Shadowing Practice: UP | The Comulonimbus Storm - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 41 sentences and 238 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:26. The speaker talks slowly, about 69 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 7 of its 41 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cloud noun | /ˈklaʊ̯d/ | A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. |
| clock noun | /klɑk/ | A chronometer, an instrument that measures time, particularly the time of day. |
| soil noun | /sɔɪl/ | A mixture of mineral particles and organic material, used to support plant growth. |
| tail noun | /ˈteɪ̯l/ | An object or part of an object resembling a tail in shape, such as the thongs on a cat-o'-nine-tails; a strand of material hanging from something. |
| mouse noun | /maʊs/ | Any mammal of the many rodent families (especially Muridae) that have a small body and a long tail. |
| lightning noun | /ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ | A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth. |
| paradise noun | /ˈpæɹədaɪs/ | The place where sanctified souls are believed to live after death. |
| float verb | /fləʊt/ | To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object). |
| porch noun | /pɔɹt͡ʃ/ | A covered entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a… |
| whoa | /woʊ/ | Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down. |
| steer verb | /stɪɹ/ | To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). |
| cumulonimbus noun | /ˌkju.mjə.loʊˈnɪm.bəs/ | A cloud with a tall structure and flat base, often associated with thunderstorms. |
| snipe noun | /snaɪp/ | Any of various limicoline game birds of the genera Gallinago, Lymnocryptes and Coenocorypha in the family Scolopacidae, having a long, slender, nearly straight… |
| goggles noun | /ˈɡɑ.ɡəlz/ | Protective eyewear set in a flexible frame to fit snugly against the face. |
| gotcha | /ˈɡɑ.tʃə/ | I have got you covered, I've got your back (said by a speaker who has an advantage or responsibility over someone). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| blow up verb | To explode or be destroyed by explosion. | |
| do out verb | To decorate, tidy, or clean (a place). | |
| do over verb | /ˈduˌoʊvɚ/ | To cover with; to smear or spread on to. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What are you doing out here, kid?
- I've never been in a floating house before.
- Wow, you're going on a trip?
- Did you know that the cumulonimbus forms the warm air?
- What are you doing over there?
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 | are you doing · you're going |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | You'll soil · you'll have |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, you'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 cloud, clock, soil.
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.