Shadowing Practice: Irma- Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Irma- Human Nature”. This video has 28 sentences and 208 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:53. The speaker talks slowly, about 72 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 90% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| asleep adjective | /əˈsliːp/ | In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting. |
| shake verb | /ˈʃeɪk/ | To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly. |
| bite verb | /baɪt/ | To cut into something by clamping the teeth. |
| darling noun | /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/ | Often used as an affectionate term of address: a person who is very dear to one. |
| stare verb | /stɛɚ/ | To look fixedly (at something). |
| nighttime noun | /ˈnaɪtˌtaɪm/ | The hours of darkness between sunset and sunrise; the night. |
| everywhere adverb | /ˈɛv.ɹi.(h)wɛɹ/ | In or to all locations under discussion. |
| strange adjective | /stɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ | Not normal; odd, unusual, surprising, out of the ordinary, often with a negative connotation. |
| wing noun | /wɪŋ/ | An appendage of an animal's (bird, bat, insect) body that enables it to fly. |
| sing verb | /ˈsɪŋ/ | To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice. |
| shoulder noun | /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ | The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck. |
| nature noun | /ˈneɪ̯.t͡ʃəɹ/ | The way things are, the totality of all things in the physical universe and their order, especially the physical world in contrast to spiritual realms and… |
| reach verb | /ɹiːt͡ʃ/ | To extend, stretch, or thrust out (for example a limb or object held in the hand). |
| dream verb | /ˈdɹim/ | To see imaginary events in one's mind while sleeping. |
| sweet adjective | /swit/ | Tasting of sugars. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look out verb | To be vigilant and aware often as an imperative to alert a person to danger. |
| reach out verb | To extend one's hand(s) forward; to reach for something. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 5 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, shoulder /ˈʃoʊldɚ/
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 asleep, shake, bite.
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.