Shadowing Practice: SPIDERMAN (1994) | S2 EP1: THE INSIDIOUS SIX P1 | @RetroFunTV01 - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 389 sentences and 2158 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:10. The speaker talks slowly, about 102 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 77% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

• spider /ˈspaɪ̯dɚ/ (noun) — Any of various eight-legged, predatory arthropods, of the order Araneae, most of which spin webs to catch prey.
• clinic /ˈklɪn.ɪk/ (noun) — A medical facility, such as a hospital, especially one for the treatment and diagnosis of outpatients.
• crawl /kɹɔːl/ (verb) — To move by dragging one's body along or close to a surface, like a worm or insect, or on one's hands and knees, like a human baby.
• naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ (adverb) — In a natural manner.
• acid /ˈæsɪd/ (noun) — A sour substance.
• experiment /ɪkˈspɛɹ.ə.mənt/ (noun) — A test under controlled conditions made to either demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of…
• introduce /ˌɪntɹəˈdus/ (verb) — To cause (someone) to be acquainted (with someone else).
• genetic /d͡ʒəˈnɛt.ɪk/ (adjective) — Relating to genetics or genes.
• dare /dɛ(ə)ɹ/ (verb) — To have enough courage (to do something).
• slip /ˈslɪp/ (verb) — To lose one’s traction on a slippery surface; to slide due to a lack of friction.
• theft /θɛft/ (noun) — The act of stealing property.
• charm /t͡ʃɑɹm/ (noun) — An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation).
• warden /ˈwɔɹdən/ (noun) — A chief administrative officer of a prison.
• presume /pɹɪˈz(j)um/ (verb) — To be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission [with to (+ infinitive)].
• trick /ˈtɹɪk/ (noun) — Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• find out (verb) — To discover, as by asking or investigating.
• get in (verb) — To get into or inside something, literally or figuratively.
• back off (verb) — To move backwards away from something.
• close in (verb) — To enclose, lock up inside something.
• come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
• come on /ˌkʌm ˈɒn/ — Come along with me; join me in going.
• do in (verb) — To kill or end; to defeat.
• done for (adjective) — Doomed; without hope of recovery.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 79 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• The “th” sounds: theft /θɛft/, pathetic /pəˈθɛtɪk/, withdrawal /wɪðˈdɹɔ(ə)l/
• The “sh” and “zh” sounds: flash /flæʃ/, exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/, assure /əˈʃʊɹ/, demonstration /dɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/, shooter /ˈʃuːtəː/
• Long words — get the stress right: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, experiment /ɪkˈspɛɹ.ə.mənt/, laboratory /ˈlæb(ə)ɹəˌtɔɹi/, photographer /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fɚ/, exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like spider, clinic, crawl.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: