Shadowing Practice: Understand search engine optimization (SEO) | Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This C1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Understand search engine optimization”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: search, page, website, content, Google. This video has 408 sentences and 5613 words to shadow. The speech runs for 38:05. The speaker talks at a steady 147 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 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
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| keyword noun | /ˈkiː.wɜːd/ | Any word used as the key to a code. |
| algorithm noun | /ˈælɡəɹɪðm̩/ | A collection of ordered steps that solve a mathematical problem. A precise step-by-step plan for a computational procedure that possibly begins with an input… |
| marketer noun | One who designs and executes marketing campaigns. | |
| query noun | /ˈkwɪɹ.i/ | A question, an inquiry (US), an enquiry (UK). |
| crawl verb | /kɹɔːl/ | To move by dragging one's body along or close to a surface, like a worm or insect, or on one's hands and knees, like a human baby. |
| crawler noun | A child who is able to creep using its hands and knees but is not able to walk. | |
| optimization noun | /ˌɑptəmaɪˈzeɪʃən/ | The design and operation of a system or process to make it as good as possible in some defined sense. |
| visitor noun | /ˈvɪzɪtɚ/ | Someone who visits someone else; someone staying as a guest. |
| searcher noun | /ˈsɝt͡ʃɚ/ | One who searches. |
| snippet noun | /ˈsnɪpɪt/ | A small part of something, such as a song or fabric; sample. |
| usability noun | /ˌjuːzəˈbɪlɪti/ | The state or condition of being usable. |
| relevance noun | /ˈɹɛl.ɪ.vən(t)s/ | The property or state of being relevant or pertinent. |
| candle noun | /ˈkæn.dəl/ | A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin. |
| navigation noun | /nævɪˈɡeɪʃən/ | The theory, practice and technology of charting a course for a road vehicle, ship, aircraft, or spaceship. |
| guideline noun | /ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪn/ | A non-specific rule or principle that provides direction to action or behaviour. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fall under verb | To belong to for purposes of categorization. |
| plan out verb | to plan, organize, make a plan for something |
| bring up verb | To mention. |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| come up with verb | To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it. |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| go over verb | To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze. |
| sort through verb | To look through (a collection of documents, facts, etc.) to make sense of them or put them in order. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I remember thinking, what are you talking about?
- I hope you're excited to get started.
- When doing digital marketing, you'll encounter algorithms frequently.
- We'll get into more strategies later.
- What if the work you're doing isn't connecting with them?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being found · is allowed · are crawled |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | crawling, which is · factors, which are · someone who does |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been · I've never read · you've been introduced |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 67 contractions and reduced forms, such as you'll, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: optimization /ˌɑptəmaɪˈzeɪʃən/, navigation /nævɪˈɡeɪʃən/, recommendation /ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: optimization /ˌɑptəmaɪˈzeɪʃən/, usability /ˌjuːzəˈbɪlɪti/, navigation /nævɪˈɡeɪʃən/, hierarchical /ˌhaɪəˈɹɑːkɪkəl/, prioritize /pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/
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 keyword, algorithm, marketer.
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.













