Shadowing Practice: Train Strike: Finding Another Way to the Airport - Learn English Speaking with Video
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30 sentences
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1
Wait, why is everyone just standing around?
2
Hmm, that's weird. Our train's disappeared from the screen.
3
Oh no. Did that announcement just say strike?
4
I think so. All regional trains are cancelled today.
5
Ugh, seriously? Our flight leaves at two fifteen!
6
Okay, don't panic. We've still got about three hours.
7
Three hours sounds fine, but the airport's miles away.
8
Let's ask someone who actually knows what's going on.
9
Excuse me, is there any way to get to the airport?
10
I'm afraid all trains are off until tomorrow morning.
11
But we're running a replacement bus service.
12
Oh, thank goodness! Where does it leave from?
13
Just outside the main entrance, every thirty minutes.
14
Well... to be honest, the queue is already enormous.
15
Really? How long are we talking, roughly?
16
You might not get on for an hour or so.
17
An hour? We can't afford to wait that long.
18
If I were you, I'd share a taxi with someone.
19
I've just checked the ride app. Prices have tripled!
20
You're kidding! That's more than our flights cost!
21
Wait! Those two behind us are going to the airport too!
22
Perfect! If we split a taxi four ways, it's affordable.
23
Ugh, this traffic is barely moving.
24
Relax, the driver says he knows a shortcut.
25
Bag drop closes in forty minutes, though!
26
We'll make it. We'll just have to run.
27
Phew! We made it with ten minutes to spare!
28
Honestly, I thought we'd be sleeping at the station.
29
Next time, we're checking for strikes before we travel.
30
Deal. And next time, we're leaving way earlier!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Train Strike: Finding Another Way to the Airport”. This video has 30 sentences and 258 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:55. The speaker talks at a steady 135 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 30 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| taxi noun | /ˈtæksi/ | A vehicle that may be hired for single journeys by members of the public, particularly one with an automated meter to calculate the fare. |
| replacement noun | /ɹɪˈpleɪsmənt/ | A person or thing that takes the place of another; a substitute. |
| entrance noun | /ˈɛn.tɹəns/ | The action of entering, or going in. |
| thirty noun | /ˈθɝti/ | A commercial lasting 30 seconds. |
| roughly adverb | /ˈɹʌf.li/ | In a rough manner; without kindness, softness, or gentleness. |
| announcement noun | /əˈnaʊns.mənt/ | An act of announcing, or giving notice. |
| triple adjective | /ˈtɹɪp.əl/ | Made up of three related elements, often matching |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| spare adjective | /spɛɚ/ | Being more than what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous. |
| panic noun | /ˈpænɪk/ | Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; (countable) an instance of this; a fright, a scare. |
| enormous adjective | /ɪˈnɔː.məs/ | Extremely large; greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc. |
| affordable adjective | /əˈfɔɹ.də.bəl/ | Able to be afforded; inexpensive or reasonably priced. |
| leaf noun | /lif/ | The usually green and flat organ that represents the most prominent feature of most vegetative plants. |
| forty adjective | /ˈfoɹti/ | Resembling or characteristic of a fort. |
| cancel verb | /ˈkæn.sl̩/ | To cross out something with lines etc. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stand around verb | To stand without doing anything; to do nothing productive; to waste time. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Our train's disappeared from the screen.
- We've still got about three hours.
- Let's ask someone who actually knows what's going on.
- Excuse me, is there any way to get to the airport?
- How long are we talking, roughly?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, we'll, can'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.
- 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 taxi, replacement, entrance.
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.