Shadowing Practice: Post Malone & Swae Lee - Sunflower (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video is perfect for intermediate learners ready to level up their speaking practice. If you’re tired of textbook phrases and want to master casual, conversational English—think how people talk in songs or everyday chats—this is your jam. It’s great for anyone working on fluency, especially if you love music and want to make learning feel less like work. The lyrics are repetitive enough for shadowing technique practice, but with enough slang to keep it interesting.

Words & Idioms to Add to Your Toolkit

The song is packed with catchy phrases you can use IRL. Let’s break down a few:

• Calling it quits: To end a relationship or project. Example: “We’re calling it quits on the road trip—too much traffic!”
• Left in the dust: To be left behind or ignored. Example: “I tried keeping up with the group, but they left me in the dust.”
• Stuck by ya: To stay loyal or supportive. Example: “My friend stuck by me when I failed the test.”
• Take a big L: To lose or fail (L = loss). Example: “I took a big L when I forgot my lines at the play.”

Nailing the Pronunciation & Flow

To sound like a native, focus on the pronunciation practice tips here. First, notice how words blend: “gonna risk it all” becomes “gonna riskitall” (linking the ‘t’ and ‘i’). The singers also use a relaxed tone—shorten “I am” to “I’m” and “you are” to “you’re” to keep the rhythm. For the shadowing technique, pause the video after each line, repeat it immediately, and mimic the stress: “You’re the SUNflower” (stress on “SUN”). Pay attention to the “uh” sound in “wanna” and “gonna”—it’s not “wahn-uh” but a quick “wanna.” Practice this, and your speech will start to feel smoother, more natural, and less like you’re reading from a book.

Grammatica in deze video

De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video: