Shadowing Practice: what's in my birkin? (with kris jenner) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 421 sentences and 2697 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:49. The speaker talks at a natural 160 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.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- wallet /ˈwɑl.ət/ (noun) — A small case, often flat and often made of leather, for keeping money (especially paper money), credit cards, etc.
- poker /ˈpoʊkɚ/ (noun) — A metal rod, generally of wrought iron, for adjusting the burning logs or coals in a fire; a firestick.
- steal /stiːl/ (verb) — To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.
- butter /ˈbʌtɚ/ (noun) — A soft, fatty foodstuff made by churning the cream of milk (generally cow's milk).
- organic /ɔːˈɡænɪk/ (adjective) — Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.
- cheers /t͡ʃɪəz/ — A common toast used when drinking in company.
- cheat /ˈt͡ʃiːt/ (verb) — To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
- popcorn /ˈpɑp.kɔɹn/ (noun) — A snack food made from corn or maize kernels popped by dry heating.
- mini /ˈmɪn.i/ (adjective) — Miniature, tiny, small.
- gorgeous /ˈɡoɹd͡ʒəs/ (adjective) — Sumptuously dressed.
- wherever /(h)wɛɹˈɛvɚ/ — Regardless of the place in, at or to which.
- shade /ʃeɪd/ (noun) — Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked.
- olive /ˈɑ.lɪv/ (noun) — A tree of species Olea europaea cultivated since ancient times in the Mediterranean for its fruit and the oil obtained from it.
- snack /snæk/ (noun) — A light meal.
- vodka /ˈvɑdkə/ (noun) — A clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- have in (verb) — To allow in; grant permission or admittance to; invite in or over; admit.
- come in /ˌkʌm ˈɪn/ (verb) — To enter.
- pull out (verb) — To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.
- clean up (verb) — To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy.
- come out /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ (verb) — To be discovered; to be revealed.
- come with (verb) — To join and come along.
- fit in (verb) — To be physically capable of going into a space.
- go into (verb) — To get involved in; to investigate or explore.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 84 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, thief /ˈθiːf/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shade /ʃeɪd/, extension /ɪkˈstɛnʃən/, dish /dɪʃ/, shine /ʃaɪn/, selfish /ˈsɛlf.ɪʃ/
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 wallet, poker, steal.
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 | you've ever said · you've ever seen · i've created |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most useful · the meanest · the best |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | Should I take · should have · should we try |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | start yelling · starts getting · Stop trying |
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.

















