Shadowing Practice: Pre-Intermediate level - Learn English through Oxford English video - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Music When
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you live in a house with three other people, there's excitement, there's conversation, and there's housework.
3
Good morning.
4
Morning.
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Morning. Did you sleep well?
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Okay.
7
Where's the milk?
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There isn't any milk.
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It's on the table.
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What's it doing on the table?
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We're using it.
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Sorry, would you like me to put it away?
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No, leave it.
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Is there any bread left?
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Or did somebody finish it?
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Oh, hi.
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There's some in the bread bin.
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There isn't very much.
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And that's mine.
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What?
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You know, H for Helen, not M for Matt.
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And there aren't any clean ones.
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I don't believe it.
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How many cups are in this sink?
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Does anyone do the washing up in this house?
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I do.
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Me too.
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You never do the washing up.
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You always leave it to someone else.
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At least I do some cooking.
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Well, I clear up the kitchen.
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How often?
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I did it last month.
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Right.
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That does it.
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Okay everybody, as from today, we're going to keep this place clean and tidy.
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What's the sheet of paper for?
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I can guess.
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It's a rota for all the jobs around the house.
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So this week, Jane, you're cleaning the kitchen and cooking at the weekend.
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David is doing the washing up.
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And on Friday he's doing the shopping.
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Matt's cleaning the bathroom.
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And cooking Monday to Wednesday.
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And I'm cleaning the living room and cooking on Thursday and Friday. Has everybody got that?
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Yes.
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Yep.
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Good.
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Music Hi.
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Hi.
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What are you doing?
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What does it look like I'm doing?
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Why have you got that shopping?
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Er, let's see, because it's my day for shopping.
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But I did the shopping today.
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You're cooking tonight.
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No, it's Friday.
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You're cooking tonight.
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But that was last Friday.
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You did the shopping and I cooked.
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Remember?
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Let's go in and look at the rotor.
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It's my day for the living room.
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No, it isn't.
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You're in the bathroom today.
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I cleaned the bathroom yesterday.
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No, you didn't.
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You were watching television when I came home.
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I did it after you went to bed.
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Ah-ha.
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Let go of it.
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No, you let go of it.
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What's going on?
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I came in to do the living room, and he was cleaning the carpet.
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It's my turn.
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No, it isn't.
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Yes, it is.
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Boys?
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Why are you both carrying shopping?
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Jane got the wrong day.
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I didn't get the wrong day.
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You did.
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And you did.
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No, I didn't.
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I looked on the rotor.
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Tuesday was the bathroom.
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Hang on a minute.
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That's not right.
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I'm doing the bathroom tomorrow.
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Look, I'm doing the bathroom.
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You're doing the kitchen floor.
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No, no, no, no, no, no. That's me.
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I'm positive.
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Oh, yeah?
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Yeah.
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And who's going to clear that up?
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Matt!
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Matt!
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OK, so the rota wasn't a great success, but the house is looking good at the moment.
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That Saturday I was coming home from the gym and I stopped to admire the view.
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Hi.
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Oh, hi.
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The weather's better today.
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It's certainly better than yesterday.
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Yes, it is.
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What are you doing tomorrow?
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Oh, nothing special.
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Just another boring Sunday.
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Would you like to go somewhere?
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What?
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Do you mean with...
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Yes, with me.
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Er, yes, I'd love to. Where?
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How about on the river?
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We can go punting.
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That would be good.
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Great.
118
I'll call for you at about half past nine.
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Er, no, I'll call for you.
120
OK.
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I'll see you then.
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See you.
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I'm looking forward to it.
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Me too.
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Bye.
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Bye.
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Oh, hi.
128
You're up early.
129
I couldn't sleep.
130
Are you going out?
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Er, yes, I'm going to meet a friend in town.
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We're going to have lunch.
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What are you going to do today?
134
Nothing much.
135
Well, I'll see you later.
136
Sure.
137
Bye.
138
Bye.
139
You ready?
140
Ready.
141
Is Helen still in bed?
142
No. She went into town about an hour ago.
143
Are you just going to lie there all day?
144
Yes.
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We could do something.
146
Go somewhere.
147
We could go for a picnic.
148
What do you think?
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What do you think?
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Matt?
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I suppose we could.
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We're going to have a picnic.
153
That's not a bad idea.
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I'll make some sandwiches.
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I'll give you a hand.
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I can take my video camera.
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Oh.
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Have we got anything to drink?
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Matt?
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I'll go and get something.
161
Come on!
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you We can go through this gate,
163
then along the path between the wood and the farm.
164
That's the quickest way.
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It's quicker on the road, by car.
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Don't be so pathetic.
167
Come on.
168
It'll only take ten minutes.
169
This is perfect.
170
It's so much nicer than the city.
171
It's beautiful.
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Yes, it really is.
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It's this way.
174
That's Jane.
175
Come on, David.
176
It's all three of them.
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Quick.
178
What's the problem?
179
They don't know about this.
180
What?
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They think I went out for lunch.
182
Let's go back.
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Please, Simon.
184
OK.
185
How long did she say it was?
186
Ten minutes.
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It's the longest ten minutes in history.
188
It's just through here.
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Simon, we're going the wrong way.
190
Oh, no!
191
This was a great idea.
192
Thanks.
193
It's a shame Helen isn't here.
194
Look at that.
195
What?
196
And this is really strange.
197
It just appeared from nowhere.
198
Really?
199
That's funny.
200
What?
201
Look at that bag.
202
It looks just like Helen's.
203
In one of his plays, Shakespeare said something about not telling the truth.
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I wish I could remember what it was.
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Mornings aren't my favourite time of day, but some mornings are definitely worse than others.
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Where's Helen?
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Do you know?
208
Perhaps we should go and call her.
209
Don't bother. Are you all right?
210
Not really.
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I keep sneezing.
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I can't stop coughing.
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My whole body aches.
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You've got a cold.
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Thank you, Doctor. Or flu.
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Have you got a temperature?
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Well, you don't feel hot.
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My temperature keeps going up and down.
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I feel awful.
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Have something to drink.
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It hurts when I swallow.
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You should drink something.
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I'll make you a cup of tea.
224
Have you taken anything for it yet?
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Aspirin?
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Paracetamol?
227
There are, Tony.
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What about homeopathic medicine?
229
Homeopathic?
230
It's better than aspirin.
231
I'll get you something on the way home.
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I have to go to work now.
233
Me too.
234
You're not going anywhere like that.
235
You must go back to bed.
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I'll telephone the office for you.
237
Just keep warm, drink lots.
238
I'll see you this evening.
239
You go up now and I'll bring you the tea on my way out.
240
OK.
241
Here you are.
242
Oh, thank you.
243
Take it easy.
244
I'll bring you some fruit later.
245
Thanks.
246
I'm sorry.
247
Hello?
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Hello?
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Hello.
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Hello.
251
How are you feeling?
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A little better.
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My sore throat's gone.
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Have you been in bed since this morning?
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I felt too weak to get up. Have you eaten anything?
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No, I haven't.
257
Have you had anything to drink?
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I had a cup of tea at about one o'clock.
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So you haven't had anything to drink for five hours.
260
Hello?
261
We're up here.
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You have to drink a lot when you have flu.
263
And you really should try to eat something.
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Sorry.
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Hi.
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How are you feeling?
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A bit better.
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Got you some aspirin.
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Oh, thanks.
270
Actually, I've got you this.
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It's much better.
272
What is it?
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Homeopathic medicine, especially for colds.
274
What do you mean it's much better?
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It contains only natural ingredients.
276
Bet it tastes disgusting.
277
At least it's not full of chemicals.
278
Aspirin's very effective.
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It's been around for years. So has arsenic.
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Please, you too.
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Here you are.
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Vitamin C.
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The perfect cold cure.
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I've brought you some soup.
285
Oh, thanks, Matt.
286
But I'm not really hungry.
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But you haven't eaten since last night.
288
Sorry.
289
I don't think you should go to work tomorrow.
290
I don't know.
291
Perhaps you're right.
292
You can stay here and watch the tennis.
293
Tennis?
294
Yeah, Wimbledon.
295
Who's that?
296
it's simon oh no i look awful don't let him come up yet matt oh right here's the patient I'm not.
297
How are you feeling?
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Not too bad.
299
You know, up and down.
300
I didn't know you weren't well.
301
I've got some tickets to see a salsa band tonight.
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Oh, well, never mind.
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I can still go.
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No, you can't.
305
Don't be silly.
306
Jane's right.
307
You shouldn't go out when you've got flu.
308
You have to stay in bed.
309
But what about the tickets?
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It doesn't matter about them.
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It's a pity to waste them.
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Why don't you go with someone else?
313
What?
314
Well, Jane could have your ticket and she could go with Simon.
315
That's not a bad idea.
316
Yeah.
317
Go on, Jane.
318
Look, I'm feeling much better.
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Hey, stay there.
320
You must keep warm.
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OK, I'll go and get ready.
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We can go another time.
323
So I didn't get to see the salsa band with Simon.
324
Games set and match to Jane.
325
We all like our food in this house, but I think David likes it a bit more than the rest of us.
326
If nobody else wants this, I'll have it.
327
David, honestly, where do you put it?
328
You're such a pig.
329
If you're not careful, you'll put on weight.
330
He's already flabby.
331
No, I'm not.
332
Apparently Simon used to be quite fat.
333
I'm not flabby.
334
He keeps very fit now.
335
He goes to the gym four times a week.
336
Gyms are so boring.
337
I play tennis.
338
At least that's competitive.
339
You used to play tennis.
340
I don't have the time now.
341
Anyway, Julia thinks I look good.
342
Yes, but will Julia still think that when you're like a balloon?
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The End £200 a month and £500 to join.
344
Actually, it's not really what I'm looking for.
345
Thank you, bye.
346
Unbelievable.
347
Oh, hello.
348
I'm interested in joining your health club.
349
Could you tell me how much it is, please?
350
You're what?
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I'm going to have a workout this evening. Where?
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At the new fitness club.
353
Isn't that expensive?
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It is, but they offer a five-day free trial period.
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Free?
356
Yeah.
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Oh, David, you're terrible.
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What's terrible about that?
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Anyway, I'm starting this evening, so I'll meet you as soon as I get out.
360
What time will that be?
361
I don't know yet.
362
Might do a long session.
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But I'll give you a call when I finish.
364
And then we're going for a drink.
365
Absolutely.
366
Okay.
367
Over here we have the weight machines and the free weights.
368
Now, use these to fill up your muscles and to increase strength.
369
Over here we have the row machines, the exercise bikes and the treadmills.
370
Now these are good for CV exercise.
371
CV exercise?
372
Cardiovascular, aerobics.
373
You use them to increase your stamina to give you more energy.
374
Right.
375
Now, I want you to do ten minutes on each machine.
376
Do you think you can manage to do that?
377
Yes, I think so.
378
Okay then, let's start.
379
I'm
380
going to go.
381
I'm sorry.
382
You alright?
383
Yes, I'm fine.
384
Just a bit tired.
385
It can be tiring the first time.
386
This isn't the first time.
387
I used to do a lot of exercise.
388
I bet that was a long time ago.
389
Right, the weights.
390
Thank you.
391
Bye.
392
Oh, hi David.
393
Hey.
394
What is it?
395
Taxi.
396
Why did you let it go?
397
But don't you want to walk into town?
398
It's much better exercise.
399
Come on.
400
So that was the end of David's five day, or should I say one day, membership of the health club.
401
He never went there again.
402
Last Saturday we watched a horror film.
403
Some of us found it really frightening.
404
She's going to go down the stairs.
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Oh no!
406
Don't do it!
407
Why is she doing that?
408
Because it's a horror film.
409
People always do stupid things in horror films.
410
I can't watch it!
411
What happened?
412
It killed her.
413
Really?
414
No, the mother shot it.
415
What a load of rubbish.
416
It's not a load of rubbish.
417
It's good fun.
418
It was very well made.
419
That's just what I was going to say.
420
Thank you. Who wants coffee?
421
Oh, yes, please.
422
Simon?
423
I'll get it.
424
I wouldn't go in the kitchen if I were you.
425
No, no, Simon, don't.
426
The ghost.
427
Oh, yeah.
428
The ghost.
429
Ooh.
430
Actually...
431
What?
432
Oh, nothing.
433
What, David?
434
Well, there might be a ghost in this house. Where?
435
In the kitchen.
436
What kind of ghost?
437
The ghost of a dog.
438
Don't be silly.
439
It's true.
440
I don't know anything about this.
441
Well, before this house was built...
442
When was this house built?
443
About 120 years ago.
444
Go on.
445
Before this house was built, there used to be an old cottage here.
446
An old man lived in it and he had a large black dog.
447
And everywhere he went, the dog went with him.
448
It never left him.
449
How do you know all this?
450
One of the neighbours told us.
451
Anyway, the man was killed in an accident.
452
A new family moved into the cottage and the dog was taken away by the old man's sister.
453
But that very first evening...
454
Yes?
455
...the dog went back to the house and started howling.
456
What happened then?
457
The owners chased it away, but it kept coming back.
458
Every night they chased it away, every night it came back and howled. And then?
459
Well, not long after that, the cottage was destroyed by a fire.
460
And this house was built ten years later.
461
So where's the ghost?
462
Well, when they were building this house, they found a skeleton of a large dog in the cellar
463
and the neighbor says
464
that sometimes late at night a dog is heard howling there's always a logical explanation for
465
that kind of thing what would you do
466
if you saw a ghost they don't exist
467
if I saw a ghost I'd run away if I saw a ghost the The ghost would run away.
468
OK, Simon, go and make the coffee, but don't say I didn't warn you.
469
Did you two really hear that story?
470
Yeah.
471
The others fancy some toast.
472
Do you want some?
473
No, thanks.
474
That was a great story.
475
Who said it was a story?
476
You know, the funny thing is...
477
What?
478
Well, although I don't really believe in that sort of thing...
479
Yes.
480
I have.
481
I've sometimes heard a dog howling late at night.
482
And I always thought it was coming from this house.
483
Hi.
484
Giscuits.
485
Matt.
486
Yes.
487
Are you all right?
488
Yes.
489
Yes, I'm fine Matt what if I were you I wouldn't turn the light off in your bedroom tonight very funny
490
The next
491
morning, Matt looked very tired, for some reason.
492
It was a typical Saturday night, but Matt was acting rather strangely.
493
Thanks.
494
Thank you.
495
Oh, thanks.
496
Are you all right, Matt?
497
Yes. Are you expecting someone?
498
No. Well.
499
Aha.
500
Come on, Matt, tell us.
501
What's been going on?
502
Well, I was working today, and I'd just gone out for lunch.
503
I was walking into Radcliffe Square when I saw a girl.
504
She was doing a survey, you know, interviewing people on the street.
505
Except she wasn't having much luck.
506
Nobody wanted to stop.
507
How long have you been standing here?
508
Since 10 o'clock.
509
And how many people have you interviewed?
510
Four.
511
My boss said he wanted me to interview at least 20.
512
You could interview me.
513
OK.
514
Right.
515
My name's Matt.
516
Actually, I don't need your name.
517
Oh. But my name's Mel.
518
So, Matt, do you live in Oxford?
519
Yes, I do.
520
How long have you been living here? Since 1997.
521
How many jobs have you had since then?
522
Two.
523
And what do you do now?
524
I manage a computer game shop.
525
How long have you been working there?
526
Nearly five years.
527
What newspapers do you read?
528
She asked me about what newspapers I read.
529
The Observer.
530
What food do you like?
531
The food I like.
532
Anything.
533
What kind of clothes do you buy?
534
The clothes I buy.
535
We got on really well.
536
Where do you go for entertainment?
537
Uh, the cinema, clubs.
538
Restaurants?
539
Not really, although I quite often eat at Freud's.
540
I've been there a few times.
541
Really?
542
I've never seen you there.
543
I'm going there tonight, actually actually.
544
Oh.
545
Okay, holidays.
546
Which kind of holiday do you usually prefer?
547
I really like going abroad.
548
I've been to Italy a few times.
549
I want you to ask her lots of questions but she was asking me so many I didn't really get a chance.
550
Do you go to a gym?
551
Yeah.
552
After the interview, I went to buy her a coffee.
553
But when I got back, she'd gone.
554
Oh, Matt.
555
Is she going to be here tonight?
556
She said she was coming.
557
How romantic.
558
We haven't arranged anything.
559
Oh, I'm sure she'll come. Of course she'll come. Is that her?
560
Go over.
561
Go on, Matt.
562
Go for it.
563
Hi.
564
Oh, hello. So you came then?
565
Yes.
566
Would you like a drink?
567
Hi, Sir Emleigh.
568
Hi.
569
Hi.
570
This is Peter.
571
Peter, this is...
572
Matt.
573
Nice to meet you.
574
There's a table over there.
575
Are you sitting with us, Matt?
576
No, no. Go ahead.
577
Bye then.
578
Yeah.
579
See you around.
580
Oh, poor Matt.
581
I'll be back in a minute.
582
Who's that?
583
My boyfriend.
584
What do you think?
585
Sorry.
586
It's okay. Are you alright?
587
Not really.
588
I feel a bit of an idiot.
589
Come on.
590
What?
591
Let's go and get some fresh air. Where are they going?
592
I don't know.
593
It seems a shame to waste their drinks.
594
Oh, David.
595
Why is it always happening to me?
596
It happens to everyone.
597
What, even you?
598
Yes, Matt.
599
Even me. Did you like her?
600
I thought she was really nice.
601
Don't worry.
602
There'll be someone else. Where?
603
Anywhere.
604
Here?
605
Hmm.
606
Matt?
607
Oh, you mean...
608
You?
609
Gosh.
610
How long have you...
611
You know.
612
Quite a long time.
613
Me too.
614
What are we going to tell the others?
615
We can worry about that later.
616
Yeah.
617
Who said there was no such thing as a happy ending?
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Pre-Intermediate level - Learn English through Oxford English video”. This video has 617 sentences and 2986 words to shadow. The speech runs for 38:51. The speaker talks slowly, about 77 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 139 of its 617 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 |
|---|---|---|
| howl verb | /ˈhaʊ̯l/ | To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do. |
| aspirin noun | /ˈæs.pɹɪn/ | an analgesic drug, acetylsalicylic acid |
| homeopathic adjective | Of or pertaining to homeopathy. | |
| cottage noun | /ˈkɒt.ɪd͡ʒ/ | A small house. |
| flabby adjective | /ˈflæb.i/ | Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging loose by its own weight; lacking firmness; flaccid. |
| rota noun | /ˈɹoʊtə/ | A schedule that allocates some task, responsibility or (rarely) privilege between a set of people according to a (possibly periodic) calendar. |
| rotor noun | /ˈɹoʊ.tɚ/ | A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump. |
| salsa noun | /ˈsɑl.sə/ | A spicy tomato sauce of Mexican origin, often including onions and hot peppers. |
| neighbour noun | /ˈneɪbɚ/ | A person living on adjacent or nearby land; a person situated adjacently or nearby; anything (of the same type of thing as the subject) in an adjacent or… |
| bind verb | /ˈbaɪ̯nd/ | To tie; to confine by any ligature. |
| picnic noun | /ˈpɪknɪk/ | An informal social gathering, usually in a natural outdoor setting, to which the participants bring their own food and drink. |
| rubbish noun | /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/ | Refuse, waste, garbage, junk, trash. |
| bore verb | /boɹ/ | To inspire boredom in somebody. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
| aerobics noun | /əˈɹoʊbɪks/ | A form of exercise, designed to enhance one's cardiovascular fitness, normally performed to music. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. | |
| go up verb | To move upwards. | |
| run away verb | To flee by running. | |
| wash up verb | To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal. | |
| clear up verb | /klɪəˈɹʌp/ | To clarify, to correct a misconception. |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Sorry, would you like me to put it away?
- What does it look like I'm doing?
- Why have you got that shopping?
- What do you mean it's much better?
- Why don't you go with someone else?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | What's been going · have you been standing · have you been living |
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If nobody else wants this, I'll have · If you're not careful, you'll put · if I saw a ghost I'd run |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to be · used to play · used to do |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | Have you taken · Have you been · Have you had |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 134 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: cloth /klɒθ/, pathetic /pəˈθɛtɪk/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rubbish /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: paracetamol /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/, cardiovascular /ˌkɑːdi.əʊˈvæskjʊlə(ɹ)/, ingredient /ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/, unbelievable /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/
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 howl, aspirin, homeopathic.
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.