Shadowing Practice: pre-internet game piracy - 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 “pre-internet game piracy”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Rom, Atari, cartridge, chip. This video has 16 sentences and 225 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:54. The speaker talks fast, about 250 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 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pirate noun | /ˈpaɪɹət/ | A criminal who plunders at sea; commonly attacking merchant vessels, though often pillaging port towns. |
| cartridge noun | /ˈkɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ/ | The package consisting of the bullet, primer, and casing containing gunpowder; a round of ammunition. |
| chip noun | /t͡ʃɪp/ | A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material. |
| clone noun | /kloʊn/ | A living organism (originally a plant) produced asexually from a single ancestor, to which it is genetically identical. |
| socket noun | /ˈsɑkɪt/ | An opening into which a plug or other connecting part is designed to fit (e.g. a light bulb socket). |
| practical adjective | /ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/ | Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis. |
| commonly adverb | /ˈkɑmənli/ | As a rule; frequently; usually. |
| reader noun | /ˈɹi.dɚ/ | A person who reads. |
| nowadays adverb | /ˈnaʊ.ə.deɪz/ | At the present time; in the current era. |
| consist noun | /kənˈsɪst/ | A lineup or sequence of railroad carriages or cars, with or without a locomotive, that form a unit. |
| lever noun | /ˈliː.və/ | A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for… |
| duplicate verb | /ˈd(j)uː.plɪˌkeɪt/ | To make a copy of. |
| homebrew noun | /ˈhoʊmˌbɹu/ | A beer brewed by enthusiasts rather than commercially. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as gotta, wasn't, you'd. 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 pirate, cartridge, chip.
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.