Shadowing Practice: Wait Just a Minute: Kathryn Koob - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Wait Just a Minute: Kathryn Koob”. This video has 14 sentences and 165 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:07. The speaker talks at a steady 147 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| concrete adjective | /ˌkɑnˈkɹit/ | Real, actual, tangible. |
| preparation noun | /ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/ | The act of preparing or getting ready. |
| venture verb | /ˈvɛn.t͡ʃɚ/ | To undertake a risky or daring journey. |
| willingness noun | /ˈwɪlɪŋnəs/ | The state of being willing |
| vivid adjective | /ˈvɪvɪd/ | Clear, detailed, or powerful. |
| hardship noun | /ˈhɑɹdˌʃɪp/ | Difficulty or trouble; hard times. |
| cradle noun | /ˈkɹeɪdəl/ | A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or swinging on pivots. |
| stereotype noun | /ˈstɛ.ɹi.əˌtaɪp/ | A conventional, formulaic, and often oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of (a person or a group of people). |
| fascinate verb | /ˈfæsɪneɪt/ | To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone. |
| intrigue noun | /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/ | A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem. |
| pragmatic adjective | /pɹæɡˈmætɪk/ | Practical, concerned with making decisions and actions that are useful in practice, not just theory. |
| pragmatism noun | /ˈpɹæɡmətɪzəm/ | The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals. |
| tremendously adverb | Greatly; enormously |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come through verb | To come into a room or other space through a door or passageway. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | would be developed · was raised · is set |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, aren't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: preparation /ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/, hardship /ˈhɑɹdˌʃɪp/
- Long words — get the stress right: preparation /ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/, stereotype /ˈstɛ.ɹi.əˌtaɪp/, pragmatism /ˈpɹæɡmətɪzəm/
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 concrete, preparation, venture.
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.