Shadowing Practice: Reversible and Irreversible Changes to Matter - Learn English Speaking with Video
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25 sentences
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1
Matter can change in different ways.
2
When we play with modelling clay, for example, we can transform it into different shapes by pushing, pulling or twisting.
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We can also roll it back into its original shape.
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This is a reversible change.
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Heat can also change matter.
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When we add heat to ice, it melts and becomes water.
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This is called melting.
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If we cool the water, it changes back into solid ice.
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This is called freezing.
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Melting and freezing are reversible changes.
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But some changes are irreversible.
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When we cook a raw egg, it changes from liquid to solid.
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Even if it cools down, it won't become a raw egg again.
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Cutting a piece of paper is also irreversible.
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Once it's cut, we can't turn the pieces back into a whole paper.
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Burning is another irreversible change.
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When we burn a piece of paper, it turns into ash, which can't be turned back into paper.
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Rusting is also irreversible.
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When iron reacts with water and oxygen, it rusts.
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Rust can't be transformed back into iron.
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Chemical reactions can cause irreversible changes too.
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When vinegar and baking soda react, they create carbon dioxide gas, which can't be turned back into vinegar and baking soda.
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Remember, some changes are reversible, like shaping clay or melting and freezing water.
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But others, like cooking an egg, cutting paper, burning, rusting or chemical reactions, are irreversible.
25
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Reversible and Irreversible Changes to Matter”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: irreversible, paper, reversible, melting, freezing. This video has 25 sentences and 235 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:01. The speaker talks at a steady 116 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 76% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| melt verb | /mɛlt/ | To change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat. |
| rust noun | /ɹʌst/ | The deteriorated state of iron or steel as a result of moisture and oxidation; it consists mostly of iron(III) oxide (ferric oxide) and iron(II) oxide (ferrous… |
| freeze verb | /ˈfɹiːz/ | Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature. |
| clay noun | /kleɪ/ | A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics. |
| react verb | /ɹiːˈækt/ | To act in response. |
| soda noun | /ˈsoʊdə/ | Sodium bicarbonate. |
| transform verb | /tɹænsˈfɔɹm/ | To change greatly the appearance or form of. |
| bake verb | /beɪk/ | To cook (something) in an oven (for someone). |
| vinegar noun | /ˈvɪnəɡɚ/ | A sour liquid formed by the fermentation of alcohol used as a condiment or preservative; a dilute solution of acetic acid. |
| liquid noun | /ˈlɪk.wɪd/ | A substance that is flowing, and keeping no shape, such as water; a substance of which the molecules, while not tending to separate from one another like those… |
| oxygen noun | /ˈɑksɪd͡ʒən/ | The chemical element (symbol O) with an atomic number of 8 and relative atomic mass of 15.9994. It is a colorless and odorless gas. Sometimes called elemental… |
| twist verb | /twɪst/ | To turn the ends of something, usually thread, rope etc., in opposite directions, often using force. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| dioxide noun | /daɪˈɑksaɪd/ | Any oxide containing two oxygen atoms in each molecule. |
| irreversible adjective | /ˌɪr.ɪˈvɝ.sə.bəl/ | Incapable of being reversed or turned about or back; incapable of being made to run backwards. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cool down verb | /kuːl ˈdaʊn/ | To become cooler; to be reduced in temperature. |
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 | is called · can't be turned · can't be transformed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | ash, which can · gas, which can |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, don't, won't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: irreversible /ˌɪr.ɪˈvɝ.sə.bəl/, reversible /ɹəˈvɜː(ɹ)sɪbəl/
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 melt, rust, freeze.
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.