Shadowing Practice: VAI al Supermercato! Ascolta e PRATICA l'Italiano (Livello Base/Intermedio) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 328 sentences and 2383 words to shadow. The speech runs for 15:08. The speaker talks at a natural 158 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 50% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- yogurt /ˈjɒɡ.ət/ (noun) — A milk-based product stiffened by a bacterium-aided curdling process, and sometimes mixed with fruit or other flavoring.
- supermarket /ˌsupɚˈmɑɹkət/ (noun) — A large self-service store that sells groceries and, usually, medications, household goods, and/or clothing.
- currency /ˈkʌɹ.ən.si/ (noun) — Money or other items used to facilitate transactions.
- vegetable /ˈvɛd͡ʒ.tə.bəl/ (noun) — 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…
- meal /ˈmiːl/ (noun) — Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
- cart /kɑɹt/ (noun) — A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, often with two wheels on one axle, more often used for transporting goods than…
- fare /ˈfɛə/ (noun) — Money paid for a transport ticket.
- resist /ɹɪˈzɪst/ (verb) — To attempt to counter the actions or effects of.
- subscribe /səbˈskɹaɪb/ (verb) — To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name).
- insert /ɪnˈsɝt/ (verb) — To put in between or into.
- parole /pəˈɹəʊl/ (noun) — Originally, one's oath or word of honour, given as a condition of release from custody; now specifically, describing the release of a former prisoner under…
- pocket /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ (noun) — A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items.
- practical /ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/ (adjective) — Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.
- everyday /ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/ (adjective) — Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
- mini /ˈmɪn.i/ (adjective) — Miniature, tiny, small.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
- come in /ˌkʌm ˈɪn/ (verb) — To enter.
- go ahead /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ (verb) — To proceed with; to begin.
- talked about (adjective) — Discussed by many people.
- write in (verb) — To write a letter to, e.g. a publication.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 37 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: occasion /əˈkeɪ̯ʒən/, suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/, prosciutto /pɹəˈʃuː.toʊ/, devolution /diːvəˈluːʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: supermarket /ˌsupɚˈmɑɹkət/, mozzarella /mɑt.səˈɹɛl.ə/, devolution /diːvəˈluːʃən/, arrivederci /əˌɹiːvəˈdɛətʃi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like yogurt, supermarket, currency.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've noticed · You've already decided · have taken |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | will be stuck · are always curated · is already pesated |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll try · will be · we'll try |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to insert · have to be · have to eat |
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.










