Shadowing Practice: Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love) (string version) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: cling, pretend, papers. This video has 34 sentences and 261 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:21. The speaker talks slowly, about 78 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pretend verb | /pɹəˈtɛnd/ | To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. |
| pen noun | /pɪn/ | A tool, originally made from a feather but now usually a small tubular instrument, containing ink used to write or make marks. |
| argue verb | /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ | To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| bite verb | /baɪt/ | To cut into something by clamping the teeth. |
| bin noun | /ˈbɪn/ | A box, frame, crib, or enclosed place, used as a storage container. |
| cling verb | /ˈklɪŋ/ | To hold very tightly, as to not fall off. |
| daydream verb | /ˈdeɪdɹiːm/ | To have such a series of thoughts; to woolgather. |
| misunderstand verb | /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/ | To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly. |
| monstrous adjective | /ˈmɑnstɹəs/ | Hideous or frightful. |
| tiptoe verb | /ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/ | To walk quietly with only the tips of the toes touching the ground. |
| feed verb | /fiːd/ | To give (someone or something) food to eat. |
| paint verb | /peɪnt/ | To apply paint to. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 31 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, don't, wanna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 pretend, pen, argue.
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.