Shadowing Practice: The Menstrual Cycle Explained: A Guide to the 4 Phases & Hormones - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Around age 9 to 13, girls enter  puberty and have their very first period. From this day forward,  their hormone levels fluctuate, affecting their body, brain and behavior —  a phenomenon known as the menstrual cycle.
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Around age 9 to 13, girls enter  puberty and have their very first period. From this day forward,  their hormone levels fluctuate, affecting their body, brain and behavior —  a phenomenon known as the menstrual cycle.
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The menstrual cycle is divided into 4  phases: Menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation with a fertile window, and the  luteal phase. The length of the cycle is, on average, 28 days. However, for most  women it ranges somewhere between 22 and 35 days and can be regular or not. Since menstruation is a consequence of changes that happen before it, we will  start our story with the follicular phase.
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During the Follicular phase, the hormone estrogen  increases steadily and Leah starts to feel happy, is physically stronger, and  is generally on top form.
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Inside her body, her uterine lining  starts to thicken and in the ovaries, her follicles mature. Inside one of  them is a tiny cell that's about to become an egg. At the end of this phase,  Leah notices a change in her discharge.
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During Ovulation the ovary releases the egg,  which makes its way towards the uterus and then implants itself inside the lining. For about  5 days, Leah could potentially get pregnant.
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The high levels of estrogen make Leah more  interested in boys than she used to be, which is why she is more conscious  about her appearance. Her senses are heightened and she hears, sees,  tastes and smells more acutely.
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In the Luteal phase, her body temperature  rises slightly. Leah has more sensitive, swollen breasts, and occasional joint  pain, which makes skateboarding harder.
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Like just about every other woman, Leah can now  experience premenstrual syndrome. If it's bad, she wants to be alone, feels moody, and can  have thoughts that keep her up at night.
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If there is no pregnancy, Leah’s uterus  sheds her thickened lining. As a result she experiences bleeding and often painful cramps.  This marks the first day of menstruation.
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Leah is now exhausted. She has trouble  concentrating, is not motivated, and can’t do sports, which annoys her a lot. But soon after  she starts feeling better and the cycle continues.
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Every young woman experiences a  different version of the menstrual cycle, with periods ranging from little to no  discomfort, to heavy bleeding and intense pain. And about 1 in 10 girls will have to  deal with what’s known as endometriosis.
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Endometriosis is a condition where  tissue grows outside the uterus.
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This can lead to severe and lasting  pain during their menses, intercourse, or on the toilet. And eventually  it can even lead to infertility.
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What do you think? How does the  menstrual cycle influence your life, or the life of your partner or friend? And  how can society support women and girls who experience regular periods of pain and fatigue?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video, "The Menstrual Cycle Explained: A Guide to the 4 Phases & Hormones," presents a unique opportunity for English learners to engage with informative content while improving their speaking skills. By using shadow speech, you can practice listening and speaking simultaneously, which enhances your retention and fluency. The topic itself is significant and relatable, making it easier to incorporate terms and phrases from the video into your daily conversations.

Additionally, you will encounter medical and biological vocabulary that can enrich your English lexicon. Understanding these terms not only helps with IELTS speaking practice but also equips you to discuss relevant health topics fluently. Practicing with this video allows you to connect language learning to real-world discussions, contributing to your overall confidence in speaking English.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In this video, the speaker uses several key grammatical structures and expressions that provide valuable lessons for English learners:

  • Present Continuous Tense: The speaker employs the present continuous to depict ongoing processes, such as "hormone levels fluctuate." This structure is crucial for discussing events happening in real-time.
  • Future Forms: Phrases like "could potentially get pregnant" illustrate the use of modal verbs to express possibilities. This is an important aspect of English that can enhance your capability to communicate uncertainty or plans.
  • Descriptive Language: Vivid adjectives and adverbs, such as "sensitive" and "occasionally," help convey feelings and experiences. Learning how to use descriptive language effectively can improve your storytelling skills.
  • Conditionals: The phrase "If there is no pregnancy..." showcases conditionals, helping learners understand how to articulate cause and effect in discussions.
  • Comparatives: Expressions like "more interested in boys" can improve your understanding of comparisons, which is essential to form nuanced thoughts in conversation.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing your speaking skills, pay attention to the following pronunciation challenges highlighted in the video:

  • Menstruation: This word can be difficult to pronounce correctly. Focus on breaking it down into syllables: men-strua-tion.
  • Follicular: Another term that may trip up learners. Emphasize the "cul" part, making sure it flows smoothly.
  • Ovulation: The rhythm of this word can affect clarity. Practice it slowly to maintain accuracy.
  • Endometriosis: This complex term might challenge non-native speakers. Break it down into "endo" + "metri" + "osis" for easier pronunciation.

Using a shadowing app, you can practice mimicking these words until they feel natural. This technique will significantly help you improve English pronunciation and develop your ability to shadow speak effectively.

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.

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