Shadowing Practice: Ariana Grande - thank u, next (Official Lyric Video) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Thought I'd end up with Sean, but he wasn't a match Wrote some songs about Ricky,
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now I listen and laugh Even almost got married, and for Pete I'm so thankful Wish I could say thank you to Malcolm,
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cause he was an angel One taught me love, one taught me patience And one taught me pain,
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but now I'm so amazed As if love's done, I've lost, and that's not what I see So look what I got,
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look what you taught me And for that I say thank you, next, next Thank you, next,
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next, next I'm so fucking grateful for my ex Thank you, next, next, next, next, next,
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next I'm so fucking just a more fun with my friends I ain't worried about nothing
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Plus I met someone else We having better discussions I know they say I'm alone too fast
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But this won't go last
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Cause her name is Aubrey And I'm so good with
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that She taught me love She taught me patience How she handles pain,
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that shit's amazing I've loved and I've lost, but that's not what I see So look what I found,
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no need for searching Give all that I say Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Thank you,
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thank you I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex Thank you,
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thank you next I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex Thank you next
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I'm so fuckin' One day I walk down the aisle Hold her hand to my mama
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I'll be thanking my dad
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Cause she grew from the drama
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Only wanna do it once real bad Call me cause she laughs God forbid something happens
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At least that song is a smash I got so much love Got so much patience
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Learned from the pain Turned out amazing That time I'm a lost love
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But that's not what I see Look what I found, I ain't no need for searching Give all that I say Thank you,
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thank you next Thank you next I'm so fucking grateful for my ex Thank you,
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thank you next Thank you,
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thank you next I'm so fucking grateful for my ex Thank you next Thank you next Take an ex,
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yeah Take an ex, take an ex Take an ex, yeah

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking with the song "thank u, next" by Ariana Grande provides a unique opportunity to enhance your English speaking practice. The lyrics showcase relatable themes of love, gratitude, and resilience, which add emotional context to your practice. By shadowing Ariana's flow, you not only improve your speaking rhythm but also enhance your expressiveness. Engaging with music in this way helps you to develop fluency and confidence, crucial components for the IELTS speaking practice section. By repeating lines aloud, you simulate real-life conversations, giving you essential skills for engaging discussions in everyday scenarios.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

  • Conditional phrases: The use of "if" in phrases like "if love's done" highlights how to express conditions, which is essential in making complex sentences.
  • Gratitude expressions: Phrases such as "I'm so thankful" or "for that I say thank you" illustrate how to articulate appreciation, which is important in making your speech more conversational and relatable.
  • Past tense verbs: The use of past simple, as in "taught me love" and "lost," provides insight into narrating past experiences. This is particularly useful when sharing your personal stories in English.
  • Contrasting ideas: The lyric "I've loved and I've lost, but that's not what I see" shows how to contrast past heartbreak with current happiness, a useful technique for advanced English speakers to convey nuanced feelings.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing, pay attention to some potential pronunciation challenges. Words like "thank," "grateful," and "ex" can be tricky to articulate clearly, especially with the song's fast pace. The blend of sounds in "thank you" may lead to drops in pronunciation if not practiced properly. Also, catching the emphasis on certain syllables can change the meaning entirely, as seen in the phrase "I'm so fucking grateful." Pay careful attention to the way emotional expression affects tone and intonation in these sections. This kind of focused practice will significantly help you improve English pronunciation and avoid common pitfalls that many learners face.

Incorporating music into your learning strategy by shadowing lyrics such as these transforms your **shadowspeak** practice into an enjoyable and effective method of mastering English. By focusing on these elements, you will not only grow as a speaker but also gain a deeper appreciation of English as a vibrant mode of expression.

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.