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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 46 sentences and 202 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:57. The speaker talks slowly, about 103 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 86% 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
8 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- headache /ˈhɛdeɪk/ (noun) — A pain or ache in the head.
- stomachache /ˈstʌməkˌeɪk/ (noun) — A pain in the abdomen, often caused by indigestion, usually lower than the stomach and related to the intestines.
- toothache /ˈtuθˌeɪk/ (noun) — A pain or ache in a tooth.
- temperature /ˈtɛm.p(ə.)ɹə.t͡ʃə/ (noun) — A measure of cold or heat, often measurable with a thermometer.
- hurt /hɝt/ (verb) — To cause (a person or animal) physical pain and/or injury.
- catch /kæt͡ʃ/ (verb) — To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).
- foot /fʊt/ (noun) — A biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion and that is frequently a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg.
- medicine /ˈmɛd.ɪ.sɪn/ (noun) — A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way; a pharmaceutical drug.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- go back to (verb) — To stem from; to originate in.
- sit on (verb) — To block, suppress, restrain (something).
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I've, I'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 headache, stomachache, toothache.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | aren't saying · I'm trying |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll go · I'll check |
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.