Shadowing Practice: summers were meant to be analog | beach days, campfires, and baking - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 75 sentences and 726 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:40. The speaker talks slowly, about 57 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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

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

• picnic /ˈpɪknɪk/ (noun) — An informal social gathering, usually in a natural outdoor setting, to which the participants bring their own food and drink.
• banana /bəˈnænə/ (noun) — An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin.
• cowboy /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/ (noun) — A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.
• photography /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/ (noun) — The art and technology of producing images on photosensitive surfaces, and its digital counterpart.
• flood /flʌd/ (noun) — An overflow of a large amount of water (usually disastrous) from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water.
• habit /ˈhæb.ɪt/ (noun) — An action performed on a regular basis.
• chill /tʃɪl/ (verb) — To lower the temperature of something; to cool.
• cliff /klɪf/ (noun) — A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
• penny /ˈpɛni/ (noun) — In the United Kingdom, a unit of currency worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a pound sterling, or a copper coin worth this amount. Abbreviation: p.
• ranch /ˈɹænt͡ʃ/ (noun) — A large plot of land used for raising cattle, sheep or other livestock.
• inspire /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ (verb) — To infuse into the mind; to communicate to the spirit; to convey, as by a divine or supernatural influence; to disclose preternaturally; to produce in, as by…
• therapist /ˈθɛɹəpɪst/ (noun) — Someone who provides therapy, usually professionally.
• cocktail /ˈkɑk.teɪl/ (noun) — A mixed alcoholic beverage.
• consume /kənˈsum/ (verb) — To use up.
• surroundings /səˈɹaʊndɪŋz/ (noun) — The area surrounding someone or something, together with the objects and circumstances in the vicinity; the environment or ambiance.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• go for (verb) — To try for, to attempt to reach.
• get into (verb) — To move into (an object), such that one ends up inside it.
• go on /ˈɡoʊˌɒn/ (verb) — To continue in extent.
• hold by (verb) — To subscribe to (an idea , rule, authority, etc.); to personally consider valid or authoritative.
• sit in (verb) — To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 25 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, gonna, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

• Long words — get the stress right: photography /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/, intentional /ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/, scientifically /ˌsaɪ.ənˈtɪfɪkli/, tranquility /træŋˈkwɪlɪti/

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 picnic, banana, cowboy.

Grammar in this video

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