Shadowing Practice: What To Know BEFORE Getting Into PC Gaming! 😃 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “What To Know BEFORE Getting Into PC Gaming! 😃”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: gaming, console, fps. This video has 272 sentences and 4469 words to shadow. The speech runs for 20:01. The speaker talks fast, about 223 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 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
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| console noun | /ˈkɑn.soʊl/ | A stand-alone cabinet designed to stand on the floor; especially, one integrated with home entertainment equipment, such as a TV or stereo system. |
| graphics noun | /ˈɡɹæfɪks/ | The making of architectural or design drawings. |
| centric adjective | /ˈsɛntɹɪk/ | Being in the centre; central. |
| gamepad noun | /ˈɡeɪm.pæd/ | A type of game controller held in both hands and controlled with the thumbs. |
| motherboard noun | /ˈmʌðɚˌbɔɹd/ | The primary circuit board of a personal computer, containing the circuitry for the central processing unit, keyboard, mouse and monitor, together with slots… |
| quid noun | /kwɪd/ | Pound (currency). (usually used with a whole number of pounds) |
| processor noun | /ˈpɹɑˌsɛsɚ/ | A person or institution who processes things (foods, photos, applications, etc.). |
| annoy verb | /əˈnoɪ̯/ | To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to bother with unpleasant deeds. |
| screwdriver noun | /ˈskɹuˌdɹaɪvɚ/ | A hand tool or power tool which engages with the head of a screw and allows torque to be applied to turn the screw, thus driving it in or loosening it. |
| massively adverb | /ˈmæs.ɪv.li/ | In a massive manner, in a way that appears large, heavy or imposing. |
| admittedly adverb | As is acknowledged to be true; by general admission; confessedly. | |
| multiplayer adjective | /ˌmʌl.tiˈpleɪ.əɹ/ | Requiring or allowing multiple (or more than the usual two) players to play simultaneously. |
| absorb verb | /æbˈsɔɹb/ | To include so that it no longer has separate existence; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to incorporate; to assimilate; to take in… |
| rig noun | /ɹɪɡ/ | The rigging of a sailing ship or other such craft. |
| rubbish noun | /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/ | Refuse, waste, garbage, junk, trash. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| open up verb | To open. | |
| come down to verb | To reach by moving down or reducing. | |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. | |
| work out verb | /ˌwɝk ˈaʊt/ | To calculate. |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| come out with verb | To say (something) unexpectedly. | |
| do away with verb | To abolish; to put an end to; to eliminate. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I mean, you've got a fair point.
- It's entirely down to us.
- You've probably heard that they are incredibly expensive, right?
- As I say, it's just the screwdrivers.
- You don't want to damage anything.
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 | they've ever been · they've become · have gotten |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is needed · has been built · be stressed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | space, which is · all, which is |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 102 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rubbish /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/, mesh /mɛʃ/, sheer /ʃɪɚ/, subscription /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/, ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/
- Long words — get the stress right: multiplayer /ˌmʌl.tiˈpleɪ.əɹ/, complexity /kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/, capability /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/, developer /dɪˈvɛləpɚ/, ideally /aɪˈdi.ə.li/
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 console, graphics, centric.
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.











