Shadowing Practice: Unit 11|| I like monkeys || Video - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The zoo!
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Great!
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I like animals.
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Look at the elephants, Billy.
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Oh, oh.
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No!
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I don't like elephants.
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They're big!
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- All right.
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Look at the giraffes.
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Ah!
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I don't like giraffes, they're tall Billy?
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You like animals.
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But you don't like elephants and you don't like giraffes.
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Haha, look over there!
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I like monkeys!
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I like monkeys!
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They're little.
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And I'm little too Yes.
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They're funny.
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And you're funny too.
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Music The zoo!
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Great!
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I like animals.
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Look at the elephants, Billy.
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Oh!
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No!
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I don't like elephants.
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They're big!
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- Thank you.
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Look at the giraffes.
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Ah!
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I don't like giraffes They're tall!
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Billy?
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You like animals.
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But you don't like elephants and you don't like giraffes.
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Haha, look over there!
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I like monkeys!
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I like monkeys.
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They're little.
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I'm little too.
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Yes!
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They're funny.
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And you're funny too.

What You'll Practice in This English Lesson

This video is a fun, engaging way to practice basic English speaking and listening skills, focusing on expressing likes and dislikes about animals. Through a lively zoo conversation, you'll learn to use simple sentences to share preferences, describe characteristics, and respond to others—key skills for English speaking practice and even IELTS speaking practice foundations. The dialogue’s repetition and clear pronunciation make it ideal for building confidence in everyday communication.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Learn

  • I like… / I don't like…: Essential for stating preferences (e.g., "I like monkeys" or "I don't like elephants").
  • Animal names: elephants, giraffes, monkeys—common words to expand your vocabulary.
  • Descriptive adjectives: big, tall, little, funny—used to explain why you like or dislike something.
  • Look at…: A simple phrase to direct attention, useful in conversations (e.g., "Look at the giraffes!").
  • And I'm… too: A natural way to connect your own traits to others (e.g., "They're little. And I'm little too").

Practice Tips for Shadowing Success

Shadowing—repeating the speaker’s words immediately after them—is a powerful technique to improve pronunciation, rhythm, and fluency. Here’s how to use it with this video:

  • Start slow: The video’s pace is conversational but not too fast. Pause after each line, then repeat it, focusing on matching the tone (e.g., excitement in "I like monkeys!"). This helps train your mouth to form English sounds naturally, a key part of shadow speak.
  • Emphasize intonation: Notice how the speaker’s voice rises and falls—for example, the surprise in "Oh! No!" or the joy in "Yes! They're funny." Copying this intonation makes your speech sound more natural, which is crucial for clear communication.
  • Use a shadowing app (optional): If you have one, record yourself shadowing and compare it to the video. This helps identify areas to improve, like word stress or vowel sounds. Even without an app, repeating the dialogue 5–10 times will build muscle memory for common phrases.
  • Practice in chunks: Instead of shadowing the entire video at once, focus on 2–3 lines. Mastering small sections first builds confidence, making it easier to tackle longer conversations. This method is effective for both beginners and those preparing for learn english with youtube sessions.

By regularly practicing with this video, you’ll not only learn new words but also develop the ability to speak English more fluently and naturally—skills that matter in real-life conversations and exams alike.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →