Shadowing Practice: What is AL amyloidosis? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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27 sentences
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Amyloidosis is the term used to describe a group of diseases in
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which deposits of an abnormal protein called amyloid form in tissues and organs throughout the body.
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Proteins are important molecules involved in almost every structure and function within our cells.
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They are made up of chains of smaller units called amino acids which fold themselves into three -dimensional structures.
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Folding allows the protein to work properly and interact with other molecules.
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In amyloidosis proteins are made in the normal way but when they are released from the cell they open up again.
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These abnormally folded proteins collect together in long chains or fibrils.
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The deposits they form are called amyloid.
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Amyloid fibrils are difficult to break down and as they accumulate, they start to cause damage.
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Eventually the build -up of amyloid fibrils stops the affected tissue from working properly.
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AL amyloidosis is caused by a bone marrow disorder.
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The bone marrow produces blood cells, including plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that forms part of the immune system.
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Plasma The cells make antibodies to help fight infection.
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Each antibody is made up of four protein chains, two heavy chains and two light chains, which attach to each other to form the complete antibody.
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In AL amyloidosis, the abnormal protein that builds up and causes problems is the antibody light chain,
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hence the name, AL amyloidosis.
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Instead of attaching to heavy chains, the abnormal light chains open up and bind to other abnormal light chains to form amyloid fibrils.
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These gradually build up over time.
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Amyloid light chain fibrils can occur almost anywhere in the body, but the organs most commonly affected include the kidneys,
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the heart, liver, spleen, nerves and the digestive system.
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Treatment for AL amyloidosis involves chemotherapy, steroids, high -dose therapy and stem cell transplant and other drugs.
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Treatment is aimed at reducing the plasma cells to stop further amyloid light chains being made
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that would otherwise build up in tissues and organs.
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It also gives the body a chance to break down existing deposits naturally.
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However, on its own, this process can take many months or years.
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New treatments which break down the amyloid deposits more quickly are currently being tested in AL amyloidosis.
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The hope is that they can reduce symptoms and restore function quickly, and in doing so, improve quality of life for patients.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “What is AL amyloidosis?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: chain, amyloid, cell, amyloidosis, protein. This video has 27 sentences and 394 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:58. The speaker talks at a steady 133 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 73% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| abnormal adjective | /ˌæbˈnɔɹ.ml̩/ | Not conforming to rule or system; deviating from the usual or normal type. |
| tissue noun | /ˈtɪʃ.(j)u/ | Thin, woven, gauzelike fabric. |
| organ noun | /ˈɔːɡən/ | The larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions. |
| fold verb | /ˈfəʊld/ | To bend (any thin material, such as paper) over so that it comes in contact with itself. |
| plasma noun | /ˈplæzmə/ | A state of matter consisting of partially ionized gas and electrons. |
| bone noun | /boʊn/ | A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. |
| attach verb | /əˈtæt͡ʃ/ | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| molecule noun | /ˈmɑ.lɪ.kjul/ | The smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by… |
| marrow noun | /ˈmæɹəʊ/ | The substance inside bones which produces blood cells. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| occur verb | /əˈkɜː/ | To happen or take place. |
| acid noun | /ˈæsɪd/ | A sour substance. |
| commonly adverb | /ˈkɑmənli/ | As a rule; frequently; usually. |
| hence adverb | /ˈhɛns/ | In the future from now. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| break down verb | To stop functioning. |
| open up verb | To open. |
| build up verb | To erect; to construct. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: tissue /ˈtɪʃ.(j)u/, infection /ɪnˈfɛkʃən/, dimensional /daɪˈmɛn.ʃə.nəl/
- Long words — get the stress right: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, dimensional /daɪˈmɛn.ʃə.nəl/, chemotherapy /ˌkiːməʊˈθɛɹəpi/, amyloidosis /æmɪlɔɪˈdəʊsɪs/, antibody /ˈæn.tɪˌbɑ.di/
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 deposit, abnormal, tissue.
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.