Shadowing Practice: Shopping for clothes – A2 English Listening Test - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 46 sentences and 237 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:48. The speaker talks at a steady 132 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• jacket /ˈd͡ʒæk.ɪt/ (noun) — A piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse, often waist length to thigh length.
• discount /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ (noun) — A reduction in price.
• grey /ɡɹeɪ/ (adjective) — Commonwealth standard spelling of gray.
• clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/ (noun) — Any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to…
• receipt /ɹɪˈsiːt/ (noun) — The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
• cardigan /ˈkɑːdɪɡən/ (noun) — A type of sweater or jumper that fastens up the front with buttons or a zipper, usually machine- or hand-knitted from wool.
• medium /ˈmiː.di.əm/ (noun) — The material of the surrounding environment, e.g. solid, liquid, gas, vacuum, or a specific substance such as a solvent.
• item /ˈaɪ.təm/ (noun) — A distinct physical object.
• fit /fɪt/ (verb) — To be suitable for.
• afraid /əˈfɹeɪd/ (adjective) — Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
• certainly /ˈsɜː.tn̩.li/ (adverb) — In a way which is certain; with certainty.
• absolutely /ˌæb.səˈlut.li/ (adverb) — In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly.
• cash /ˈkæʃ/ (noun) — Money in the form of notes or bills and coins, as opposed to checks, credit or electronic transactions.
• spring /ˈspɹɪŋ/ (noun) — An act of springing: a leap, a jump.
• shop /ʃɑp/ (noun) — An establishment that sells goods or services to the public; originally only a physical location, but now a virtual establishment as well.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
• look for (verb) — To seek.
• try on (verb) — To test the look or fit of (a garment) by wearing it.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: cash /ˈkæʃ/, shop /ʃɑp/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like jacket, discount, grey.