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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 27 sentences and 212 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:23. The speaker talks at a natural 153 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 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
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- classical /ˈklæs.ɪ.k(ə)l/ (adjective) — Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
- jazz /d͡ʒæz/ (noun) — A musical art form rooted in West African cultural and musical expression and in the African American blues tradition, with diverse influences over time…
- opera /ˈɒp.ə.ɹə/ (noun) — A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.
- depend /dɪˈpɛnd/ (verb) — To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
- cassette /kəˈsɛt/ (noun) — A small flat case containing magnetic tape on two reels, used to record and play back audio and video material.
- whenever /wəˈnɛvɚ/ — At any time that.
- concert /kənˈsɝt/ (noun) — An agreement in a design or plan; a union formed by mutual communication of opinions and views; an accordance in a scheme; harmony; a simultaneous action.
- approximately /əˈpɹɑk.sɪ.mət.li/ (adverb) — Imprecise but close to in quantity or amount.
- roll /ɹəʊl/ (verb) — To revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on a horizontal axis; to impel forward with a revolving motion on a supporting surface.
- husband /ˈhʌzbənd/ (noun) — A man in a marriage or marital relationship, especially in relation to his spouse.
- evening /ˈiv.nɪŋ/ (noun) — The time of day between afternoon and night.
- twice /twaɪs/ (adverb) — Two times.
- wake /ˈweɪ̯k/ (verb) — (often followed by up) To stop sleeping.
- classic /ˈklæsɪk/ (adjective) — Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
- hundred /ˈhʌn.dɹəd/ (noun) — A hundred-dollar bill, or any other note denominated 100 (e.g. a hundred euros).
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't. 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.
- 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 classical, jazz, opera.
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.