Shadowing Practice: Corey Taylor on Why Slipknot Wear Masks - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Corey Taylor on Why Slipknot Wear Masks”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: mask, wear, allowed. This video has 18 sentences and 207 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:59. The speaker talks fast, about 211 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 4 of its 18 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mask noun | /mæsk/ | A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection. |
| horror noun | /ˈhɒɹ.ə/ | An intense distressing emotion of fear or repugnance. |
| afterwards adverb | /ˈæf.tɚ.wɚdz/ | At a later or succeeding time; after that; |
| sneak verb | /sniːk/ | To creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen. |
| dedicate verb | /ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt/ | To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate. |
| outro noun | /ˈaʊt.ɹoʊ/ | A portion of music at the end of a song. |
| chain noun | /ˈt͡ʃeɪn/ | A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal. |
| basically adverb | /ˈbeɪ.sɪk.(ə.)li/ | In a fundamental, essential or basic manner. |
| identify verb | /aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/ | To establish the identity of someone or something. |
| sing verb | /ˈsɪŋ/ | To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice. |
| wear verb | /wɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To carry or have equipped on or about one's body, as an item of clothing, equipment, decoration, perfume, etc. |
| minute noun | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds). |
| band noun | /bænd/ | A group of musicians who perform together as an ensemble; sometimes, such a group working for a professional recording artist. |
| join verb | /ˈd͡ʒɔɪn/ | To connect or combine into one; to put together. |
| particular adjective | /pɑrˈtɪk.jə.lɚ/ | Specific; discrete; concrete. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| come up with verb | To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | were singing · were wearing |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | started wearing |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | they'll come · they'll sneak |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | we're not looking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as they'll, don't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: basically /ˈbeɪ.sɪk.(ə.)li/, identify /aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/, particular /pɑrˈtɪk.jə.lɚ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like mask, horror, afterwards.
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.