Shadowing Practice: 'Spider-Man' Tom Holland Goes Undercover to Experience High School - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 31 sentences and 357 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:51. The speaker talks fast, about 193 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 84% 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

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

• reveal /ɹɪˈviːl/ (verb) — To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden.
• comic /ˈkɑmɪk/ (noun) — A comedian.
• potentially /pəˈtɛnʃ(ə)li/ (adverb) — In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.
• climb /ˈklaɪ̯m/ (verb) — To traverse a slope or contour, either upwards (ascending) or downwards (descending).
• chill /tʃɪl/ (verb) — To lower the temperature of something; to cool.
• classroom /ˈklɑːsɹʊm/ (noun) — A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
• pose /poʊz/ (verb) — To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.
• secretly /ˈsiː.kɹɪt.li/ (adverb) — In secret, covertly.
• undercover /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈkʌvə(ɹ)/ (adjective) — Performed or happening in secret.
• easygoing (adjective) — Calm, relaxed, casual and informal.
• enroll /ɪnˈɹəʊl/ (verb) — To enter (a name, etc.) in a register, roll or list
• firsthand /ˈfɜːstˌhænd/ (adjective) — Direct, without intermediate stages.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• sit in on (verb) — To attend a private meeting or class without participating.
• talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, didn't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• Long words — get the stress right: potentially /pəˈtɛnʃ(ə)li/, undercover /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈkʌvə(ɹ)/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like reveal, comic, potentially.