Shadowing Practice: Daniel Caesar - Emily’s Song (Official Lyric Video) - 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 “Daniel Caesar - Emily’s Song”. This video has 13 sentences and 155 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:22. The speaker talks slowly, about 65 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. 2 of its 13 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| addict noun | /ˈæd.ɪkt/ | A person who is addicted, especially to a harmful drug. |
| telephone noun | /ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/ | A telecommunication device which converts data or sounds (usually speech) into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to… |
| regret verb | /ɹɪˈɡɹɛt/ | To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead. |
| tear verb | /tɛɹ/ | To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate. |
| scare verb | /skɛɚ/ | To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way. |
| float verb | /fləʊt/ | To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object). |
| clarity noun | /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.ti/ | The state or measure of being clear, either in appearance, thought or style; lucidity. |
| huck verb | /hʌk/ | To throw or chuck. |
| grace noun | /ɡɹeɪs/ | Charming, pleasing qualities. |
| nobody noun | /ˈnoʊ.bə.di/ | A person dismissed as unimportant. |
| lie verb | /laɪ̯/ | To rest in a horizontal position on a surface. |
| tired adjective | [ˈtaɪ̯ɚd] | In need of some rest or sleep. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. |
| run through verb | To summarise briefly. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to stay |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've said · has floated |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | we'll never change · I'll get |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | You're running |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as wanna, I'll, don't. 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 mirror, addict, telephone.
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.