Shadowing Practice: SUNDAY RESET ROUTINE: deep cleaning, self care & productive weekly prep - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “SUNDAY RESET ROUTINE: deep cleaning, self care & productive weekly prep”. This video has 327 sentences and 3525 words to shadow. The speech runs for 29:08. The speaker talks at a steady 121 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% 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 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| reset verb | /ɹiːˈsɛt/ | To set back to the initial state. |
| acne noun | /ˈækni/ | A skin condition, usually of the face, that is common in adolescents. It is characterised by red pimples, and is caused by the inflammation of sebaceous glands… |
| scar noun | /skɑɹ/ | A permanent mark on the skin, sometimes caused by the healing of a wound. |
| grocery noun | /ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/ | Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies. |
| mask noun | /mæsk/ | A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection. |
| timer noun | /ˈtaɪmɚ/ | A device used to measure amounts of time. |
| serum noun | /ˈsɪɹəm/ | Blood serum used as a blood product, in the practice of medicine: blood serum from the tissues of immunized animals (human or nonhuman), containing antibodies… |
| ingredient noun | /ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/ | One of the substances present in a mixture, especially food. |
| declutter verb | /diːˈklʌtə(ɹ)/ | To remove clutter from, to tidy. |
| moisturizer noun | Something that causes moisture or a condition of wetness; something that makes things moist. | |
| bake verb | /beɪk/ | To cook (something) in an oven (for someone). |
| organize verb | /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ | To arrange in working order. |
| laundry noun | /ˈlɔːn.dɹi/ | A laundering; a washing. |
| cookie noun | /ˈkʊki/ | A small, flat, baked good which is either crisp or soft but firm. |
| accumulate verb | /əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt/ | To heap up in a mass; to pile up; to collect or bring together (either literally or figuratively), often gradually and without active intent. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| get back to verb | Return to (an activity) | |
| lay out verb | /ˌleɪ ˈaʊt/ | To expend or contribute money to an expense or purchase. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. | |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. | |
| put away verb | To put (something) in its usual storage place; to place out of the way, clean up. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'm going to show you what I'm doing.
- I'm going to put it in a little bit.
- I'll put it in a little bit.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | i've been procrastinating · have been doing · have been using |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | it's been · haven't touched · has helped |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is brought · are subscribed · are probably expired |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | february which is · someone who is · one who loves |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 153 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, gonna, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: erythema /ˌɛɹɪˈθiːmə/, thumb /ˈθʌm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: inflammation /ɪnfləˈmeɪ̯ʃən/, irritation /ˌɪɹ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/, preposition /ˌpɹɛpəˈzɪʃən/, rosacea /ɹoʊˈzeɪ.ʃə/, prescription /pɹəˈskɹɪp.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: ingredient /ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/, accumulate /əˈkjuːmjʊˌleɪt/, romanticize /roʊˈmæntɪsaɪz/, inflammation /ɪnfləˈmeɪ̯ʃən/, alexia /əˈlɛk.si.ə/
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 reset, acne, scar.
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.











