Shadowing Practice: UNIT 7 25 COMPLETE FIRST - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Unit 7.
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61 sentences
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Unit 7.
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Listening Part 4.
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Exercise 3.
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So, Hannah, what made you want to go on a paragliding course?
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It sounds like an extremely risky thing to want to do, even for a journalist like yourself.
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Well, I thought it was a bit risky too.
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I mean, as a sports journalist, I spend my life watching people do different sports, and I've done a fair number of them myself.
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It's one of the qualifications for the job, I suppose.
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Anyway, a couple of years ago, I was actually in Switzerland playing golf with friends.
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I was researching for an article on golf courses, and, you know, golf isn't the most exciting of sports.
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Anyway, I was looking down the course, planning my next shot or something, when I saw these paragliders floating down from the heights.
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I thought to myself, that looks like fun.
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Perhaps I should have a go at it myself.
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So you went on a course in France, I believe.
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That's right.
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I'd actually tried to go on a paragliding course in England a few years ago.
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I'd even paid the course fee, about £500.
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But every time I went down to do the course, it was either too windy or it was raining.
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So in the end, I got fed up and asked for my money back.
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Anyway, looking on the internet, I found this rather wonderful place called Dune de Pila on the coast in southwest France.
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It's actually the highest sand dune in Europe, and they run courses there.
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The price was a bit higher with the travel, but it was a really nice place, and since sunshine was almost guaranteed, I went for it.
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Great.
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And can you tell me, are there any advantages to jumping off a sand dune?
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I imagine it's rather less dangerous than jumping off a mountain, isn't it?
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Well, it isn't so high.
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Only about 150 metres, in fact.
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But wherever you fall, it's going to hurt, so from that point of view, it doesn't necessarily make a lot of difference.
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But the good thing is that the beach guarantees you a relatively soft landing too soft
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if you go off the beach and into the water, because then you'll need rescuing, although there's usually a steady breeze to keep you from going into the sea.
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And what's the main difficulty for a beginner?
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I imagine it's taking off and landing.
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The major problem for a complete beginner like myself is actually learning how to hold your paraglider up in the air, you know, so that both sides open properly.
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They only allow you to run off the edge and fly when you've mastered that technique.
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So I didn't get to fly till after lunch on my first day.
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Getting your paraglider open is quite tricky to start with.
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It makes you feel a bit silly when you see other people happily flying around below you or above you all morning.
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And when you actually start flying, how does your teacher tell you what to do?
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Does he fly along beside you?
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No. It sounds a nice idea and I'd have felt a lot safer if I'd had someone beside me.
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In fact, I listened to my instructor Chantal through an earphone.
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She stayed down below and spoke into a small microphone device to tell me what to do.
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It was generally very quiet, calm and civilised, except when she raised her voice to shout at other flies to keep away from me.
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And then you really heard her.
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And is landing a problem?
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Surprisingly not.
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I was expecting something rather violent.
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You know, I've come off a horse in my time, and that's a lot rougher, I can tell you.
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This was a relatively soft landing.
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The sand cushions you a bit, so hardly more of a bump than hopping off a park bench.
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And you're wearing a helmet, of course, rather like a biker's, so the danger's minimal.
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But is it really as safe as you make out?
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They say it is.
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I mean, there are a couple of serious accidents every year, but the people I know who do it are very safety conscious.
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Most sports, including slow earthbound ones like golf, have some element of risk.
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I've known a few people get hit by golf balls, some of my own even.
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Most of all, though, I was taken by the silence.
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I mean, you're not disturbing anybody in your rather strange eccentric quest for thrills and new sensations.
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That, for me, is the best thing and something I've rarely come across before.
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Hannah, thank you.
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A pleasure.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage with a conversation about paragliding, an exhilarating sport that combines adventure and skill. Through this dialogue, you will practice listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and conversational nuances. This effective practice is designed to enhance your speaking and comprehension abilities as you learn English with YouTube. By focusing on real-life scenarios, you will improve your ability to discuss various topics, which is crucial for your upcoming IELTS speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Paragliding - a sport where individuals fly with a parachute-like wing.
  • Risky - something that involves potential danger or harm.
  • Technique - a method or way of doing something.
  • Soft landing - a gentle arrival on the ground, minimizing impact.
  • Instructor - a teacher or guide, especially in a practical skill.
  • Cushion - to soften, reduce the impact.
  • Run off the edge - to take off or jump from a height.
  • Earnestly - showing sincere and intense conviction.

Practice Tips

To enhance your speaking skills through shadow speech, commit to listening carefully to the video. The tone is conversational and the pace is moderate, making it suitable for practice. Here’s how to get the most out of this lesson:

  • View and Repeat: Watch the video a few times, each time pausing after key phrases. Repeat them aloud to improve your pronunciation.
  • Shadow Speak: Try to speak along with the speakers during the dialogue. This technique helps you mimic intonation and rhythm, which will improve your English pronunciation significantly.
  • Record Yourself: After practicing, record your voice while repeating some parts from the video. This will allow you to track your progress and identify areas of improvement.
  • Focus on Content: Pay attention to the specific vocabulary used related to sports and paragliding. Incorporate these terms into your daily conversations for better retention.
  • Create Context: Think of scenarios where you might use these new phrases, such as discussing hobbies or asking about sports experiences. This contextual learning approach can greatly benefit your IELTS speaking practice.

By combining these practices, you can effectively learn English with YouTube and transition these speaking skills into real-life interactions. Enjoy your journey in mastering English!

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.

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