Shadowing Practice: Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The club isn't the best place to find a lover, so the bar is where I go Me and my friends sat at the table doing shots, tripping fast and then we talk slow
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Come over and start up a conversation with just me and trust me I'll give it a chance Now take my hand,
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stop and the man on the jukebox and then we start to dance And now I'm singing like,
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girl, you know I want your love Your love was handmade for somebody like me Come on now, follow my lead I may be crazy,
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don't mind me Say, boy, let's not talk too much Grab all my waist and put that body on me Come on now, follow my lead Come on now,
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follow my lead I'm in love with the shape of you We push and pull like a magnet do
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Although my heart is falling too I'm in love with your body
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Last night you were in my room And now my bedsheets smell like you Every day discovering something brand new
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I'm in love with your body I'm in love
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with your body I'm in love with your body I'm in
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love with your body Every day discovering something brand new I'm in love with the shape of you When we came, we let the story begin,
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we're going out on our first date You and me are thrifty, so go all you can eat, fill up your bag and I fill up a plate
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We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour and how your family's doing okay
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And even getting a taxi, kissing the backseat, tell the driver make the radio play And I'm singing like, girl you know I want your love,
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your love was handy for somebody like me I'm coming now, follow my lead I may be crazy, don't mind me Say boy,
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let's not talk too much Grab all my waist and put that body on me I'm coming now, follow my lead I'm coming now, follow my lead
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I'm in love with the shape of you We push and pull like a magnet do
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Although my heart is falling too I'm in love with your body
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Last night you were in my room And now my bedsheets smell like you Every day discovering something brand new
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I'm in love with your body I'm in love with your body I'm in love with your body
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We're really discovering something brand new I'm in love with the shape of you Come on,
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be my baby, come on Come on,
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be my baby, come on Come on, be my baby, come on
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I'm in love with this shape of me Push and pull like a magnetic
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Although my heart is falling too I'm in love with your body
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Last night you were in my room Now my bed she'd smell like you Maybe they discovered something brand new
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I'm in love with your body Come on, be my baby Come on, come on, be my baby I'm in love with your body Come on, be my baby Come on,
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come on, be my baby I'm in love with your body Come on, be my baby I'm in love with your body Every discovery is something brand new
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I'm in love with the shape of you .

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills through the lively lyrics of Ed Sheeran's popular song "Shape Of You." By engaging with the song's rhythm and catchy phrases, you will enhance your pronunciation and feel more comfortable in casual conversations. This activity will focus on improving your English pronunciation while also immersing you in contemporary cultural references relevant to social settings such as bars and dates.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Find a lover: To meet someone romantically interested.
  • Do shots: An act of consuming alcohol quickly in small amounts.
  • Conversation: A casual talk between two or more people.
  • Follow my lead: To imitate or do what someone else is doing.
  • Shape of you: A colloquial way of appreciating someone's physical appearance.
  • Discovering something brand new: Experiencing or learning something for the first time.
  • Come on, be my baby: An informal phrase inviting someone to form a romantic connection.
  • Magnet: A metaphor for mutual attraction.

Practice Tips

To effectively shadow the lyrics of "Shape Of You," focus on the song's tempo, which has a vibrant and rhythmic flow. Here are some tips to help you improve your English pronunciation:

  • Start Slow: Initially listen to the song at a slower speed. This will help you become familiar with the pronunciations and rhythms of the phrases.
  • Repeat and Imitate: As you listen, pause after each line and try to repeat what you hear, mimicking the singer’s tone and emotions. This method, known as "shadowspeaks," is especially useful for developing your speaking skills for IELTS speaking practice or any casual English speaking practice.
  • Focus on Intonation: Pay attention to how Ed Sheeran emphasizes certain words and phrases. Use this to reflect emotion and make your own speech more engaging.
  • Record Your Voice: Record yourself while shadowing the song. Listening to your recordings can help you pinpoint areas where you may need to improve your pronunciation.
  • Consistency is Key: Make this practice a daily habit. Little by little, you will notice improvements in your fluency and comfort level with the language.

Engaging with music is a fantastic way to enhance your language skills. By incorporating the fun and relatable lyrics of "Shape Of You" into your practice, you will find yourself not only advancing your English speaking abilities but also enjoying the learning process!

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.