Shadowing Practice: Why do some people SUCCEED? - Learn English Speaking with Video
B2𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐭, 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Why do some people SUCCEED?”. This video has 12 sentences and 171 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:54. The speaker talks fast, about 189 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| conclusion noun | /kənˈkluːʒən/ | The end, finish, close or last part of something. |
| efficient adjective | /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ | Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy. |
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| differently adverb | /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt.li/ | In a different way. |
| loser noun | /luzɚ/ | A person who loses; one who fails to win or thrive. |
| organize verb | /ˈɔɹɡənaɪz/ | To arrange in working order. |
| biography noun | /baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/ | A person's life story, especially one published. |
| unsuccessful adjective | /ˌʌnsəkˈsɛsfl̩/ | Failed, not successful. |
| autobiography noun | /ˌɔː.tə.baɪˈɒɡ.ɹə.fi/ | A self-written biography; the story of one's own life. |
| endeavor noun | /ɛnˈdɛv.ɚ/ | A sincere attempt; a determined or assiduous effort towards a specific goal; assiduous or persistent activity. |
| anybody | /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/ | Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any person. |
| recognize verb | /ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/ | To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing. |
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 | I've come · I've also come · have never seen |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who do |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as I've, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: conclusion /kənˈkluːʒən/, efficient /ɪˈfɪʃənt/
- Long words — get the stress right: differently /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt.li/, biography /baɪˈɑɡɹəfi/, autobiography /ˌɔː.tə.baɪˈɒɡ.ɹə.fi/, anybody /ˈɛn.i.bə.di/
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 conclusion, efficient, habit.
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.