Shadowing Practice: Viewing a Flat to Rent in London - Learn English Speaking with Video
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30 sentences
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1
Hi, you must be Sophie. I'm Raj, from the agency.
2
Yes, that's me. Sorry, the Tube was running late again.
3
No worries at all. Shall we go in before it rains harder?
4
Please. I've been looking forward to seeing this one.
5
So, this is the living room. It's just been repainted.
6
Oh, it's bigger than it looked in the photos.
7
Yes, the bay window makes a huge difference. Lots of light.
8
Is the furniture included, or would I need my own?
9
It comes fully furnished, so you can just move in.
10
The kitchen's a bit small, isn't it?
11
It is, but everything's new. The washing machine was fitted last month.
12
That's good. Does the boiler work properly? My last flat was freezing.
13
It's been serviced this year. You shouldn't have any problems.
14
How noisy does it get at night? It's quite a busy road.
15
Honestly, it quietens down after about ten.
16
And the windows are double glazed, which helps a lot.
17
If I took it, when could I move in?
18
The current tenant leaves on the thirtieth. So, the first of next month.
19
And the rent is twelve hundred a month, right?
20
That's right, with bills not included.
21
Hmm. Would the landlord accept eleven hundred?
22
I can ask, but I wouldn't count on it. Flats go quickly round here.
23
Fair enough. What about the deposit?
24
Five weeks' rent, held in a protected scheme.
25
Okay, I'd like to apply, please. I don't want to lose it.
26
Brilliant. I'll send you the forms this afternoon.
27
If I send them back tonight, how long does it take?
28
Usually two or three days, once we've checked your references.
29
Perfect. Thanks so much for showing me round, Raj.
30
My pleasure, Sophie. Speak soon.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 30 sentences and 288 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:58. The speaker talks at a steady 146 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| twelve noun | /twɛlv/ | A group of twelve items. |
| furniture noun | /ˈfɝ.nɪ.t͡ʃɚ/ | Large movable item(s), usually in a room, which enhance(s) the room's characteristics, functionally or decoratively. |
| deposit noun | /dɪˈpɑ.zɪt/ | Sediment or rock that is not native to its present location or is different from the surrounding material. Sometimes refers to ore or gems. |
| leaf noun | /lif/ | The usually green and flat organ that represents the most prominent feature of most vegetative plants. |
| eleven noun | /əˈlɛv.ən/ | A cricket team of eleven players. Hence first eleven - the team of best cricket players (at a school), second eleven - the "B" team, etc. |
| freeze verb | /ˈfɹiːz/ | Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature. |
| landlord noun | /ˈlæn(d).lɔɹd/ | A person that leases real property; a lessor. |
| tenant noun | /ˈtɛ.nənt/ | One who holds a lease (a tenancy). |
| boiler noun | /ˈbɔɪlɚ/ | A person who boils something. |
| noisy adjective | /ˈnɔɪzi/ | Making a noise, especially a loud unpleasant sound |
| furnish verb | /ˈfɝnɪʃ/ | To provide a place with furniture, or other equipment. |
| glaze noun | /ɡleɪz/ | The vitreous coating of pottery or porcelain; anything used as a coating or color in glazing. |
| quieten verb | /ˈkwaɪ.ə.tən/ | To make quiet. |
| repaint verb | /ɹiːˈpeɪnt/ | To paint anew or again, especially if recently painted. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
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 | It's just been repainted · It's been serviced · we've checked |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | been repainted · was fitted · been serviced |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'd, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, furnish /ˈfɝnɪʃ/
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 wash, twelve, furniture.
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.