Shadowing Practice: Should Phones Be Banned in Schools? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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26 sentences
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1
Morning! Did you get the email from the school?
2
About the phone ban? Yes, I read it last night.
3
Finally! I think it's a brilliant idea.
4
Really? Hmm, I'm not so sure about it.
5
Kids can't concentrate when their phones keep buzzing.
6
My son checks his messages in the middle of lessons!
7
Okay, I get that. That's a fair point.
8
And think about bullying. A lot of it happens online.
9
If phones stay at home, kids actually talk at break.
10
But what about safety? That really worries me.
11
My daughter takes two buses to get here.
12
What if the bus breaks down and she can't call me?
13
Well, she could use the phone in the school office.
14
Seriously? There's one phone for a thousand kids!
15
Okay, okay. I didn't think about the bus.
16
And kids need to learn how to use technology well.
17
You can't just take it away and hope for the best.
18
Hold on. Nobody's taking technology away.
19
They still use computers in class, don't they?
20
Hmm, true. I suppose I'm overreacting a bit.
21
So what if phones go in lockers during lessons?
22
Oh! And they get them back after school?
23
Exactly! So your daughter has it on the bus.
24
Wow, I could definitely live with that!
25
Let's suggest it at the parents' meeting on Thursday.
26
Deal! And thanks for really listening.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Should Phones Be Banned in Schools?”. This video has 26 sentences and 224 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:36. The speaker talks at a steady 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 9 of its 26 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 |
|---|---|---|
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| concentrate verb | /ˈkɑn.sən.tɹeɪt/ | To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force. |
| buzz noun | /bʌz/ | A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones. |
| bullying noun | /ˈbʊ.li.ɪŋ/ | An act of intimidating a person to do something, especially such repeated coercion. |
| locker noun | /ˈlɑ.kɚ/ | A type of storage compartment with a lock, usually used to store personal possessions for public use, such as in schools, railway stations, place of work… |
| overreact verb | /ˌoʊ.vəɹ.ɹiˈækt/ | To react too much or too intensely. |
| email noun | /ˈiˌmeɪl/ | A system for sending messages and datas by means of a computer network, primarily the Internet, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and the Internet… |
| suppose verb | /səˈpoʊz/ | To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe. |
| brilliant adjective | /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/ | Shining brightly. |
| message noun | /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ | A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed. |
| fair adjective | /ˈfɛə/ | Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent. |
| computer noun | /kəmˈpju.tɚ/ | A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large… |
| safety noun | /ˈseɪfti/ | The condition or feeling of being safe; security; certainty. |
| definitely adverb | /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/ | Without question and beyond doubt. |
| seriously adverb | /ˈsɪɹ.i.əs.li/ | In a serious or literal manner. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break down verb | To stop functioning. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Did you get the email from the school?
- I think it's a brilliant idea.
- Hmm, I'm not so sure about it.
- What if the bus breaks down and she can't call me?
- I didn't think about the bus.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, I'm, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: overreact /ˌoʊ.vəɹ.ɹiˈækt/, definitely /ˈdɛf.ɪ.nɪt.li/, seriously /ˈsɪɹ.i.əs.li/
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 lesson, concentrate, buzz.
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.