Shadowing Practice: محامٍ أمريكي شهير : هل الإسلام يكرهنا؟… والجواب يفاجئه!!! - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “محامٍ أمريكي شهير : هل الإسلام يكرهنا؟… والجواب يفاجئه!!!”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: muslim, word, Christian, prophet, language. This video has 189 sentences and 1843 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:03. The speaker talks fast, about 183 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| prophet noun | /ˈpɹɑ.fɪt/ | Someone who speaks by divine inspiration. |
| migrant noun | /ˈmaɪɡɹənt/ | A migratory animal, in particular a migratory bird. |
| arabic adjective | /ˈæɹəbɪk/ | Only used in arabic acid |
| deadly adjective | /ˈdɛdli/ | Causing death; lethal. |
| jihad noun | /d͡ʒɪˈhæd/ | A holy war undertaken by Muslims. |
| wipe verb | /waɪp/ | To move an object over, maintaining contact, with the intention of removing some substance from the surface. (Compare rub.) |
| blessing noun | /ˈblɛs.ɪŋ/ | Some kind of divine or supernatural aid, or reward. |
| testament noun | /ˈtɛs.tə.mənt/ | A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his or her will as to disposal of his or her inheritance (estate and effects) after his… |
| oppress verb | /əˈpɹɛs/ | To keep down by unjust force. |
| wedlock noun | /ˈwɛd.lɒk/ | The state of being married. |
| righteous adjective | /ˈɹaɪt͡ʃəs/ | Free from sin or guilt. |
| revelation noun | /ˌɹɛv.əˈleɪ.ʃən/ | The act of revealing or disclosing. |
| fascinate verb | /ˈfæsɪneɪt/ | To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone. |
| frat noun | /fɹæt/ | Shortened form of fraternity, college organization. |
| repercussion noun | /ˌɹiː.pəˈkʌʃ.ən/ | A consequence or ensuing result of some action. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| wipe out verb | To destroy (especially, a large number or complete set of people or things); to obliterate. | |
| come down verb | To descend, fall down, collapse. | |
| come over verb | To affect in a sudden, unprecedented or surprising manner; to overwhelm a person's ordinarily contrary impulse. | |
| come up to verb | To approach. | |
| fight back verb | /faɪt bæk/ | To defend oneself by fighting. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- That's literally what I became famous for.
- We don't believe that he was crucified.
- It's very interesting stuff when you study it.
- You're not allowed to be oppressed.
- If you're being oppressed, push back.
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 worshipped · were commanded · were persecuted |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have only come · have gotten · have taught |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 43 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, didn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: revelation /ˌɹɛv.əˈleɪ.ʃən/, repercussion /ˌɹiː.pəˈkʌʃ.ən/, oppression /əˈpɹɛʃən/, misconception /ˌmɪs.kənˈsɛp.ʃən/, newsflash /ˈnuzˌflæʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: revelation /ˌɹɛv.əˈleɪ.ʃən/, repercussion /ˌɹiː.pəˈkʌʃ.ən/, animosity /æn.ɪˈmɒs.ɪ.ti/, dehumanize /diːˈhjuːmənaɪz/, eradicate /əˈræd.əˌkeɪt/
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 prophet, migrant, arabic.
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.











