Shadowing Practice: ASMR mouth sounds for deep sleep - Learn English Speaking with Video
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “ASMR mouth sounds for deep sleep”. This video has 152 sentences and 2146 words to shadow. The speech runs for 22:34. The speaker talks slowly, about 95 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| asleep adjective | /əˈsliːp/ | In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| brush noun | /bɹʌʃ/ | An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including… |
| liner noun | /ˈlaɪnɚ/ | A large passenger-carrying ship, especially one on a regular route; an ocean liner. |
| sensitive adjective | /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/ | Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses. |
| gray adjective | /ɡɹeɪ/ | Of a color between black and white, having neutral hue and intermediate brightness. |
| mood noun | /muːd/ | A mental or emotional state, composure. |
| intense adjective | /ɪnˈtɛns/ | Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering. |
| gorgeous adjective | /ˈɡoɹd͡ʒəs/ | Sumptuously dressed. |
| delicious adjective | /dɪˈlɪ.ʃəs/ | Pleasing to the sense of taste; tasty. |
| throat noun | /ˈθɹoʊt/ | The front part of the neck. |
| announce verb | /əˈnaʊn(t)s/ | To give public notice of, especially for the first time; to make known. |
| nonsense noun | /ˈnɒn.səns/ | Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or pattern or seem to have no meaning. |
| mathematics noun | /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/ | An abstract representational system studying numbers, shapes, structures, quantitative change and relationships between them. |
| addiction noun | /əˈdɪkˌʃən/ | A state that is characterized by compulsive drug use or compulsive engagement in rewarding behavior, despite negative consequences. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| take off verb | To remove. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
| go away verb | To depart or leave a place. |
| try out verb | To test (something) to see how it works or whether it is suitable. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have been · haven't been · haven't tried |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna come · gonna use · gonna try |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will as · will just quickly · will apply |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're doing · I'm just using · you're wanting |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 93 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: throat /ˈθɹoʊt/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: brush /bɹʌʃ/, delicious /dɪˈlɪ.ʃəs/, addiction /əˈdɪkˌʃən/, brownish /ˈbɹaʊnɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, antibiotic /ˌæn.taɪ.baɪˈɑ.tɪk/
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 asleep, relax, brush.
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.











