Shadowing Practice: Post It (short film) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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The End
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I think it's kind of ridiculous you're not sitting down.
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Oh, I don't mind standing.
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Well, there's plenty of room, and I'm not intimidating.
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Yeah, that's true.
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I have to ask, what's in the box?
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It's, um.. it's nothing.
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Well, you carry it like it's something.
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Sorry, it's none of my business.
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I guess I was just intrigued.
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Uh, it's...
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picture frames, a stapler, paper clips, and uh, pens, and a stack of Post-its.
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Not a human head then.
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Uh, no, it's not a human hair.
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I'm Clara, by the way.
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Hi.
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Hi.
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Oh, sorry.
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Uh, I'm Elroy.
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Elroy. So, Elroy.
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Sorry you lost your job.
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What?
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No. Oh, because of the box?
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No, I didn't.
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I didn't lose my job.
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Oh, well, congratulations then.
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Why?
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For not losing your job.
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Okay.
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Right.
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Thanks.
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This is my mom's stuff.
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I was.
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She died.
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She worked up at the insurance company up the street.
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Yeah, she worked there for a long time.
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A really long time.
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When I was in high school, I'd get up for school in the morning and she'd already be gone. But, um...
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She would leave these little notes on the door.
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It was.. it was kinda nice.
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I don't know why I'm telling you any of this, to be honest.
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She sounds amazing.
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Yeah, she is.
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She was.
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Her and I were really different though.
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Well how so?
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She was so nice to everyone.
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I mean honestly half the time I can't stand people.
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But she could find something nice to say about pretty much anyone.
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Well you could do that.
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No I can't.
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No, I can't.
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Seems like you were just waiting for an opportunity.
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Yeah, you might be right about that. Could be.
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Hey, Elroy.
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This is my friend Elroy, by the way.
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Can I borrow a post-it?
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Yeah, sure, go nuts.
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Thank you.
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Thanks.
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Hey, Elroy.
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What are you doing?
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I wrote a nice shirt.
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What do you think?
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Yeah, it's great.
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I mean, it really is a nice shirt.
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I'm here.
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Would you stop throwing stuff at me, please?
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It's your turn.
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Yeah, all right.
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What do you got?
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Okay.
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Nice mustache.
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You guys are weird.
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You know, I don't even know her that well, so...
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Do you have anything else to do today, Elroy?
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I'm
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going
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to show you how
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to make a new product.
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Thank you.
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The Thank
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you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 83 sentences and 403 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:06. 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
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ridiculous adjective | /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/ | Deserving of ridicule; foolish, absurd. |
| congratulations | /kənˌɡɹæt͡ʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/ | Expressing praise and approval, expressing approbation. |
| pen noun | /pɪn/ | A tool, originally made from a feather but now usually a small tubular instrument, containing ink used to write or make marks. |
| clip noun | /klɪp/ | Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another. |
| stack noun | /stæk/ | A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, larger at the bottom than the top, sometimes covered with thatch. |
| borrow verb | /ˈbɑɹ.oʊ/ | To receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it. |
| intimidate verb | /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/ | To make timid or afraid; to cause to feel fear or nervousness; to deter, especially by threats of violence. |
| intrigue noun | /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/ | A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem. |
| moustache noun | /ˈmʌstæʃ/ | A growth of facial hair between the nose and the upper lip. |
| stapler noun | /ˈsteɪplɚ/ | A device which binds together sheets of paper by driving a thin metal staple through the sheets and simultaneously folding over the ends of the staple against… |
| shirt noun | /ʃɜɹt/ | An article of clothing that is worn on the upper part of the body, often with sleeves that cover some or all of the arms. |
| frame noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯m/ | The structural elements of a building or other constructed object. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I have to ask, what's in the box?
- Sorry, it's none of my business.
- I didn't lose my job.
- Can I borrow a post-it?
- Would you stop throwing stuff at me, please?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | mind standing · stop throwing |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're not sitting · I'm not intimidating · I'm telling |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 18 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: congratulations /kənˌɡɹæt͡ʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/, moustache /ˈmʌstæʃ/, shirt /ʃɜɹt/
- Long words — get the stress right: ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, congratulations /kənˌɡɹæt͡ʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/, intimidate /ɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/
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 ridiculous, congratulations, pen.
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.