Shadowing Practice: Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Inch Prince - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
130 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
The Inch Prince Once upon a time,
2
there was a little old man and a little old woman.
3
Their names were Mr. and Mrs. Ping.
4
They lived in a tiny house by a river.
5
Every day they weeded the plants in their vegetable plot.
6
The beans look beautiful.
7
Fed the animals in their field.
8
The hens look happy and watered the flowers in their garden.
9
The lilies look lovely.
10
They had everything they wanted.
11
Well, almost.
12
I wish we had some children, said Mrs. Ping one evening.
13
Only a teeny child could feed in our tiny house, said Mr. Ping sadly.
14
But small things can be special too, said his wife.
15
I wouldn't care if they were just one inch tall, she added.
16
At that moment, a fairy flew by.
17
She heard what Mr. and Mrs. Ping said.
18
She noticed there are lovely vegetables, happy animals, and tall flowers.
19
These people are kind, thought the fairy.
20
I'll be kind to Dom.
21
She waved her wand and whispered some magic words.
22
Jumping beans and flying fish, give this folk their dearest wish.
23
Soon afterwards, Mr. and Mrs. Pink had a teeny-weeny boy.
24
In fact, he was just one inch tall.
25
Let's call him Isamboshi, said Mrs. Pink.
26
It means one inch boy or issy for short, said her husband.
27
Mm, very short.
28
Each year the pink vegetables grew better.
29
Their animals grew bigger.
30
And their flowers grew taller. But Izzy stayed small.
31
Maybe if I stand on tiptoe.
32
Izzy was tiny.
33
He had a bottle top for a bathtub.
34
He had a shoelace for a scarf.
35
He had a pea for a ball.
36
Go!
37
He had a bottom for a dinner plate.
38
And he had a matchbox for a bat.
39
Many years later, it was time for Izzy to leave home.
40
I'll get a job in the city.
41
His parents gave him three presents for his journey.
42
He had a rice bowl for a boat.
43
He had a pair of chopsticks for oars.
44
And he had a needle for a sword.
45
Izzy set off down the river, between tall mountains, past village,
46
around white woods, and through towns,
47
until he reached the big city.
48
I'll ask the emperor for a job, thought Issy.
49
But if I don't get squashed first...
50
At last, Issy reached the emperor's palace.
51
Two guards were marching up and down outside.
52
I'd like a job, said Izzy.
53
You are teeny, said one guard.
54
What can you do?
55
I can run past you for a start, said Izzy.
56
Hey, where did he go?
57
He jumped over the guard's foot and ran into the palace.
58
A maid was washing clothes.
59
I'd like a job, said Issy.
60
You are Winnie, said the maid.
61
What can you do?
62
I can run past you for a start, Issy said.
63
Hey, where did he go?
64
He jumped over the maid's soap and into the kitchen.
65
A cook was making dinner.
66
I'd like a job, said Issy.
67
You are tiny, said the cook.
68
What can you do?
69
I can run past you for a start, Issy said.
70
Hey, where did he go?
71
He ran around the cook's oven and into the next room.
72
Issy was in the thorn room.
73
He bowed to the emperor and the princess.
74
I'd like a job.
75
Please, your majesty, said Isi.
76
Would you, indeed, said the emperor.
77
He's teeny-weeny, daddy, said Princess Chi-Chi.
78
What can he do?
79
Well, I ran past your guard.
80
Your mate and your cook to get here, said Isi.
81
The emperor thought for a moment.
82
You can look after Princess Chi Chi, he said.
83
But daddy, mourned the princess, he's only one inch tall.
84
Small things can be special too, said the emperor.
85
From then on, Izzy never left the princess side.
86
He was there in the morning.
87
He was there in the afternoon.
88
He was there at night.
89
One day, the princess left the palace to visit her aunt.
90
Isi went, too.
91
They came to a dark forest.
92
I am scared, said Princess Chi-Chi.
93
I'll look after you, said Issy.
94
What can you do, said the princess.
95
Just then, there was a terrifying roar.
96
Grrrr!
97
Grrrr!
98
Help!
99
Help!
100
A giant ogre crashed through the trees.
101
He reached out to grab the princess.
102
Put her down, said Issy.
103
Put her down, said Issy, or I'll...
104
You, said the ogre, what could you do?
105
The ogre scooped up Issy and popped him in his mouth.
106
Mmm, I love bite-sized snacks.
107
Easy thought quickly.
108
He took his needle sword and pricked the ogre's tongue.
109
Take that!
110
Oh, oh, oh, oh!
111
The ogre spat out Easy and rang off.
112
Dad will teach him.
113
Thank you, Izzy.
114
Look, said Izzy.
115
The ogre left his hammer behind.
116
The princess tried to pick it up, but it was too heavy.
117
It's heavier than it looks.
118
I wish you were bigger, Izzy, she said.
119
Then maybe you could lift it.
120
A cloud of magic stars shot out of the hammer and swept around Izzy.
121
Izzy felt himself changing.
122
He grew bigger and bigger and bigger.
123
In seconds, he was as big as the princess.
124
I'm as tall as you, said Izzy.
125
The hammer granted your wish.
126
The princess fell in love with Izzy, but not because he was tall.
127
She loved him because he was brave.
128
They got married and lived in a house next to the palace.
