Shadowing Practice: Central Cee answers fan questions on Love, Social Media & Being a Gemini | Dazed Autumn 24 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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I hate this stuff, you know.
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How are you feeling right now?
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Mmm...
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Mmm...
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I'm feeling alright.
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One of your fans, Alice Wood, asks, What is your family like?
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I'm grateful for my family.
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Just like every other family, there's drama and whatnot, but I can imagine family members, like...
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fooling out a lot more over, like...
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superficial stuff, like, when it comes to...
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somebody in the family getting rich and famous, and it, but.. they've never really.. they don't ask me for nothing.
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What does your family think of your career?
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Everyone's like, known that I've tried to do this and like, flop, like for many years.
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So like, now when the tables turn, everyone's got an extra bit of pride.
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Do they get worried about your level of fame?
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At first, my nama was like, make sure you're good and that, you know, make sure you're good.
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She knows now, like, I don't know.
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I don't think music would ever be my mental downfall.
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What would be your mental downfall?
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What would it be?
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Maybe, yeah.
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I can't, I don't know.
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No, God forbid anything then.
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No, I can't have a mental downfall, but it wouldn't be music though.
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What's your favourite childhood memory?
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I don't know what you think about my childhood.
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That's, that's, sorry, that question kind of free off course.
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I never, I don't ever think of my childhood like that.
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I was just chilling, isn't it?
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I think growing up, like, when I was younger, I used to be mad.
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I used to be careless to the point where it probably didn't help.
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I didn't even think about the fact that I might have not been accepted.
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It's only until I got a bit older, I said, hold on, I was moving a bit mad.
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Salma Dumaio asks, what inspired you to make music?
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Not having much, like, I just, I remember how, like, it's like, I come from deprivation.
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My music is like, I know there's times, and I don't know, some people might overlook me and think that I don't make music too tough.
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That's like really sentimental or have much substance, but there is though and
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when i when i first ever tried to rap i was
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so young but obviously i never knew anything about business
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or how to like record a song or anything it was just straight for like
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venting and feeling sorry for myself what do you enjoy doing outside of music Anyone that meets me,
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it's a popular-ass question.
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I never know what to say, because I don't play games.
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I don't watch TV.
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I don't drink.
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I don't smoke.
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I don't go out.
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I don't actually know what I do.
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I'm just on my phone.
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My screen time is too high.
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I'm just scrolling, scrolling, scrolling.
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That's it.
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It's six hours 50 on Instagram, six hours 46 on WhatsApp.
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But if I'm on WhatsApp, I'm definitely not on there chatting shit.
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And then five hours on TikTok.
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Izaya Owens asks, what do you think the effect of social media has been on your growth as a rapper?
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Everything.
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For me, everything.
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I've exploited social media to the most heights that anyone could do, I believe, innit?
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Yeah, just using all of these platforms in the right way, in different ways.
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Like, my character on TikTok is a little bit different to the character I may show on Instagram, and it's different to what I show on Spotify.
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The social media, like, the whole internet, to me, is a bit of a jolting.
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It's not...
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It's not serious to me, so...
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I just, I think it's funny, innit?
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They can take social media away.
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Tomorrow, God forbid, I find a way again.
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I find a way.
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How do you cope with difficult emotions?
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I just block out.
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I don't know.
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I'm a bit emotionless.
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Maybe this bit might have to...
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I'm just going to say it and then after you can cut it out if you have to.
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In my role, for example, if I didn't want to do this
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and I thought I was going to come and make a bad impression and be rude and deal with some difficult emotions, I just wouldn't come.
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I like to think I'm kind of a disciplined person.
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I'll go six months.
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I don't even think about music.
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I just listen to, like, my own pop music in my headphones or whatever I'm listening to, no rap music.
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I don't know, I see a lot of people that go studio every day, trying to do things, and me, I can go months without going studio.
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I don't want to go studio.
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I just need to be outside, try to live a life.
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Touch cross, innit?
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Russia asks, if you could choose a favourite book that really inspires you, what would it be?
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I don't know, I only really ever read, like, I never read Diary of the Wimpy Kid.
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I never read no intellectual books like that.
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I think I listen a lot, innit?
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Even if I just have a small conversation with somebody, I can take a word away subconsciously.
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Because I speak to quite a lot of people and that.
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I'm just learning things from them all the time.
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Just my vocabulary just broadens.
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I analysed your astrological chart.
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You have a lot of Gemini placements.
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They're in your sun, Mercury, Mars and Midheaven.
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You believe this though?
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I don't have personal beliefs.
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But do you believe in it?
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The attributes to Gemini does actually relate to me,
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but I just feel like maybe they're smart and the way they write it just makes it relate to anyone but.
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Sina Khan asks, do you believe in manifestations?
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I've manifested some serious women.
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I don't know, no, like, on a professional level, I don't like,
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I don't like the word or like the idea that people have when they think of like manifesting, they don't really back up with anything else.
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Like you have to hard, you have to put in hard work.
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Who supports you outside of your family?
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My dog as well maybe a little bit.
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No, because you know my dog, it's a cane cursor, isn't it?
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So, like, if they can feel if you're sad or if you're happy, whatever.
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I love misunderstood animals, you know, like rats.
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I kind of hate rats.
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I'm shook of them, but I do feel sorry for them, though. And pigeons.
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What are you looking for in a partner?
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It's like someone that's real.
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It's just the same what I need, like, from anyone, isn't it?
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Which is just honesty.
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It's very simple, really.
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Sometimes I think I need just certain, like, real-life energy.
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Then sometimes I think I just need someone to actually just pack my bag and cook breakfast.
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And what are your love languages?
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Nah, I never had any, you know.
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Up until now, I was starting to learn it a bit.
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Am I even learning?
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I was just buying shit.
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But that's just being lazy, isn't it?
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How about words of affirmation?
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Do you give any compliments?
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Physical touch?
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Yeah, well, I don't mind a bit of physical touch.
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What does the word love mean to you?
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I have been in love, I guess, innit?
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I don't know what the word means, innit?
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I've told people I love them, and I do love them, and even I told them and them I love them, I love them.
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I've got love, bare love, but I don't know what the concept of love that you're referring to, like romantic love.
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Figure it out one day, innit?
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To be continued, it's TBC.
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Byron Albudjar asks, What's the biggest misconception about you?
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Right now, they probably think that, like, that I'm a cheating guy.
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Like a bad.. like a womaniser guy.
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It's not really the case.
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You've mentioned women a few times today. In a loving way.
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Yeah, more like a lover boy than, like, than what they see in me as right now.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
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I should have some kids by then.
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Just looking after my youths, like, growing my food, eating the food.
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Just living life like, I just want, like, one compound and just not really have to go nowhere too tough.
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Living a simple life somewhere.
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Kiara Fisher asks, what's the purpose of life?
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It's got to be reproducing, innit?
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It's got to be, though, innit?
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What else is there to do?
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No, I think to have kids, have a good family and that, I think the purpose of life is.
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It's a simple question. Are you happy?
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I'm happy.
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Yeah, could be worse than it.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English listening and speaking skills using a fascinating interview with Central Cee. By engaging with the transcript, you will improve your understanding of spoken English, develop your vocabulary, and enhance your ability to express personal thoughts and feelings about family and career. This practice is particularly beneficial for those preparing for the IELTS speaking test, as it reflects real conversational English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Grateful - Feeling thankful and appreciative.
  • Drama - Emotional conflict or turmoil, often within family or social contexts.
  • Superficial - Lacking depth or significance; only on the surface.
  • Mental downfall - A significant decline in mental well-being.
  • Deprivation - The state of lacking basic necessities or comforts.
  • Vent - To express emotions, often feelings of frustration or sadness.
  • Screen time - The amount of time spent using devices with screens, such as phones or computers.
  • Chilling - Relaxing or taking it easy.

Practice Tips

To effectively practice your English speaking skills, use the shadowing technique with this video. First, listen closely to Central Cee's responses and pay attention to his intonation and rhythm. The conversation is relaxed, allowing you to focus on how to express ideas in a natural pace.

As you select phrases from the transcript, try to repeat them immediately after hearing them, mimicking the tone and speed of his speech. This exercise will help you improve your English pronunciation and become more comfortable with everyday conversational English.

Consider focusing on the central themes discussed, such as family dynamics and personal experiences, which can be valuable for IELTS speaking practice. Practicing thoughts and feelings can enhance your ability to articulate personal narratives, a common requirement in speaking tests.

Furthermore, as you engage with the material, aim to shadow speak different segments of the interview. By doing so, you will not only learn new vocabulary but also refine your speaking fluency and clarity over time. Remember, practice makes perfect!

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.