in Wash up, then...
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Three points!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in enjoyable English speaking practice through a lively basketball game conversation. By listening to the dynamic exchanges between players, you will learn to communicate effectively in casual interaction settings. The emphasis is on conversational flow, teamwork-related vocabulary, and the importance of non-verbal cues, all of which are vital in both sports and everyday English communication. Practicing with this transcript will enhance your improve English pronunciation and overall speaking confidence.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Our ball: Referring to possession of the basketball.
  • Defense: The act of preventing the opposing team from scoring.
  • Going solo: Playing or acting independently instead of as part of a team.
  • Layup: A common basketball shot made close to the basket.
  • Out: Referring to the ball going outside the boundary.
  • Team captain: The player who leads and strategizes for the team.
  • Nice aim: Complimenting someone's shooting accuracy.
  • Score: To make points in the game.

Practice Tips

To get the most out of this shadowspeak practice, follow these steps:

  • Listen Actively: Play the video or read the transcript out loud. Pay attention to the intonation and rhythm of the sentences.
  • Shadow the Speakers: As you listen, repeat the phrases in real-time. This technique will significantly help improve your English pronunciation and fluency.
  • Break Down the Dialogue: Focus on short sections at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Repeat each segment until you feel comfortable.
  • Practice with a Partner: If possible, find a speaking partner to practice with. This practice will replicate real-life conversations, helping you to become more confident in casual settings.
  • Record Yourself: Record your practice sessions to identify areas for improvement. Listen to your pronunciation compared to the original speakers.

By incorporating these tips into your practice sessions on this shadowing site, you will reinforce your learning and enhance your communication skills significantly.

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 →