Shadowing Practice: Shadowing English Speaking Practice: Real-Life English Conversations - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Shadowing English Speaking Practice: Real-Life English Conversations”. This video has 558 sentences and 3290 words to shadow. The speech runs for 52:17. The speaker talks slowly, about 63 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 120 of its 558 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 |
|---|---|---|
| passport noun | /ˈpæspɔɹt/ | An official document normally used for international journeys, which proves the identity and nationality of the person for whom it was issued. |
| pronunciation noun | /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken. |
| symptom noun | /ˈsɪm(p)təm/ | A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a… |
| insert verb | /ɪnˈsɝt/ | To put in between or into. |
| subway noun | /ˈsʌbˌweɪ/ | An underground railway, especially for mass transit of people in urban areas. |
| reception noun | /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃn̩/ | The act of receiving. |
| cheeseburger noun | /ˈtʃizˌbɝ.ɡɚ/ | A hamburger containing cheese (usually one or more slices of processed cheese). |
| sprite noun | /spɹaɪt/ | A spirit; a soul; a shade. |
| scanner noun | /ˈskænə/ | One who scans. |
| checkout noun | /ˈt͡ʃɛkˌaʊt/ | The process of checking out of a hotel, or the latest time to vacate a room in one. |
| onion noun | /ˈʌn.jən/ | A monocotyledonous plant (Allium cepa), allied to garlic, used as vegetable and spice. |
| fry verb | /fɹaɪ/ | To cook (something) in hot fat. |
| uber adjective | /ˈuːbəɹ/ | Super; high-level; high-ranking. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| ranch noun | /ˈɹænt͡ʃ/ | A large plot of land used for raising cattle, sheep or other livestock. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. | |
| light up verb | To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten. | |
| fill out verb | /fɪl ˈaʊt/ | To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information. |
| sign up verb | To add a name to the list of people who are participating in something. | |
| stay out verb | To spend time out of one's house. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Anyways, how was your weekend?
- You have loud neighbors too?
- Are you gonna see any friends while you're there?
- Do you know what you're doing yet?
- You're staying for four nights, is that correct?
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 | you've never tried · has it been · have you had |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start shadowing · mind placing · hate flying |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should feel · should see · should definitely check |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm probably staying · I'm trying · are you doing |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 116 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: throat /ˈθɹoʊt/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, breathe /bɹiːð/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, reception /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃn̩/, medication /mɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/, reservation /ˌɹɛz.ɚˈveɪ.ʃən/, recommendation /ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, medication /mɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/, reservation /ˌɹɛz.ɚˈveɪ.ʃən/, recommendation /ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/, electronics /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɑ.nɪks/
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 passport, pronunciation, symptom.
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.























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