Shadowing Practice: The Devil All The Time - Delusions - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “The Devil All The Time - Delusions”. This video has 26 sentences and 158 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:15. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 4 of its 26 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| desert noun | /ˈdɛz.ɚt/ | A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland. |
| pray verb | /pɹeɪ/ | To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc. |
| devil noun | /ˈdɛvəl/ | An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. |
| neglect verb | /nɪˈɡlɛkt/ | To fail to care for or attend to something. |
| strive verb | /ˈstɹaɪv/ | To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently. |
| delusion noun | /dɪˈl(j)uːʒ(ə)n/ | An adamant belief in a falsehood despite incontestable evidence. |
| blasphemy noun | /ˈblæs.fə.mi/ | An act of irreverence or contempt toward a god or toward something considered sacred; an impious act, utterance, view, etc. |
| fella noun | /fɛ.lə/ | Used as a general intensifier; a pfella. |
| resurrect verb | /ɹɛzəˈɹɛkt/ | To raise from the dead; to bring life back to. |
| sinner noun | /ˈsɪnɚ/ | A person who, by one particular action, has sinned. |
| straighten verb | /ˈstɹeɪtn̩/ | To cause to become straight. |
| hurt verb | /hɝt/ | To cause (a person or animal) physical pain and/or injury. |
| holy adjective | /ˈhoʊli/ | Dedicated to a religious purpose or a god. |
| gift noun | /ɡɪft/ | Something given to another voluntarily, without charge. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| straighten out verb | To make straight. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Maybe you should try praying for him then, would that hurt him?
- Where's it doing you much good, huh?
- We're passing right through it.
- You got time for a sinner?
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 desert, pray, devil.
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.