Shadowing Practice: suffixes #animation - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 16 sentences and 66 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:47.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| prank noun | /pɹæŋk/ | A practical joke or mischievous trick. |
| prankster noun | /ˈpɹæŋkstəː/ | One who performs pranks. |
| raisin noun | /ˈɹeɪzən/ | A dried grape. |
| smile verb | /ˈsmaɪl/ | To have (a smile) on one's face. |
| strange adjective | /stɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ | Not normal; odd, unusual, surprising, out of the ordinary, often with a negative connotation. |
| bowl noun | /boʊl/ | As much as is held by a bowl. |
| breakfast noun | /ˈbɹeɪkˌfæst/ | The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning. |
| notice verb | /ˈnoʊ.tɪs/ | To become aware of; to observe. |
| clean adjective | /kliːn/ | Free of dirt, filth, or impurities (extraneous matter); not dirty, filthy, or soiled. |
| trip noun | /tɹɪp/ | A journey; an excursion or jaunt. |
| catch verb | /kæt͡ʃ/ | To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). |
| wonderful adjective | /ˈwʌndəfl̩/ | Tending to excite wonder; surprising, extraordinary. |
| surprise noun | /sə(ː)ˈpɹaɪ̯z/ | Something unexpected. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | stop smiling |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm visiting · I'm planning · I'm coming |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | won't notice |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, won'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 carefully, wash, prank.
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.





























