Shadowing Practice: Why we love sad songs? - Tekowl Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 32 sentences and 252 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:03. The speaker talks at a steady 123 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 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
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
- argue /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ (verb) — To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
- carefully /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ (adverb) — With care; attentively, circumspectly.
- comfort /ˈkʌm.fət/ (noun) — Contentment, ease.
- discover /dɪˈskʌvə/ (verb) — To find or learn something for the first time.
- connect /kəˈnɛkt/ (verb) — To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
- breathe /bɹiːð/ (verb) — To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
- safely /ˈseɪfli/ (adverb) — In a safe manner; without risk; using caution above all else.
- heal /ˈhiːl/ (verb) — To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure.
- headphones /ˈhɛdfoʊnz/ (noun) — A pair of cushioned speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer can hear the sound.
- sadness /ˈsædnəs/ (noun) — The state or emotion of being sad.
- chemical /ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl/ (adjective) — Of or relating to chemistry.
- smile /ˈsmaɪl/ (verb) — To have (a smile) on one's face.
- fail /feɪl/ (verb) — To be unsuccessful.
- calm /kɑm/ (adjective) — Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- back in (verb) — To reverse a vehicle into a space.
- put on /ˌpʊt ˈɒn/ (verb) — To don (clothing, equipment, or the like).
- sit back (verb) — To recline while still in a seated position, with one's back on the frame of the seat.
- talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.
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 lesson, argue, carefully.
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 | have reached · Have you noticed |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will travel · will discover |
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.













