Shadowing Practice: "Speaking to me is a privilege" - 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 “"Speaking to me is a privilege"”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: privilege, Speaking, hear. This video has 31 sentences and 222 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:41. 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. 7 of its 31 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 |
|---|---|---|
| privilege noun | /ˈpɹɪv.(ɪ.)lɪd͡ʒ/ | A particular benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity enjoyed by some but not others; a prerogative, preferential treatment. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| generous adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹəs/ | Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous. |
| permanently adverb | /ˈpɜː.mə.nənt.li/ | In a permanent manner; lastingly. |
| insist verb | /ɪnˈsɪst/ | To hold up a claim emphatically. |
| punish verb | /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ | To cause (a child, student, or someone else being looked after, or a suspect or criminal) to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action… |
| hesitate verb | /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/ | To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination. |
| dinosaur noun | /ˈdaɪnəsoɹ/ | Those animals of the clade Dinosauria that existed during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and are now extinct. |
| pack noun | /pæk/ | A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale. |
| deliver verb | /dɪˈlɪv.ə(ɹ)/ | To set free from restraint or danger. |
| bathroom noun | /ˈbæθˌɹum/ | A room containing a shower or bathtub, and (typically but not necessarily) a toilet. |
| appreciate verb | /əˈpɹiː.ʃi.eɪt/ | To be grateful or thankful for. |
| message noun | /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ | A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed. |
| ability noun | /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ | The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. |
| mouth noun | /maʊθ/ | The front opening of a creature through which food is ingested. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Why do you insist on making things so hard for yourself?
- Do you think I enjoy punishing you?
- Do you hear me?
- That you hear me, it's important that you listen.
- I'm gonna speak to her.
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 | I've been · I've allowed |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | are going to deliver · gonna speak |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will not be · will lose |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bathroom /ˈbæθˌɹum/, mouth /maʊθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: punish /ˈpʌnɪʃ/, appreciate /əˈpɹiː.ʃi.eɪt/
- Long words — get the stress right: permanently /ˈpɜː.mə.nənt.li/, appreciate /əˈpɹiː.ʃi.eɪt/, ability /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
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 privilege, carefully, generous.
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.