Shadowing Practice: Top Notch 2 Unit 5 Scene 2 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 31 sentences and 125 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:45. The speaker talks slowly, about 72 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pizza noun | /ˈpi.tsə/ | A baked Italian dish of a thinly rolled bread crust typically topped before baking with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients such as meat or vegetables. |
| smooth adjective | /smuːð/ | Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough. |
| nail noun | /neɪl/ | The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human). |
| facial adjective | /ˈfeɪ.ʃəl/ | Of or affecting the face. |
| haircut noun | /ˈhɛə(ɹ)kʌt/ | The act of cutting of the hair, often done professionally by a barber, hair stylist, or beautician. |
| customary adjective | /ˈkʌs.təˌmɛɹ.i/ | In accordance with, or established by, custom or common usage. |
| manicure noun | /ˈmæ.nɪ.kjʊɹ/ | A cosmetic treatment for the fingernails. |
| pedicure noun | /ˈpɛ.dɪ.kjʊɹ/ | A cosmetic treatment for the feet and toenails. |
| soft adjective | /sɔft/ | Easily giving way under pressure. |
| appointment noun | /əˈpɔɪnt.mɛnt/ | The act of appointing a person to hold an office or to have a position of trust. |
| skin noun | /skɪn/ | The outer protective layer of the body of any animal, including of a human. |
| treat verb | /tɹiːt/ | To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). |
| taste noun | /teɪst/ | One of the sensations produced by the tongue in response to certain chemicals; the quality of giving this sensation. |
| terrible adjective | /ˈtɛɹəbəl/ | Dreadful; causing terror, alarm and fear; awesome |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, what'd, you'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 pizza, smooth, nail.
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.

























