Shadowing Practice: The Setting That Gives You Back an Hour a Day - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “The Setting That Gives You Back an Hour a Day”. This video has 6 sentences and 140 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:40. The speaker talks fast, about 212 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| icon noun | /ˈaɪ.kɑn/ | An image, symbol, picture, portrait, or other representation, usually as an object of religious devotion. |
| stimulate verb | /ˈstɪm.jəˌleɪt/ | To encourage into action. |
| grayscale adjective | /ˈɡɹeɪˌskeɪl/ | Black and white, representing color with shades of gray. |
| optimize verb | /ˈɑptɪmaɪz/ | To act optimistically or as an optimist. |
| emit verb | /iˈmɪt/ | To send out or give off. |
| neurologically adverb | In a neurological manner. | |
| saturation noun | The act of saturating or the process of being saturated. | |
| device noun | /dɪˈvaɪs/ | Any piece of equipment made for a particular purpose, especially a mechanical or electrical one. |
| cycle noun | /ˈsaɪ.kəl/ | An interval of space or time in which one set of events or phenomena is completed. |
| display noun | /dɪsˈpleɪ/ | A show or spectacle. |
| mode noun | /moʊd/ | A particular means of accomplishing something. |
| recommend verb | /ˌɹɛkəˈmɛnd/ | To bestow commendation on; to represent favorably; to suggest, endorse or encourage as an appropriate choice. |
| significantly adverb | /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/ | In a significant manner or to a significant extent. |
| lock noun | /lɑk/ | Something used for fastening, which can only be opened with a key or combination. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been optimized · has been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | has been optimized |
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like icon, stimulate, grayscale.
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.