Shadowing Practice: SECRET TO WORKING FASTER - Learn English Speaking with Video
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24 sentences
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1
Set a timer.
2
Human beings are highly influenced by what are called markers of progress, which means if we see time ticking by, we will just work faster.
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Using a very childlike example of clean -up songs, little kids are highly distractible.
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Now if you ask them to put their toys away, by the third thing they pick up, best of luck, right?
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They're off, they're looking at something else, and they're distracted and playing.
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This is true, by the way, across the world, when they're little, teachers will teach them to have a clean -up song in class.
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Now there is a clear beginning and a clear end to what they're trying to do.
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And it keeps them focused.
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It keeps them on task.
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And they know the song is going to end.
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And because the time is ticking by and the song is going to end, they all of a sudden start getting very goal -oriented and focused.
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And they start putting the toys away, especially near the end of the song.
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Parkinson's law.
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Parkinson's law states that work will expand to fit the time that you give it.
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So if you give yourself an hour to get the damn deck done, it'll probably take an hour.
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If you give yourself five, it'll take five.
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So, time yourself.
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Time yourself with everything.
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You need to clean your house.
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You have some errands to run.
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Time yourself.
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You will just work faster.
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Put on a certain playlist, put on whatever, and time yourself.
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And if you see time ticking by, your attention will be sharpened, and you'll just try to finish it before the time is up.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “SECRET TO WORKING FASTER”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: song, ticking, clean. This video has 24 sentences and 278 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:14. The speaker talks fast, about 225 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 90% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tick noun | /tɪk/ | A tiny woodland arachnid of the suborder Ixodida. |
| toy noun | /tɔɪ/ | Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. |
| deck noun | /ˈdɛk/ | Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a balcony; a porch; a raised patio; a flat rooftop. |
| sudden adjective | /ˈsʌd.ən/ | Occurring quickly with little or no warning or expectation; instantly. |
| expand verb | /ɪkˈspænd/ | To change (something) from a smaller form or size to a larger one; to spread out or lay open. |
| marker noun | /ˈmɑː(ɹ)kə(ɹ)/ | A felt-tipped pen, a marker pen. |
| distract verb | /dɪˈstɹækt/ | To divert the attention of. |
| timer noun | /ˈtaɪmɚ/ | A device used to measure amounts of time. |
| playlist noun | /ˈpleɪˌlɪst/ | A list of recorded songs scheduled to be played on a radio station. |
| childlike adjective | /ˈt͡ʃaɪldlaɪk/ | Innocent and trustful; credulous; artless. |
| distractible adjective | Capable of being distracted | |
| errand noun | /ˈɛɹənd/ | A mundane mission of no great consequence, concerning household or business affairs (dropping items by, doing paperwork, going to a friend's house, etc.) |
| orient verb | /ˈɔɹ.iˌɛnt/ | To build or place (something) so as to face eastward. |
| sharpen verb | /ˈʃɑɹpən/ | To make sharp. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| clean up verb | To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy. |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If you give yourself five, it'll take |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are called · will be sharpened |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as they're, it'll, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 tick, toy, deck.
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.