This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Relationships - English SHADOWING for Couples”. This video has 105 sentences and 936 words to shadow. The speech runs for 15:35. The speaker talks slowly, about 60 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 38 of its 105 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
lesson noun	/ˈlɛs.ən/	A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
phrase noun	/ˈfɹeɪ̯z/	A short written or spoken expression.
shadow noun	/ˈʃædəʊ̯/	A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
pizza noun	/ˈpi.tsə/	A baked Italian dish of a thinly rolled bread crust typically topped before baking with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients such as meat or vegetables.
grateful adjective	/ˈɡɹeɪtf(ə)l/	Of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation; appreciative, thankful.
relax verb	/ɹɪˈlæks/	To make something loose.
subscribe verb	/səbˈskɹaɪb/	To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name).
humour noun	/ˈhjuːmɚ/	The quality of being amusing, comical, funny.
thoughtful adjective	/ˈθɔːtfəl/	Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.
technique noun	/tɛkˈniːk/	The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements.
confirm verb	/kənˈfɝm/	To strengthen; to make firm or resolute.
downtown noun	/ˈdaʊ̯nˌtaʊ̯n/	The main business part of a city or town, usually located at or near its center.
rhythm noun	/ˈɹɪð.əm/	The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter.
workout noun	/ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/	An exercise session; a period of physical exercise.
pronunciation noun	/pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/	The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
go out verb	To leave, especially a building.
look forward to verb	To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow?
How about we stay in and order pizza tonight?
Where would you prefer to spend the evening?
Shall we go to the museum after lunch?
What is your favorite thing about our relationship?

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	have ever seen · have learned
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group	the best · the most beautiful · the most important
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	enjoy watching · practice shadowing · Keep practicing
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea	should I pick · should go

Pronunciation to watch

The “th” sounds: thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, 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.
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 lesson, phrase, shadow.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson