Shadowing Practice: Sheldon's Nobel Prize Speech[Part-1] | TBBT - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 9 sentences and 86 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:49. The speaker talks slowly, about 104 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound.
Key vocabulary in this video
10 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| encourage verb | /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ | To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit. |
| belong verb | /bɪˈlɒŋ/ | To have its proper place. |
| inspire verb | /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ | To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by… |
| sustain verb | /səˈsteɪn/ | To maintain, or keep in existence. |
| tolerate verb | /ˈtɑ.lə.ɹeɪt/ | To allow or permit without explicit approval, usually if it is perceived as negative. |
| accomplishment noun | /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ.mənt/ | The act of accomplishing; completion; fulfilment. |
| misapprehension noun | A failure to understand something; an illusion, misconception, or misunderstanding. | |
| beginning noun | /bɪˈɡɪn.ɪŋ/ | The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort… |
| sister noun | /ˈsɪs.tɚ/ | A daughter of the same parents as another person; a female sibling. |
| honor noun | /ˈɒn.ə/ | Recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration (of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful). |
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 been encouraged |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | have been encouraged |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, I'm, weren't. 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.
- 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 encourage, belong, inspire.
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.