Shadowing Practice: Splitting the Bill: Who Had the Lobster? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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27 sentences
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1
Wow, that was an amazing meal!
2
It really was. Oh, here comes the bill.
3
Let's just split it three ways. It's easier.
4
Um... three ways?
5
Hang on, how much is it altogether?
6
A hundred and eighty pounds. So sixty each.
7
Sixty? Oh... that's quite a lot for me.
8
I only had the soup... and tap water.
9
She's got a point, Tom. Let's look at what we ordered.
10
Oh, come on, it all evens out in the end.
11
Does it, though? You had the lobster!
12
Wait, was the lobster really that expensive?
13
Fifty-five pounds. Plus the bottle of wine.
14
Oh no. I didn't even look at the price.
15
Honestly, it's fine... I don't want to make a fuss.
16
No, Zoe. You shouldn't pay for someone else's dinner.
17
She's right. I'm really sorry, Zoe.
18
That wasn't fair of me at all.
19
Thanks, Tom. That's really kind of you.
20
So, shall we each pay for what we ordered?
21
Yes, and I'll cover the tip as well.
22
Are you sure? That's very generous!
23
It's the least I can do after the lobster.
24
Next time, maybe check the menu prices first!
25
Ha! Lesson learned. Next time, pizza's on me!
26
Now that's a plan I can afford!
27
Deal! I'll hold you to that, Tom.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Splitting the Bill: Who Had the Lobster?”. This video has 27 sentences and 209 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:31. The speaker talks at a steady 137 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 27 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lobster noun | /ˈlɑb.stɚ/ | A crustacean of the Nephropidae family, dark green or blue-black in colour turning bright red when cooked, with a hard shell and claws, which is used as a… |
| pound noun | /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ | A unit of weight in various measurement systems. |
| sixty noun | /ˈsɪksti/ | A commercial lasting 60 seconds. |
| meal noun | /ˈmiːl/ | Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity. |
| fifty noun | /ˈfɪfti/ | A banknote or coin with a denomination of 50. |
| menu noun | /ˈmɛn.juː/ | The details of the food to be served at a banquet; a bill of fare. |
| generous adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹəs/ | Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous. |
| soup noun | /sup/ | Any of various dishes commonly made by combining liquids, such as water or stock, with other ingredients, such as meat and vegetables, that contribute the food… |
| altogether adverb | /ɔl.tuˈɡɛð.ɚ/ | Completely, wholly, or without exception. |
| fuss noun | /fʌs/ | Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something. |
| split verb | /splɪt/ | To divide fully or partly along a more or less straight line. |
| afford verb | /əˈfoɹd/ | To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; (usually after an expression of ability, as… |
| bottle noun | /ˈbɒt.l̩/ | A container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Let's just split it three ways.
- Let's look at what we ordered.
- I didn't even look at the price.
- I don't want to make a fuss.
- You shouldn't pay for someone else's dinner.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, didn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 lobster, pound, sixty.
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.