Shadowing Practice: San Marino Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The Republic of San Marino lies in central Italy, less than an hour's drive from the warm sense of the Adriatic coast.
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With an area of just over 40 square miles, this country is Europe's third smallest, after Vatican City and Monaco.
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Rising dramatically from the Republic's rolling hills and farmlands is Mount Titano.
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It was here that the country's founder, St. Marinos, sought refuge from religious persecution in the third century.
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Over the centuries, three towers were built to ward off those who would challenge its independence and freedom.
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Today, these towers watch over a country overflowing with history, culture, and beauty.
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Just beyond the cliff top towers lies the Republic's ancient capital, which is also called San Marino.
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Whether you take the winding drive or ride the cable car, once at the top, you'll find yourself in another time, another state of mind.
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San Marino City's historic center has received
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World Heritage status, and as you wander the narrow streets.
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It's easy to see why.
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San Marino is the world's oldest constitutional republic.
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High above the world of endless change, this is a place that holds proudly to its past.
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The heart and soul of this republic is the Liberty Square.
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Here stands San Marino's very own
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Statue of Liberty and its town hall, the Palazzo Pubblico.
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Time your visit to catch the changing of the dirt, which takes place every hour in summer.
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Once inside, look for the bust of Abraham Lincoln, who saw the values of this
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Republic as a beacon of hope during the dark days of the American Civil War.
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Step inside the council hall where a painting of Saint Marinos watches over those who guide the country into tomorrow.
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Wherever you turn, you'll see tributes to the Republic's founder.
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No more so than in San Marino Basilica where the bones of this simple stone cutter now rest beneath the altar.
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Like the Republic's founders and Marinos, many sought refuge on this mountain, including the Italian revolutionary hero Garibaldi.
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In 1849, the general and his followers took advantage of the Republic's hospitality to elude capture by pursuing armies.
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Today, San Marino is a welcoming escape for lovers of art and history too.
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Discover centuries of firepower in the Museum of Ancient Arms and more whimsical exhibits at the Museum of Curiosities.
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Stand before the sacred artworks of the St. Francis Museum.
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Then, explore the priceless treasures of the State Museum.
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The Republic is also a tax -free haven for shoppers.
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You'll find all the luxury brands here, as well as more traditional offerings.
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San Marino's coins and stamps are sought after by collectors all over the world.
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But, for a souvenir that is truly unique, have your passport stamped in the State Tourist Office.
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But of course, the true stars of San Marino are its towers.
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Dating back to the 11th century, Guaita Tower is the oldest and the largest fortress of the three.
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Admire the adjacent bell tower that once warned of impending attack, but which today unites
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San Marino's citizens in times of celebration.
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Follow the scenic pathway to the highest point of Mount Titano.
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Here, half a mile above sea level, rise the battlements of Chesta Tower.
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Standing like a lonely sentinel on Titano's farthest peak is Montale, the smallest of the towers.
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Although the tower itself is now closed, its remoteness means you'll enjoy the mountain's cool air without the crowds.
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What this country lacks in size, it more than makes up for with the rarest of qualities, serenity.
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After all, its official name is the most serene republic of San Marino.
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To experience this sense of peace, don't just come for a day trip, escape into the heavens for a night or two.
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For after the tour buses have returned to the busy world below, a stillness descends.
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And in that stillness you'll feel something which has kept
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San Marino's light burning brightly across the ages.
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Freedom.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “San Marino Vacation Travel Guide”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: San, tower, Marino, republic, Museum. This video has 35 sentences and 654 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:32. The speaker talks at a steady 118 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 |
|---|---|---|
| founder noun | /ˈfaʊ̯n.dəː/ | One who founds or establishes (a company, project, organisation, state, etc.). |
| stamp noun | /stæmp/ | An act of stamping the foot, paw or hoof. |
| refuge noun | /ˈɹɛfjuːd͡ʒ/ | A state of safety, protection or shelter. |
| bone noun | /boʊn/ | A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. |
| sand noun | /sænd/ | Rock that is ground more finely than gravel, but is not as fine as silt (more formally, see grain sizes chart), forming beaches and deserts and also used in… |
| capture verb | /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/ | To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem. |
| citizen noun | /ˈsɪtɪzən/ | A resident of a city or town, especially one with legally recognized rights or duties. |
| discover verb | /dɪˈskʌvə/ | To find or learn something for the first time. |
| narrow adjective | /ˈnæɹəʊ/ | Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth. |
| ward noun | /wɔɹd/ | The action of a watchman; monitoring, surveillance (usually in phrases keep ward etc.) |
| heritage noun | /ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/ | An inheritance; property that may be inherited. |
| luxury noun | /ˈlʌk.ʃə.ɹi/ | Very wealthy and comfortable surroundings; the state of being that they create. |
| constitutional adjective | /ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n.(ə)l/ | Belonging to, or inherent in, the constitution or structure of one's body or mind. |
| explore verb | /ɪkˈsploɹ/ | To examine or investigate something systematically. |
| celebration noun | /ˌsɛl.ɪˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/ | The formal performance of a solemn rite, such as Christian sacrament. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| watch over verb | To guard and protect. |
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 | were built · is also called · are sought |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who would · capital, which is · those who guide |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has received · have returned · has kept |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as you'll, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, pathway /ˈpæθˌweɪ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: capture /ˈkæp.(t)ʃɚ/, luxury /ˈlʌk.ʃə.ɹi/, constitutional /ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n.(ə)l/, celebration /ˌsɛl.ɪˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/, revolutionary /ˌɹɛvəˈluʃənɛɹi/
- Long words — get the stress right: constitutional /ˌkɒn.stɪˈtjuː.ʃ(ə)n.(ə)l/, celebration /ˌsɛl.ɪˈbɹeɪ.ʃən/, revolutionary /ˌɹɛvəˈluʃənɛɹi/, hospitality /ˌhɑ.spɪˈtæl.ə.ti/, persecution /ˌpɝsəˈkjuʃən/
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 founder, stamp, refuge.
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.