Shadowing Practice: Steve Jobs on Failure - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Steve Jobs on Failure”. This video has 27 sentences and 285 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:32. The speaker talks fast, about 186 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 85% 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
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| frequency noun | /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/ | The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period. |
| spare adjective | /spɛɚ/ | Being more than what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous. |
| bolt noun | /boʊlt/ | A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to… |
| gratitude noun | /ˈɡɹæ.tɪ.tud/ | The state of being grateful. |
| responsive adjective | /ɹɪˈspɑn.sɪv/ | Answering, replying or responding |
| counter noun | /ˈkaʊn.tɚ/ | One who counts. |
| fail verb | /feɪl/ | To be unsuccessful. |
| laugh verb | /læf/ | To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and… |
| assembly noun | /əˈsɛmb.li/ | A set of pieces that work together in unison as a mechanism or device. |
| anybody | /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/ | Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any person. |
| crash noun | /ˈkɹæʃ/ | A sudden, intense, loud sound, as made for example by cymbals. |
| burn verb | /bɝn/ | To cause to be consumed by fire. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| call up verb | To retrieve from personal or computer memory. |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, you've. 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.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like frequency, spare, bolt.
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.