Shadowing Practice: The Walters - I Love You So - Learn English Speaking with Video
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![The Walters - I Love You So [Official Video]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HZX7MB_m13M/mqdefault.jpg)
B1The Walters - I Love You So [Official Video]
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “The Walters - I Love You So”. This video has 12 sentences and 156 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:36. The speaker talks slowly, about 60 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% 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
10 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lover noun | /ˈlʌvɚ/ | One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse. |
| cruel adjective | /ˈkɹuːəl/ | Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless. |
| selfish adjective | /ˈsɛlf.ɪʃ/ | Holding one's own self-interest as the standard for decision making. |
| shatter verb | /ˈʃætɚ/ | To violently break something into pieces. |
| pack noun | /pæk/ | A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale. |
| loud adjective | /ˈlaʊ̯d/ | Of great intensity. |
| spend verb | /spɪnd/ | To pay out (money). |
| structure noun | /ˈstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ | A cohesive whole built up of distinct parts. |
| soul noun | /soʊl/ | The spirit or essence of a person usually thought to consist of one's thoughts and personality, often believed to live on after the person's death. |
| handle noun | /ˈhæn.d(ə)l/ | The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get away verb | To move away (from). | |
| get over verb | To overcome. | |
| make up verb | /ˌmeɪk ˈʌp/ | To constitute, to compose. |
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 | I've made |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | You're saying |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna pack |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll see |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 14 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, gotta. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: selfish /ˈsɛlf.ɪʃ/, shatter /ˈʃætɚ/
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 lover, cruel, selfish.
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.