Shadowing Practice: why you should have a youtube channel - Learn English Speaking with Video
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25 sentences
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1
If you're not trying to become the next big thing, I still think having a YouTube channel is worth it.
2
I'm grateful that mom decided to record part of me and my brothers growing up,
3
because now I can look back at real things that actually happened and feel a sense of nostalgia.
4
You also end up learning a lot from having a channel.
5
Depending on what kind of content or videos you make, you naturally get better at things like editing, writing, storytelling and communication.
6
But the best part is that making videos can help you learn almost anything.
7
When you try to explain something to other people, it forces you to really understand it yourself.
8
However, I know that some people out there also want to make it on YouTube, because I know I do.
9
I want to work for myself and have the freedom to do whatever I want.
10
But just keep in mind that making a living from social media is not as easy as you might think.
11
For example, I'm earning a bit, but it's still far from being my main source of income.
12
Some say success is 50 % hard work and 50 % luck, and I agree to some extent.
13
There are several types of video that tend to perform really well, and I think I've even found creators on the verge of blowing up.
14
It's not easy, but if you emulate their style or follow templates, you can get viral and achieve success that way.
15
I did that with Instagram.
16
I rarely came up with my own ideas, but when I did, they actually performed pretty well most of the time.
17
Though, I would scroll until I found a video with potential, or I'd recreate top -performing videos from other creators.
18
And while it worked, it took a lot of hours of scrolling.
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The bottom line is that emulating will only take you so far.
20
You have to ask yourself the question, are you willing to create things just to go viral,
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or do you want to go viral for making content you actually enjoy or are proud of?
22
If you go with the second option, you need to find a way to combine your interests with ideas that people actually want to watch.
23
That's harder because you can't just copy what already works.
24
You have to think more creatively and figure out your own angle.
25
If it does work, it becomes more meaningful.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 25 sentences and 408 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:51. The speaker talks fast, about 221 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 87% 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 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| viral adjective | /ˈvaɪɹəl/ | Of or relating to a biological virus. |
| creator noun | /kɹiːˈeɪ̯təː/ | Something or someone which creates or makes something. |
| scroll noun | /skɹoʊl/ | A roll of paper or parchment; a writing formed into a roll. |
| earn verb | /ɝn/ | To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| extent noun | /ɪkˈstɛnt/ | A range of values or locations. |
| rarely adverb | /ˈɹɛəɹli/ | Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. |
| angle noun | /ˈæŋ.ɡəl/ | A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle). |
| grateful adjective | /ˈɡɹeɪtf(ə)l/ | Of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation; appreciative, thankful. |
| edit verb | /ˈɛdɪt/ | To change a text, or a document. |
| depend verb | /dɪˈpɛnd/ | To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition |
| meaningful adjective | /ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fl̩/ | Having meaning, significant. |
| combine verb | /kəmˈbaɪn/ | To bring (two or more things or activities) together; to unite. |
| template noun | /ˈtɛm.plɪt/ | A physical object whose shape is used as a guide to make other objects. |
| verge noun | /vɜːd͡ʒ/ | A rod or staff of office, e.g. of a verger. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| blow up verb | To explode or be destroyed by explosion. |
| come up with verb | To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| grow up verb | To mature and become an adult. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to ask · need to find · have to think |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're not trying · I'm earning |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, I'd. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, creatively /kɹiˈeɪtɪvli/
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 viral, creator, scroll.
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.