Shadowing Practice: You Don’t Have to Be Sure | English Shadowing Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video
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49 sentences
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Hello, dear learners.
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Here is a small English habit that can make a big difference.
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Imagine someone asks you, is Anna coming tonight?
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You are not sure.
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You think she is coming, but you don't know for cert.
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A lot of learners immediately say, I don't know.
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And sometimes that's exactly right.
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But very often you do know something, you just aren't completely sure.
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In everyday English, we have simple ways to show that.
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Instead of giving a hard yes or no, you can say things like I guess, probably, as far as I know, or I could be wrong.
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Today, you'll practice six of these expressions in real sentences.
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Let's start with one of the easiest.
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I guess means, this is what I think but I'm not completely sure.
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I guess we should leave now before the traffic gets worse.
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I guess this place gets pretty busy on Friday nights.
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Now try probably.
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Use probably when you think something is likely to happen or be true.
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She'll probably call you back when she finishes work.
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She'll probably call you back when she finishes work.
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You're probably right, but let's check before we decide.
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You're probably right, but let's check before we decide.
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Here's another very useful one, as far as I know.
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It means this is true based on the information you have now.
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You are not promising that you know everything.
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As far as I know, the meeting starts at 9.
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As far as I know, the meeting starts at 9.
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As far as I know,
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she doesn't work here anymore.
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Now listen to apparently.
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We often use it when we learned something from another person, a message, or something we saw.
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You believe it is true, but the information didn't come directly from you.
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Apparently, they changed the plan after we left yesterday.
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Apparently, he didn't get my message this morning.
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Next is From What I Can Tell.
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This one is useful when you're looking at a situation and making your best judgment.
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From what I can tell,
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everything is working fine now.
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From what I can tell, they aren't ready to leave.
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From what I can tell, they aren't ready to leave.
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And finally, one of the most useful phrases when you want to disagree gently.
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I could be wrong, but...
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It doesn't mean you think you're wrong.
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It simply shows that you're open to another possibility.
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I could be wrong, but I think he's already gone.
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I could be wrong, but this sounds like the best option.
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You don't need to sound completely sure to sound natural.
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Sometimes, I guess, probably, or I could be wrong is exactly what real English sounds like.
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So don't aim for perfect answers.
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Aim for honest, natural English, one phrase at a time.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 49 sentences and 462 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:30. The speaker talks slowly, about 84 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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:
- phrase /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ (noun) — A short written or spoken expression.
- everyday /ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/ (adjective) — Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
- judgment /ˈd͡ʒʌd͡ʒ.mənt/ (noun) — The act of judging.
- habit /ˈhæb.ɪt/ (noun) — An action performed on a regular basis.
- disagree /dɪsəˈɡɹi/ (verb) — To fail to agree; to have a different opinion or belief.
- gently /ˈd͡ʒɛntli/ (adverb) — Without strong force or quickness: softly, lightly.
- learner /ˈlɜɹnəɹ/ (noun) — One who is learning; one receiving instruction.
- cert (noun) — Certificate.
- possibility /ˌpɑ.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/ (noun) — The quality of being possible.
- sentence /ˈsɛn.təns/ (noun) — The judicial order for a punishment to be imposed on a person convicted of a crime.
- expression /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ (noun) — The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc.
- completely /kəmˈpliːtli/ (adverb) — In a complete manner; thoroughly.
- apparently /əˈpæɹəntli/ (adverb) — Seemingly; in appearance.
- useful /ˈjuːsfəl/ (adjective) — Having a practical or beneficial use.
- message /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ (noun) — A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed.
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, aren't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: expression /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/, finish /ˈfɪnɪʃ/, option /ˈɑpʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: possibility /ˌpɑ.səˈbɪl.ə.ti/, apparently /əˈpæɹəntli/, immediately /ɪˈmiː.di.ət.li/
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 phrase, everyday, judgment.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the easiest · your best · the most useful |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | is coming · you're looking · is working |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | you'll practice · She'll probably call |
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.