129
The house was small, but Prince Isi and Princess Chi Chi were happy.
130
They both knew that small things can be special too.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
A219
Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Reluctant Dragon
KidsDaily Conversation
A14
At the Farm | Oxford Phonics World Readers Level 2
KidsDaily Conversation
A21
16. Camping Out | Usborne Farmyard Tales
KidsDaily Conversation
A24
Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Emperor and the Nightingale
KidsDaily Conversation
A13
Book 1: Pirate Pat - Usborne Very First Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A26
Lots of Hearts - All Aboard Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A21
The Big SnowBall - All Aboard Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A26
Usborne First Reading - The Daydreamer | 18
KidsDaily Conversation
A12
One Story A Day - 05 - Basketball Is Fun
KidsDaily Conversation
A14
Pig Out! - All Aboard Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A193
One Story A Day - 02 - Fruit or Vegetables?
KidsDaily Conversation
A19
One Story A Day - 06 - A Picture for Dad
KidsDaily Conversation
A123
One Story A Day - 01 - The Sky is Blue!
Kids
A12
In the morning - Potato Pals
KidsDaily Conversation
A11
OTTO the CAT - All Aboard Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A269
Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Tin Soldier
Kids
A12
Silly Willy - All Aboard Reading
KidsDaily Conversation
A12
01. Pig Gets Stuck | Usborne Farmyard Tales
KidsDaily Conversation
A14
Story 18: Lightning - 1 | August | Book 8 | One Story A Day
Kids
A13
One Story A Day - 07 - Many Kinds of Milk
KidsDaily Conversation
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
A25
32 sentences
One Story A Day Level 3 Book 1 Day 22 How The Porcupine got Quills
KidsDaily Conversation
A21
128 sentences
Thumbelina | Fairy Tale | ESL Listening and Reading Practice | A1–A2
KidsDaily Conversation
A21
568 sentences
LITTLE PRINCE AUDIO BOOK
KidsDaily Conversation
A21
53 sentences
A Squash and a Squeeze By Julia Donaldson & Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
KidsDaily Conversation
A23
45 sentences
Ch.1 A Puzzle. - Reddy's funny stories - reading for kids
KidsDaily Conversation
A22
10 sentences
ONE STORY A DAY - BOOK 5 FOR MAY - Story 22: A little Reader
KidsDaily Conversation
![[ALL ABOARD READING] THE BIG SNOWBALL](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZE_83XPHcrI/mqdefault.jpg)
A21
14 sentences
[ALL ABOARD READING] THE BIG SNOWBALL
KidsDaily Conversation
A26
140 sentences
Jack and the Beanstalk | Classic Tales Level 2
KidsDaily Conversation
A2112 sentences
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister | A Story of Humility, Friendship, Sharing and True Happiness
KidsDaily Conversation
A23
125 sentences
The Princess and the Pea 👑🛌 | English Moral Stories | Bedtime Stories
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Usborne First Reading - Level 04 - The Inch Prince”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Izzy, princess, issy, Chi, tall. This video has 130 sentences and 924 words to shadow. The speech runs for 14:09. The speaker talks slowly, about 65 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 78% 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
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| emperor noun | /ˈɛmp(ə)ɹə/ | The male monarch or ruler of an empire. |
| palace noun | /ˈpælɪs/ | Official residence of a head of state or other dignitary, especially in a monarchical or imperial governmental system. |
| flower noun | /ˈfloʊɚ/ | A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), often conspicuously colourful and typically including sepals, petals, and either or both stamens… |
| hammer noun | /ˈhæmɚ/ | A tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding. |
| vegetable noun | /ˈvɛd͡ʒ.tə.bəl/ | A plant raised for some edible part of it, such as the leaves, roots, fruit or flowers, but excluding any plant considered to be a fruit, grain, herb, or spice… |
| sword noun | /soɹd/ | A long bladed weapon with a grip and typically a pommel and crossguard (together forming a hilt), which is designed to cut, stab, slash and/or hack. |
| daddy noun | /ˈdædi/ | Also used as a term of address: a father; one's father. |
| bean noun | /ˈbi(ː)n/ | Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods. |
| needle noun | /ˈniː.dəl/ | A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a… |
| maid noun | /meɪd/ | An adult or adolescent female servant or cleaner (short for maidservant). (In feudal times this could be anyone from a high-ranking assistant to a low-ranking… |
| cloud noun | /ˈklaʊ̯d/ | A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. |
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| afterwards adverb | /ˈæf.tɚ.wɚdz/ | At a later or succeeding time; after that; |
| brave adjective | /bɹeɪv/ | Strong in the face of fear; courageous. |
| bite verb | /baɪt/ | To cut into something by clamping the teeth. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| run past verb | To bring an idea or proposal to the attention of (someone) in order to obtain their opinion. |
| ring off verb | To disconnect at the end of a phone call. |
| run around verb | To be very busy doing many different things. |
| set off verb | To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'll get a job in the city.
- What can you do?
- You, said the ogre, what could you do?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | were marching · was washing · was making |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll be · I'll get · I'll ask |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I'd, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: cloth /klɒθ/, bathtub /ˈbæθtʌb/, thorn /θoɹn/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, squash /skwɔʃ/, shoelace /ˈʃuːˌleɪs/
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 emperor, palace, flower.
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.