Shadowing Practice: Every CORTIS Member Explained in 8 Minutes - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Martin.
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Martin Edwards Park, also known as Park Wuju, was born on March 20, 2008 in Ottawa, Canada, He's half Canadian and half Korean,
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and speaks both English and Korean fluently.
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His official color is red, and within the industry he's already pretty well known for his musical talent.
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Standing at 190 centimeters, or about 6 feet 3, he's also the tallest member of the group.
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As a child, Martin was part of the Rainbow Choir, Korea's first multicultural family children's choir, which performed at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
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He even took part in the walk -in ceremony for Iceland, marking one of his earliest moments on a global stage.
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In 2019, while in fifth grade, Martin passed the audition for Big Hit Entertainment and became a trainee.
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He trained for about six years before debuting with Cordis in 2025, making him one of the longest trainees in the group.
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He's mentioned many times that BTS's RM is his biggest inspiration
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and the main reason he decided to audition for Big Hit in the first place.
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I am a proud artist of BTS and RM.
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Martin started writing lyrics as a kid and quickly developed a deep love for producing music.
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Over the years he's contributed to several Hybe Artist releases, including TXT's "Deja Vu", Miracle and Beautiful Stranger.
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Illits Magnetic, Le Seraphim's Pierrot, and Enhypen's Outside.
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Moving effortlessly between writing, composing, and producing, he's now seen as one of Big Hits' most promising young creators.
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Outside the studio, Martin enjoys playing video games, a simple hobby that helps him relax and unwind.
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James.
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Zhao Yufan was born on October 14, 2005 in Hong Kong but grew up in Taiwan.
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He's half Hongkonger and half Thai, and in Cordis his official color is green.
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Within the industry, James is known for his sharp dance skills, musical creativity, and natural stage presence.
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Before debuting with Cordis, James was introduced to the public in 2021 as a member of Trainee A, a pre -debut boy group under Big Hit Music.
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After the team's disbandment in December 2022, he remained at Big Hit as a trainee, the only member from that lineup to continue with the company.
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During that time, he also performed as a backup dancer for BTS Jungkook's hit "Single 7" appearing live on Inkigayo.
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Surprisingly, dance wasn't always his main passion.
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James originally played ice hockey and trained with the Hong Kong Typhoons and Selects.
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an international youth program for young athletes, Around ninth grade, he decided to try something new and took his first dance lessons.
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What began as curiosity quickly turned into a lifelong passion.
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He spent hours studying choreography videos and learning by copying every move.
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BTS' Jimin later became his biggest inspiration and role model, with his song "Serendipity" inspiring him to chase his dream of becoming an idol.
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During his trainee years, James contributed to choreography and songwriting for several Hybe artists, including TXT's Deja Vu and Miracle, as well as Illet's Magnetic,
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Cherish, My Love, and Tic Tac.
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His creativity and attention to detail in both dance and music earned him early recognition among producers and trainers.
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Outside of music, James is a black belt in Taekwondo and speaks five languages: Thai, Chinese, English, Korean, and a bit of Japanese.
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He also loves wearing hats and has an impressive collection of over a hundred of them.
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When he's not practicing or performing, James loves watching anime, which he says inspires his creativity and artistic ideas.
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Juhun.
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Kim Joo -hoon was born on January 3, 2008, in Seoul, South Korea.
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His official color in Cordis is blue and before becoming an idol, he was already known in the entertainment industry.
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As a child, Joo Hoon worked as an actor and model,
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appearing in several music videos such as Vicks' "Scentist" and Zion T's "Hello Tutorial." He also featured in various commercials,
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including one for SK Telecom alongside Ive's Wonyong Zhang.
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Growing up, Joo -hoon attended a Korean international school, where he became fluent in English.
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The largest number of Immersional Class Periods.
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He's known as the Chill and Laid -back One of the group.
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Even the way he talks reflects that calm energy.
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Tire...
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From a young age, Joo Hoon was athletic, playing both soccer and basketball.
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Before dreaming of the stage, he actually wanted to become a soccer player.
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He trained for years with AAFC Seoul Chungam before deciding to pursue a new passion in music.
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In early 2024, he joined Big Hit Music, leaving school to focus fully on his idol training, Outside of performing, Jihoon enjoys playing the piano,
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flute, guitar, and spending time with his two turtles.
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And we just know that he had the second turtle!
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Yes!
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Yes!
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Turtles got privacy.
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Ha!
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Soongyeon Aum Sung -yeon was born on January 13, 2009, in Saeogu, Daejeon, South Korea.
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His official color in Cortis is black, and because of his last name "Om," he's known by many playful nicknames that start with it.
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"Om -ji," "Emma," "Om -sal," "Umbrella," these names are called "Om
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-ji," "Om -ma," "Om -sal," "Umbrella," these names are called "Om -ji," Seungyeon's journey began in the most unexpected way.
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On his tenth birthday, while spending the day at Lot World, one of Korea's most popular amusement parks, he was suddenly approached by a casting agent who had noticed him.
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What started as a simple encounter became the beginning of his path in music.
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In 2021, he officially joined Big Hit Music and trained for around five years before debuting.
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During his trainee years, he discovered a deep love for songwriting and producing.
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Known for his dedication and creativity, he reportedly created over 100 self -produced tracks before debut.
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His biggest musical inspiration is Brent Fayaz, whose smooth R &B sound continues to influence his own style.
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In March 2023, Su Eung -yan appeared together with Martin in a Big Hit trainee interview video.
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Even though their faces were hidden at the time, fans were already curious about them, and they quickly became two of the most anticipated trainees in the company.
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He also has a special talent, a surprisingly accurate impression of actor Han Suk -kyu from Dr. Romantic.
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- Korean sauce?
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- Yes.
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- Where is the sauce?
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Cone hoe.
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Ahn Konho was born on February 14, 2009, in Suwon, Gyeonggi -do, South Korea.
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He's the youngest member of Cortis, the Maknai, though only a month younger than Suwengyeon.
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His official color in the group is yellow.
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Before becoming a trainee, Konho was a competitive swimmer.
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He started swimming in second grade and continued for nearly five years, even competing at a semi -professional level until his first year of middle school.
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His journey into music began unexpectedly.
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Kone Ho was street cast by Big Hit Entertainment at a bus stop
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when he was 10 years old and officially joined the company in 2021, training for about four years before debuting.
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When it comes to making decisions, even simple things like choosing what to eat can take him forever, which the members find both funny and endearing.
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He also has a special talent for mimicking an owl sound that never fails to make everyone laugh.
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And according to him, his most charming trait is his thick and defined eyebrows.
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Outside of practice, Konho enjoys spending time with his dog, Cookie, who he absolutely adores.
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In the end, Cortis are more than just musical artists.
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They're the young creator crew, showing their creativity through lyrics, music, choreography, and even videography, all based on their own stories.
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Each member brings something unique, blending individuality and teamwork in a way that feels completely new,

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing your speaking skills using the shadowing technique with this video about the CORTIS members can significantly improve your English fluency and pronunciation. By listening to the engaging narratives of Martin, James, and Juhun, learners can immerse themselves in real-life contexts where conversational English is utilized. The video showcases personal stories, unique backgrounds, and aspirations, which can help you relate to the material and foster a deeper understanding of how to express yourself in English.

Through shadow speak, you can mimic the rhythm, intonation, and emotion of the speakers, allowing you to pick up nuances in language that are often missed in traditional study methods. This method is especially beneficial for intermediate and advanced learners seeking to refine their speaking abilities and build confidence in both casual and professional conversations.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

While watching the video, pay attention to the following key structures used by the speakers. These can enhance your understanding and usage of English:

  • Present Perfect Tense: Phrases like "has contributed" and "has become" are effectively used to describe experiences up to the present. This tense is crucial for communicating achievements and past experiences relevant in the moment.
  • Conditional Sentences: The use of conditional statements, such as "If I hadn't…" provides insights into hypothetical situations and reflects on choices made in the past — an important aspect of storytelling in English.
  • Phrasal Verbs: Expressions like "take part in" or "try something new" are common in conversational English and can be difficult for learners. Recognizing these can greatly expand your vocabulary and comprehension.
  • Direct Speech: Phrases such as "I am a proud artist" allow learners to understand how to express emotions and identities directly, adding depth to their speaking skills.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing shadowspeak with this video, be mindful of certain pronunciation challenges that learners often encounter:

  • Compound and Complex Words: Words like "contributed," "performing," and "international" can be tricky. Pay attention to the syllables and practice breaking them down to maintain clarity when speaking.
  • Intonation and Stress: Notice how the speakers emphasize certain words to convey emotion or importance. Imitating their intonation patterns will help enhance your expressiveness and make your speech sound more natural.
  • Cultural References: Terms like "Trainee A" or "PyeongChang Winter Olympics" may require additional research to fully understand their significance. Knowing such references can assist in smoother conversations with native speakers.

By integrating these elements into your shadowing site practice, you’ll not only improve your speaking skills but also gain cultural insights that enrich your learning experience!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwas born · is known · was introduced
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a groupthe tallest · his earliest · the longest
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing formstarted writing · enjoys playing · loves wearing

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →