Shadowing Practice: READING EXPLORER 2 Unit 4B THE CHANGING FACE OF KUNG FU - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Unit 4.
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B. The Changing Face of Kung Fu.
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A. In the 5th century, according to legend,
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an Indian master taught some monks at the Shaolin Temple a series of exercises or forms inspired by the movements of animals.
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These forms became the basis for the style of fighting known as Kung Fu.
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Over 16 centuries, the monks have used Kung Fu for self-defense and in war.
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With it, they have won many battles against their enemies.
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B, in Dengfeng today, 10km from the Shaolin Temple, there are over 60 martial arts schools with more than 50,000 students.
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They come to the schools for a variety of reasons.
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Some hope to become movie stars.
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Others come to learn skills that will ensure good jobs in the military or police force.
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A few are sent by their parents to learn self-control and hard work.
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Sea master Hu Zhengsheng teaches at a small school in Dengfang.
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Recently, he was offered an important role in a Kung Fu movie.
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It would have been good publicity for his school, but he did not accept.
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He doesn't agree with how Kung Fu is often shown in movies.
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He feels they show too much violence.
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D, unlike many large schools which teach acrobatics and kickboxing, Hu teaches his students traditional kung fu forms.
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He teaches them the way his master, a Shaolin legend, taught him.
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But attracting new students to this style of kung fu has become a problem.
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Hu is afraid his art will soon die out.
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He has to remind his students that kung fu was designed for fighting, not to entertain.
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E. There are no high kicks or acrobatics here, he says.
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It is hard to convince boys to spend many years learning something that won't make them wealthy or famous.
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F whose students have little.
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They sleep in unheated rooms and train outside no matter what the temperature.
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They hit trees with their bare hands and take turns sitting on each other's shoulders to build leg strength.
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Why such hardship?
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To master Kung Fu they must learn respect and how to eat bitterness, a Mandarin expression meaning to endure suffering.
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The life of a Shaolin master, Hu teaches, is not easy or attractive.
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Ji Master Hu is in a difficult position for old traditions to survive, the young must learn.
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Gradually, he has begun offering a few courses in kickboxing and the acrobatic Kung Fu forms, hoping to attract new students,
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then maybe he'll be able to convince them to learn Shaolin Kung Fu the traditional way.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 33 sentences and 423 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:52. The speaker talks at a steady 148 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 77% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| legend noun | /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/ | The life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend). |
| convince verb | /kənˈvɪns/ | To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence. |
| attract verb | /əˈtɹækt/ | To pull toward without touching. |
| monk noun | /mʌŋk/ | A male member of a monastic order who has devoted his life for religious service. |
| suffer verb | /ˈsʌfɚ/ | To undergo hardship. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| gradually adverb | /ˈɡɹæd͡ʒuəli/ | In a gradual manner; making slow progress; slowly. |
| wealthy adjective | /ˈwɛl.θi/ | Possessing financial wealth; rich. |
| martial adjective | /ˈmɑɹʃəl/ | Of, relating to, or suggestive of war; warlike. |
| inspire verb | /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ | To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by… |
| publicity noun | /pʌbˈlɪsɪti/ | Advertising or other activity designed to rouse public interest in something. |
| entertain verb | /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ | To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably. |
| endure verb | /ɪnˈd͡ʒʊə(ɹ)/ | To continue or carry on, despite obstacles or hardships; to persist. |
| hardship noun | /ˈhɑɹdˌʃɪp/ | Difficulty or trouble; hard times. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| die out verb | To become extinct. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are sent · was offered · is often shown |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have won · has become · has begun |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will ensure · will soon die · won't make |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | has to remind · must learn |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, he'll, won't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: martial /ˈmɑɹʃəl/, hardship /ˈhɑɹdˌʃɪp/
- Long words — get the stress right: publicity /pʌbˈlɪsɪti/, acrobatic /ˌækɹəˈbætɪk/
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 legend, convince, attract.
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.