Shadowing Practice: somewhere only we know - rhianne (cover) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “somewhere only we know - rhianne”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: somewhere, rely, tired, begin, simple. This video has 20 sentences and 243 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:01. The speaker talks slowly, about 81 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 7 of its 20 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| rely verb | /ɹɪˈlaɪ/ | To trust; to have confidence in; to depend. |
| beneath | /bɪˈniːθ/ | Below. |
| pathway noun | /ˈpæθˌweɪ/ | A footpath or other path or track. |
| empty adjective | /ˈɛm(p).ti/ | Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant. |
| branch noun | /bɹænt͡ʃ/ | The woody part of a tree arising from the trunk and usually dividing. |
| somewhere adverb | /ˈsʌm.wɛɹ/ | In an uncertain or unspecified location. |
| begin verb | /bɪˈɡɪn/ | To start, to initiate or take the first step into something. |
| tired adjective | [ˈtaɪ̯ɚd] | In need of some rest or sleep. |
| minute noun | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds). |
| dream verb | /ˈdɹim/ | To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping. |
| foot noun | /fʊt/ | A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg. |
| tree noun | /tɹiː/ | A perennial woody plant taller and larger than a shrub with a wooden trunk and, at some distance from the ground, having leaves and branches. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come across verb | To change sides; to cross over to work for the opposition. |
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 you gone |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm getting |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna let |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, pathway /ˈpæθˌweɪ/
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 rely, beneath, pathway.
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.