Shadowing Practice: Simplifying Fractions - Learn English Speaking with Video

In this lesson, I'm going to talk about how to simplify fractions.

So let's start with a basic example, 6 over 8.

How can we simplify this fraction?

Well, notice that 6 and 8 are both even numbers.

So therefore, we can divide each number by 2.

6 divided by 2 is 3.

8 divided by 2 is 4.

And so the answer is going to be 3 over 4.

Now what about 8 over 12?

How can we simplify that fraction?

So 8 and 12 are even numbers, so we can divide each number by 2.

8 divided by 2 is 4, 12 divided by 2 is 6.

Now we still have even numbers, so we can divide it by 2 again.

4 divided by 2 is 2, 6 divided by 2 is 3.

so the answer is 2 over 3.

Another way in which you can do that problem is you could realize

that 8 is basically 4 times 2 and 12 is 4 times 3

and so you can cancel 4 and then this will give you the final result of 2 over 3.

For the sake of practice go ahead and try these two examples 15 over 24 and 35 over 49

go ahead and simplify those two fractions 15 is 5 times 3 24 is 8 times 3

so we could cancel a 3 and

so the final answer for the first example it's going to be 5 over 8

Now let's move on to the next example.

What do you know about 35 and 49?

35 and 49 have a common number that goes into both of them, and that is 7.

35 is 7 times 5.

49 is 7 times 7.

And so we could cancel a 7, giving us the answer 5 over 7.

Try these two.

48 over 72 and also 38 over 57.

Now 48, what two numbers do you think is equal to 48?

The first two numbers that come in my mind are 8 and 6.

And 72 is 9 times 8 or 8 times 9.

So we could cancel on 8.

Now we could still simplify this further.

6 is 3 times 2.

9 is 3 times 3.

And so these can be cancelled.

Thus the final answer for that problem is 2 over 3.

Now what about 38 and 57?

Both numbers are divisible by 19.

19 times 2 is 38.

19 times 3 is 57.

And once again, the final answer is 2 over 3.

So now you know how to simplify fractions.

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62 sentences

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Simplifying Fractions”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: simplify, divided, answer, fraction, cancel. This video has 45 sentences and 326 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:11. The speaker talks slowly, about 102 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 90% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
divide verb	/dɪˈvaɪd/	To split or separate (something) into two or more parts.
cancel verb	/ˈkæn.sl̩/	To cross out something with lines etc.
fraction noun	/ˈfɹæk.ʃən/	A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part.
lesson noun	/ˈlɛs.ən/	A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
sake noun	/ˈseɪ̯k/	Cause, interest or account.
simplify verb	/ˈsɪmplɪfaɪ/	To make simpler, either by reducing in complexity, reducing to component parts, or making easier to understand.
divisible adjective	[dɪˈvɪzɪbəɫ]	Capable of being divided or split.
equal adjective	/ˈiːkwəl/	The same in one or more respects.
basically adverb	/ˈbeɪ.sɪk.(ə.)li/	In a fundamental, essential or basic manner.
thus adverb	/ˈðʌs/	In this way or manner.
notice verb	/ˈnoʊ.tɪs/	To become aware of; to observe.
basic adjective	/ˈbeɪsɪk/	Necessary, essential for life or some process.
therefore adverb	/ˈðɛɹ.fɔɹ/	Consequently, by or in consequence of that or this cause; referring to something previously stated.
realize verb	/ˈɹi(.ə)ˌlaɪz/	To become aware of, understand, or appreciate (a fact or situation, especially something which has been true for some time).

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
go ahead verb	/ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/	To proceed with; to begin.

Pronunciation to watch

The “th” sounds: thus /ˈðʌs/, therefore /ˈðɛɹ.fɔɹ/
Long words — get the stress right: divisible [dɪˈvɪzɪbəɫ], basically /ˈbeɪ.sɪk.(ə.)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 divide, cancel, fraction.

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 →

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