Shadowing Practice: Sherlock and John at the Buckingham Palace | S2E1 | Benedict Cumberbatch | Martin Freeman | BBC - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
48 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Oh, my God.
2
Are you wearing any pants?
3
No. Okay.
4
You're packing your palace.
5
Right.
6
I'm seriously fighting an impulse to steal an ashtray.
7
What are we doing here, Sherlock?
8
Seriously, what?
9
I don't know.
10
Here to see the Queen?
11
Apparently, yes.
12
Just once can you two behave like grown -ups.
13
We solve crimes, I blog about it, and he forgets his pants.
14
I wouldn't hold her too much home.
15
I was in the middle of a case, Mycroft.
16
What, the hiker and the backfire?
17
I glanced at the police report.
18
A bit obvious, surely.
19
Transparent.
20
Time to move on, then.
21
We are in Buckingham Palace.
22
At the very heart of the British nation, Sherlock Holmes, put your trousers on.
23
What for?
24
Your client.
25
And my client is?
26
Illustrious.
27
In the extreme.
28
And remaining, I have to inform you, entirely anonymous.
29
My craft.
30
Harry, may I just apologise to the state of my little brother?
31
Full -time occupation, I imagine.
32
And this must be Dr John Watson, formerly of the 5th Northumberton Fusiliad.
33
Hello, yes.
34
My employer is a tremendous fan of your block.
35
Your employer?
36
I particularly enjoy the one about the aluminium crutch.
37
Thank you.
38
And Mr Holmes the Younger.
39
You look taller in your photographs.
40
Take the precaution of a good coat and a short friend.
41
Mycroft, I don't do anonymous clients.
42
I'm used to mystery at one end of my cases both ends is too much work.
43
Good morning
44
This is a matter of national importance grow up get off my sheet
45
or what I'll just walk away I'll let you boys, please look here Who is my client?
46
Take a look at where you're standing
47
and make a deduction you are to be engaged by the highest in the land now for God's sake
48
Put your clothes on.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B12
Emily in Paris Last Scene
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
Emily in Paris • Best scenes (Part 1) | Lily Collins | Lucas Bravo | Ashley Park | Netflix
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B21
Bridgerton (2020) Best Scenes • Part 1 | Regé-Jean Page | Phoebe Dynevor | Nicola Coughlan | Netflix
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B14
Emily is fired CLIP | Emily in Paris | Lily Collins | Lucas Bravo | Ashley Park | Netflix
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11
Samantha meets a Nun | Sex and the City Season 6 Clip | Sarah Jessica Parker | Kim Cattrall | HBO
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B1Sherlock asks John to punch him | S2E1 | Benedict Cumberbatch | Martin Freeman | Lara Pulver | BBC
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B1Lucifer finds out about Fake Lucifer | Tom Ellis | Lauren German | Leslie Ann Brandt/Kevin Alejandro
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B1Carrie tells Big she’s going to Paris | Sex and the City S6 | Sarah Jessica Parker | Kim Cattrall
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B1Simon & Daphne first meeting Scene | Bridgerton | Regé-Jean Page | Phoebe Dynevor | Nicola Coughlan
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B1Young Diana competes at the Tournament | Wonder Woman 1984 | Gal Gadot | Chris Pine | Kristen Wiig
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B12
51 sentences
Johnlock | "Mrs Hudson, Dr John Watson." | S01E01
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B17
110 sentences
Emma Corrin Is Admittedly So British | All About Me | Harper's BAZAAR
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
90 sentences
Mr. Bingley's Adorable Proposal | Pride & Prejudice
Cambridge Exam PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B26
294 sentences
Learn English with SHERLOCK
Cambridge Exam PrepBusiness EnglishDaily Conversation
B279 sentences
Benedict Cumberbatch talks 'Sherlock'
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B17
61 sentences
No Fighting | Peaky Blinders
British AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B11
15 sentences
Sherlock 1x01 Damn my leg
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B128 sentences
Inside Rebecca Constable’s Victorian London Terrace House
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
112 sentences
Sherlock Meets Jim Moriarty | The Great Game | Sherlock | BBC
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B14
328 sentences
The Ghost of the Church Tower | A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B23
22 sentences
Claire Foy: Acceptance Speech | 23rd Annual SAG Awards | TBS
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B15
369 sentences
2026 09 24 The Archers Soap Opera: Driving Disasters & Village Dilemmas
British AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Sherlock and John at the Buckingham Palace”. This video has 48 sentences and 303 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:55. The speaker talks slowly, about 104 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 10 of its 48 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 |
|---|---|---|
| anonymous adjective | /əˈnɒn.ə.məs/ | Lacking a name; not named, for example an animal not assigned to any species . |
| employer noun | /ɪmˈplɔɪə/ | A person, firm or other entity which pays for or hires the services of another person. |
| ashtray noun | /ˈæʃ.tɹeɪ/ | A receptacle for ash and butts from cigarettes and cigars. |
| backfire verb | /bækˈfaɪə(ɹ)/ | Of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc., to fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel. |
| crutch noun | /ˈkɹʌt͡ʃ/ | A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg. |
| deduction noun | /dɪˈdʌkʃən/ | That which is deducted; that which is subtracted or removed. |
| illustrious adjective | /ɪˈlʌs.tɹi.əs/ | Admired, distinguished, respected, or well-known. |
| precaution noun | /pɹiːˈkɔ.ʃən/ | Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent misfortune or to secure good. |
| trousers noun | /ˈtɹaʊzɚz/ | An article of clothing that covers the part of the body between the waist and the ankles or knees, and is divided into a separate part for each leg. |
| impulse noun | /ˈɪmpʌls/ | A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels. |
| aluminium noun | /ˌæl.(j)uˈmɪn.i.əm/ | A light, silvery metal extracted from bauxite, and a chemical element (symbol Al) with an atomic number of 13. |
| glance verb | /ɡlæns/ | To turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly. |
| behave verb | /bɪˈheɪv/ | To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform. |
| transparent adjective | /tɹænsˈpæɹənt/ | See-through, clear; having the property that light passes through it almost undisturbed, such that one can see through it clearly. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. |
| grow up verb | To mature and become an adult. |
| walk away verb | To withdraw from a problematic situation. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Are you wearing any pants?
- I'm seriously fighting an impulse to steal an ashtray.
- I wouldn't hold her too much home.
- Harry, may I just apologise to the state of my little brother?
- Mycroft, I don't do anonymous clients.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'll, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: ashtray /ˈæʃ.tɹeɪ/, deduction /dɪˈdʌkʃən/, precaution /pɹiːˈkɔ.ʃən/, occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: anonymous /əˈnɒn.ə.məs/, illustrious /ɪˈlʌs.tɹi.əs/, aluminium /ˌæl.(j)uˈmɪn.i.əm/, apologize /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/, occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/
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 anonymous, employer, ashtray.
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.