Shadowing Practice: Questions you ask a real life ninja - Learn English Speaking with Video
B1What it’s like to have a son with autism
B1Getting a restraining order on my ex
B1How we need to be raising boys in 2026
B1Taking my toddlers to my 30 week pregnancy appointment
B2Co-parenting w/ an addict: divorce & raising a son w/ autism ft Laura Clery
B1The story behind this viral video
B1Moving in together at 15
B2Why I proposed to the wrong woman on TV
B2What divorce taught me
B2Why it's time to use AI
B1Why we need to redefine masculinity
B1Living with my in laws as newlyweds
B1Why I regret 16 & Pregnant
B2Navigating divorce in the public eye
B1Finding out my husband was cheating on me
B2Why it was so hard to leave my abuser
B1Bryton Myler on why Ninja Kids almost never happened
B1I cried over food while pregnant
B1It's okay to breastfeed a 4-year-old
B1Agree To Disagree: It's okay to go to bed angry
B1Passive Voice English Conversation Practice - Improve English Speaking Skills Everyday
B2Rise and Fall of the Samurai — A Thousand Years of Power || Learn English Through History ✅
B1What kinds of books do you like to read?
B1Batman Begins - The Will to Act (Training Scene HD)
B27 Weird Weapons (and how to use them!) with Historia Normannis Hereford
B2Fight or flight in our modern life: what are your thoughts?
B1How to Get Started in Muay Thai (or any martial art!) | Beginner Tips for Your First Day at the Gym
B1피곤한 날 집밥 해먹기 vs. 배달시키기 | 영국영어 팟캐스트 This or That ep07 Cooking at home vs. Ordering takeaway
B1First Time Passing Out
B1RE2 Unit 4B
B1915 Ron Abilities V1
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Questions you ask a real life ninja”. This video has 15 sentences and 108 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:29. The speaker talks fast, about 220 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 3 of its 15 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 10 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| punch noun | /pʌnt͡ʃ/ | A hit or strike with one's fist. |
| ninja noun | /ˈnɪnd͡ʒə/ | One who very skillful, considered similar to the historical ninja, especially in covert or stealthy operation. |
| bone noun | /boʊn/ | A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. |
| gear noun | /ɡɪɚ/ | Equipment or paraphernalia, especially that used for an athletic endeavor. |
| suck verb | /sʌk/ | To use the mouth and lips to pull in (a liquid, especially milk from the breast). |
| spar noun | /spɑɹ/ | A rafter of a roof. |
| nose noun | [nəʊ̯z] | A protuberance on the face housing the nostrils, which are used to breathe or smell. |
| somebody | /ˈsʌmˌbədi/ | Some unspecified person. |
| dude noun | /duːd/ | A man, generally a younger man. |
| injury noun | /ˈɪn.d͡ʒɚ.i/ | Damage to the body of a living thing. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Have you fought somebody before?
- Have you ever like punched somebody in the face?
- I've never been in a street fight or anything.
- I don't think any of them are ninja related.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've done · I've never been · I've broken |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I've, don't, I'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 punch, ninja, bone.
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.