Shadowing Practice: Real English Conversation: Advanced English Lesson - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Real English Conversation: Advanced English Lesson”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: conversation, offer, kill, English. This video has 348 sentences and 3873 words to shadow. The speech runs for 23:16. The speaker talks at a natural 166 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| subway noun | /ˈsʌbˌweɪ/ | An underground railway, especially for mass transit of people in urban areas. |
| immerse verb | /ɪˈmɜɹs/ | To place within a fluid (generally a liquid, but also a gas). |
| homework noun | /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/ | Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class. |
| fluency noun | /ˈfluːənsi/ | The quality of smoothness of flow. |
| hike noun | /haɪk/ | A long walk, usually for pleasure or exercise. |
| breakdown noun | /ˈbɹeɪkˌdaʊn/ | A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature. |
| schooler noun | A student, or in some cases member, of a particular type of school or schooling. (ordinarily used in combinations such as "high schooler") | |
| commute verb | /kəˈmjuːt/ | To exchange substantially; to abate but not abolish completely, a penalty, obligation, or payment in return for a great, single thing or an aggregate; to cash… |
| minivan noun | A small van, especially (Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines) one primarily used for family transport. | |
| worksheet noun | A sheet of paper or computerized document on which problems are worked out or solved and the answers are recorded. | |
| transcript noun | /ˈtɹæn.skɹɪpt/ | Something which has been transcribed; a writing or composition consisting of the same words as the original; a written copy. |
| suburb noun | /ˈsʌbɝb/ | A residential area located on the outskirts of a city or large town that usually includes businesses that cater to its residents; such as schools, grocery… |
| countryside noun | /ˈkʌn.tɹiˌsaɪd/ | An area located outside of towns and cities; an area that is not urban or suburban; a rural area. |
| elevator noun | /ˈɛləˌveɪtɚ/ | Anything that raises or uplifts. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| grow up verb | To mature and become an adult. |
| break down verb | To stop functioning. |
| back up verb | To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so. |
| get together verb | To meet, to gather together, to congregate. |
| go off verb | To explode. |
| go up verb | To move upwards. |
| speak out verb | To assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known. |
| walk around verb | To walk with no planned destination; to meander. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Can you tell me where did you grow up?
- Did you have an elevator?
- Are you ready to get started?
- She just said, well, you know what?
- Wouldn't that be nice for me personally?
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 | you've learned · I've learned · They've already named |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was called · will be amazed · is not scheduled |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | lot, which is · lesson, which is · offer, which is |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 87 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, variation /ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩/, distinction /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, elevator /ˈɛləˌveɪtɚ/, figurative /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
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 vocabulary, subway, immerse.
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.































