Shadowing Practice: Why I read my wife's diary - Learn English Speaking with Video
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11 sentences
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1
Never have I ever read someone's diary or private messages in this family.
2
I've read some angry journal entries.
3
I'm like, hey, by the way, it's not nice.
4
And you're like, I want to read it.
5
I don't know why you like reading that.
6
It actually, it really helps me understand you.
7
Like, I feel like reading your personal diary helps me completely understand your brain.
8
And then everything makes sense.
9
I'm like, of course she was upset, you know?
10
Because like, if you're upset and I don't know why.
11
Because there's all this stuff going on in here that I just don't know about.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 11 sentences and 105 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:28. The speaker talks fast, about 225 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds.
Key vocabulary in this video
8 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| diary noun | /ˈdaɪ.ə.ɹi/ | A daily log of experiences, especially those of the writer. |
| upset verb | /ʌpˈsɛt/ | To make (a person) angry, distressed, or unhappy. |
| entry noun | /ˈɛntɹi/ | The act of entering. |
| angry adjective | /ˈæŋ.ɡɹi/ | Displaying or feeling anger. |
| completely adverb | /kəmˈpliːtli/ | In a complete manner; thoroughly. |
| message noun | /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ | A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed. |
| brain noun | /ˈbɹeɪ̯n/ | The control center of the central nervous system of an animal located in the skull, consisting of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, which is responsible… |
| journal noun | /ˈd͡ʒɝnəl/ | A diary or daily record of a person, organization, vessel etc.; daybook. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 diary, upset, entry.
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 read |
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.