Shadowing Practice: 36 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
The speaker keeps coming back to these words: club, dark, listen, interesting, space. This video has 58 sentences and 404 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:22. The speaker talks at a steady 120 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 14 of its 58 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 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. |
| pen noun | /pɪn/ | A tool, originally made from a feather but now usually a small tubular instrument, containing ink used to write or make marks. |
| spell noun | /spɛl/ | Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. |
| torch noun | /ˈtɔːtʃ/ | A stick of wood or plant fibres twisted together, with one end soaked in a flammable substance such as resin or tallow and set on fire, which is held in the… |
| cloudy adjective | /ˈklaʊ̯diː/ | Covered with or characterised by clouds. |
| surname noun | /ˈsɝˌneɪm/ | The portion of a person's name that is generally hereditary or treated as an indicator of a person's family, which may be shared with other members of the… |
| careful adjective | /ˈkɛɹfəl/ | Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious. |
| programme noun | /ˈpɹoʊˌɡɹæm/ | UK, New Zealand, and India standard spelling of program. |
| sample noun | /ˈsæm.pəl/ | A part or snippet of something taken or presented for inspection, or shown as evidence of the quality of the whole; a specimen. |
| famous adjective | /ˈfeɪ.məs/ | Well known. |
| moon noun | /mun/ | Any natural satellite of a planet. |
| evening noun | /ˈiv.nɪŋ/ | The time of day between afternoon and night. |
| hello | /hɛˈloʊ/ | A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | It'll be · I'll enjoy |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to bring |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, I'll, it'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, pen, spell.
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.












