Shadowing Practice: words root #english #animation #learnanewwordtoday - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 11 sentences and 41 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:29. 3 of its 11 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
8 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| continuous adjective | /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/ | Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption. |
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| pedestrian noun | /pəˈdɛstɹiən/ | A walker; one who walks or goes on foot, especially as opposed to one who uses a vehicle. |
| aquatic adjective | /əˈkwɑ.tɪk/ | Relating to water; living in or near water, taking place in water. |
| thermometer noun | /θɚˈmɑ.mɪ.tɚ/ | An apparatus used to measure temperature. |
| transport noun | /ˈtɹæns.pɔɹt/ | An act of transporting; conveyance. |
| cross noun | /kɹɑs/ | A geometrical figure consisting of two straight lines or bars intersecting each other such that at least one of them is bisected by the other. |
| sport noun | /spoɹt/ | Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | love swimming |
Pronunciation to watch
- Long words — get the stress right: continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, thermometer /θɚˈmɑ.mɪ.tɚ/
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 continuous, swim, pedestrian.
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.































