Shadowing Practice: Wicked | Involuntary Roommates - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 39 sentences and 182 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:28. The speaker talks slowly, about 74 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 39 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
9 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| shortly adverb | /ˈʃɔɹtli/ | In a short or brief time or manner; quickly. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| suite noun | /swiːt/ | A group or train of attendants, servants etc.; a retinue. |
| selfish adjective | /ˈsɛlf.ɪʃ/ | Holding one's own self-interest as the standard for decision making. |
| nicely adverb | /ˈnaɪs.li/ | Precisely; with fine discernment or judgement. |
| roommate noun | /ˈɹu(m)ˌmeɪt/ | A person with whom one shares a room, as in a dormitory, barracks, rooming house, or apartment. |
| fair adjective | /ˈfɛə/ | Unblemished (figuratively or literally); clean and pure; innocent. |
| secret noun | /ˈsiː.kɹɪt/ | A piece of knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden. |
| promise noun | /ˈpɹɑmɪs/ | An oath or affirmation; a vow. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you really think this is fair?
- You know what I mean?
- How did you do it?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 4 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, gonna, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shortly /ˈʃɔɹtli/, selfish /ˈsɛlf.ɪʃ/
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 shortly, arrive, suite.
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.