This speaking lesson is built on the video “She Was Treated Unfairly But Still Won”. This video has 1 sentences and 44 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:30.

Key vocabulary in this video

12 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
naturally adverb	/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/	In a natural manner.
everyday adjective	/ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/	Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
format noun	/ˈfɔːɹ.mæt/	The layout of a publication or document.
narrative noun	/ˈnæɹ.ə.tɪv/	The systematic recitation of an event or series of events.
retain verb	/ɹəˈteɪn/	Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
meaningful adjective	/ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fl̩/	Having meaning, significant.
subtle adjective	/ˈsʌtəl/	Of an action or movement: very delicate or slight, and thus barely noticeable; not obvious; inconspicuous, unintrusive.
vocabulary noun	/vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/	A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning.
memorization noun	/ˈmem(ə)ɹaɪˌzeɪʃn̩/	The act of committing something to memory or memorizing.
nuance noun	/ˈnjuː.ɑːns/	A minor distinction.
emotional adjective	/ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/	Of or relating to the emotions.
sentence noun	/ˈsɛn.təns/	The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.

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 won · has spilled · have finally won
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	will be saved · is disqualified
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	wasn't racing · was racing
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	will get · will be · will never give

Pronunciation to watch

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: memorization /ˈmem(ə)ɹaɪˌzeɪʃn̩/, emotional /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/
Long words — get the stress right: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, memorization /ˈmem(ə)ɹaɪˌzeɪʃn̩/, emotional /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/

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 naturally, everyday, format.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →