Shadowing Practice: Wes Anderson: American Express Commercial - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
Recommend Video
B1'Comparing Business Cards' Scene | American Psycho
B1Emily in Paris | Emily and De L'Heure (10)
B1Uncharted: Drake's Suit Fitting Scene (Mark Wahlberg, Tom Holland)
B1American English Shadowing Useful Phrases - 20 Chunks
B1Donna is impressed by Mike! #suits #harveyspecter #tvshow
B1The Intern - Better Late Than Never - Warner Bros. UK
B1Learn English By Movies - The Pursuit Of Happyness (Scene With Subtitles)
B1AEF3e SB2 PE Ep1 Introduction
B2Dwight's Big Speech! - The Office US
B1La La Land (2016) - This is Not Your Dream Scene (8/11) | Movieclips
B1When You Bluff, You Have A Real Obvious Tell #shorts #thementalist #movie #scene
B2The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Jordan Changes His Mind in the Middle of His Speech
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Wes Anderson: American Express Commercial”. This video has 74 sentences and 340 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:57. The speaker talks at a natural 174 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 17 of its 74 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| helicopter noun | /ˈheliːˌkɔptə(ɹ)/ | An aircraft that is borne along by one or more sets of long rotating blades which allow it to hover, move in any direction including reverse, or land; and… |
| ballpoint noun | A kind of needle with a rounded tip. | |
| bayonet noun | /ˌbeɪəˈnɛt/ | A blade mounted to the end of a long gun, originally with a handle inserted into the bore, now usually attached underbarrel. |
| blackmail noun | /ˈblækˌmeɪl/ | The extortion of money or favors by threats of public accusation, critique, or exposure. |
| collaborator noun | /kəˈlæbəɹeɪtɚ/ | A person who works with others towards a common goal. |
| geisha noun | /ˈɡeɪ.ʃə/ | A Japanese female entertainer skilled in various arts such as tea ceremony, dancing, singing and calligraphy. |
| blink verb | /ˈblɪŋk/ | To close and reopen both eyes quickly. |
| calculation noun | /ˌkælkjuˈleɪʃn̩/ | The act or process of calculating. |
| processor noun | /ˈpɹɑˌsɛsɚ/ | A person or institution who processes things (foods, photos, applications, etc.). |
| snack noun | /snæk/ | A light meal. |
| receipt noun | /ɹɪˈsiːt/ | The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received. |
| airplane noun | /ˈɛɹˌpleɪ̯n/ | A powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings: a fixed-wing aircraft with at least one engine or electric motor. |
| incorrect adjective | /ˌɪn.kəˈɹɛkt/ | Not correct; erroneous or wrong. |
| sandy adjective | /ˈsændi/ | Covered with sand. |
| dialogue noun | /ˈdaɪəˌlɑɡ/ | A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| blow up verb | To explode or be destroyed by explosion. | |
| get through verb | /ɡɛt ˈθɹu/ | To overcome; to endure. |
| think up verb | To create in one’s mind; to invent. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Where'd you get that pen?
- Can I get my snack?
- How do you do it?
- You want to have her?
- Two, how do you tell her?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | is it blinking · You're eating · I'm telling |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | You'll never make · will you · We'll go |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: geisha /ˈɡeɪ.ʃə/, calculation /ˌkælkjuˈleɪʃn̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: helicopter /ˈheliːˌkɔptə(ɹ)/, collaborator /kəˈlæbəɹeɪtɚ/
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 helicopter, ballpoint, bayonet.
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.