Shadowing Practice: Shadowing Obama speech learn english by Shanilka - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Shadowing Obama speech learn english by Shanilka”. This video has 7 sentences and 86 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:40. The speaker talks at a steady 129 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| uncle noun | /ˈʌŋ.kl̩/ | The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent. |
| congratulations | /kənˌɡɹæt͡ʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/ | Expressing praise and approval, expressing approbation. |
| acknowledge verb | /əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ/ | To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in. |
| aunt noun | /ɑːnt/ | The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent. |
| administrator noun | /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹeɪ.tɚ/ | One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes, or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or ecclesiastical affairs; a manager. |
| milestone noun | /ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ | A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of… |
| devote verb | /dɪˈvəʊt/ | to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate. |
| grandparent noun | /ˈɡɹæn(d)pɛəɹənt/ | The parent of someone's parent. |
| teach verb | /ˈtiːt͡ʃ/ | To pass on knowledge to. |
| recognize verb | /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/ | To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing. |
| sister noun | /ˈsɪs.tɚ/ | A daughter of the same parents as another person; a female sibling. |
| reach verb | /ɹiːt͡ʃ/ | To extend, stretch, or thrust out (for example a limb or object held in the hand). |
| teacher noun | /ˈti.t͡ʃɚ/ | A person who teaches, especially one employed in a school; preceptor. |
| heat noun | /hit/ | Thermal energy. |
| treat verb | /tɹiːt/ | To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stand behind verb | To support; express one's support for, especially despite opposition; to stick with a decision. |
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 | have loved · have never treated |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who helped |
Pronunciation to watch
- Long words — get the stress right: congratulations /kənˌɡɹæt͡ʃəˈleɪʃ(ə)nz/, administrator /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹeɪ.tɚ/
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 uncle, congratulations, acknowledge.
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.