Shadowing Practice: The Impossible Manuscript [1/2] | The Devil Wears Prada (HDR) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
Recommend Video
B1Unexpected events - American English File 3 -EP5
B2Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Full Movie Recap
B2The Devil Wears Prada - all scenes with Emily 2/4 (4K)
B1EVERYONE BOWED TO THE ARROGANT BILLIONAIRE UNTIL HE MET HIS MATCH
B1"APT 17" (Short Film) THRILLER
B1Joey has gained a die-hard fan#shorts #friends
![Catch me if you can [2002] Frank becoming a pilot scene](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5IxKXFHSSKA/mqdefault.jpg)
B1Catch me if you can [2002] Frank becoming a pilot scene
B1The Printer Is Broken Before the Big Meeting
B1Home alone (part 1)
B1Shadowing Practice with Zendaya | Joining a Nolan Production | American English 🇺🇸
B2How To Get A Pay Rise | FUNNIEST MOMENTS OF JULY
B2Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “The Impossible Manuscript”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Miranda, Potter, Harry, manuscript, Priestly. This video has 66 sentences and 390 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:55. The speaker talks at a steady 134 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 10 of its 66 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| manuscript noun | /ˈmæn.jəˌskɹɪpt/ | A book, composition or any other document, written by hand (or manually typewritten), not mechanically reproduced. |
| twin noun | /twɪn/ | Either of two people (or, less commonly, animals) who shared the same uterus at the same time; one who was born at the same birth as a sibling. |
| steak noun | /steɪk/ | Beefsteak: a slice of beef, broiled or cut for broiling. |
| rarely adverb | /ˈɹɛəɹli/ | Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. |
| recall verb | /ɹɪˈkɔl/ | To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order). |
| bother verb | /ˈbɑðɚ/ | To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for. |
| coat noun | /ˈkoʊ̯t/ | An outer garment covering the upper torso and arms. |
| desperate adjective | /ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹɪt/ | In dire need (of something); having a dire need or desire. |
| grandmother noun | /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/ | A mother of someone's parent. |
| publish verb | /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ | To issue (something, such as printed work) for distribution and/or sale. |
| smack verb | /smæk/ | To slap or hit someone. |
| pavement noun | /ˈpeɪvm(ə)nt/ | A paved surface; a hard covering on the ground. |
| unpublished adjective | Not published. | |
| fricking adjective | /ˈfɹɪkɪŋ/ | A minced oath of "fucking" as an intensifier. |
| rowel noun | /ˈɹoʊəl/ | A small spiked wheel on the end of a spur of certain types. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| calm down verb | To become less excited, intense, or angry. | |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| come up with verb | To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it. | |
| fall down verb | /fɔl ˈdaʊn/ | To fall to the ground. To collapse. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?
- You want the unpublished manuscript?
- It shouldn't be a problem, should it?
- Mommy's working very hard to get it for you.
- How am I gonna get the steak?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are leaving · I'm calling · you're kidding |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll go · will be · You'll have |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna get |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 23 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bother /ˈbɑðɚ/, grandmother /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/
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 manuscript, twin, steak.
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.