Shadowing Practice: Jessica Darrow - Surface Pressure (From "Encanto") - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Why would anything get me wrong?
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59 sentences
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Why would anything get me wrong?
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I'm totally fine.
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Magic's fine.
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Luisa's fine.
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I'm totally not nervous.
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Your eye is doing the thing.
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I'm the strong one.
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I'm not nervous.
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I'm as tough as the crust of the earth is.
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Okay.
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I move mountains.
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I move churches.
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And I glow cause I know what my worth is.
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Of course.
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I mean...
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Hey, where are you going?
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I don't ask how hard the work is.
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Got a rough indestructible surface Diamonds and platinum,
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I find them, I flatten them I take what I'm handed,
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I break what's demanded But under the surface,
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I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus Under the surface,
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was Hercules ever like, yo,
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I don't wanna fight, Servers Under the surface,
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I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can be of service A flaw or a crack,
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a straw in a stack,
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that breaks the camel's back What brings the camel's bag?
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It's pressure like a drip,
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drip, drip That'll never stop Whoa Pressure that'll tip,
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tip, tip Till you just go Bum Whoa Give it to
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your sister Your sister's older Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder Who am I
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if I can't run with a ball If I fall to Pressure like a grip,
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grip, grip And it won't let go Whoa
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Pressure like a tick tick tick till it's ready to blow Whoa-oh-oh Give it to your sister,
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your sister is stronger Sweet if she can hang on a little longer Who am I if I can't carry it all?
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If I falter
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Under the surface I hide my nerves and it worsens I worry something is gonna hurt us Under the surface,
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the ship doesn't swerve as it hurt,
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how big the iceberg is Under the surface,
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I think about my purpose,
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can I somehow preserve this?
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Line up the dominoes, the light wind blows,
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you try to stop it,
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stop it, live it on and on and go But wait,
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if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations,
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would that free some room afford?
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Joy, or relaxation, or simple pleasure?
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Instead we measure this growing pressure Keeps growing,
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keep going Cause all we know is Trash it like a drip,
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drip, drip That'll never stop,
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whoa Trash it that'll dip,
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dip, dip Till you just go pop,
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whoa Give it to your sister,
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it doesn't hurt And see if she can handle every family burden Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks
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No mistakes, just pressure like a grip grip grip,
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then it won't let go
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Pressure like a dick dick dick till it's ready to blow
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Give it to your sister and never wonder
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if the same pressure would have gone you under Who am I if I don't have what it takes?
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No cracks, no breaks No mistakes, no pressure you

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage in English speaking practice by analyzing the song "Surface Pressure" from the movie Encanto performed by Jessica Darrow. The focus will be on understanding the emotional nuances behind the lyrics while practicing the shadowing technique. By participating in this exercise, learners will not only enhance their grasp of vocabulary and phrases but also improve their English pronunciation and fluency through the use of shadow speech.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Surface pressure - the stress or expectations placed on a person, often hidden beneath a confident exterior.
  • Tightrope walker - a person who walks on a tightrope, symbolizing balancing risky situations.
  • Indestructible - something that cannot be destroyed; used to portray strength.
  • Expectations - the belief about what someone should do or achieve; can lead to pressure.
  • Purpose - the reason for which something is done or created; essential to understanding oneself.
  • Pressure - the continuous force or stress that can lead to overwhelm.
  • Carry it all - an expression of the burdens one may bear in life.
  • Falter - to hesitate or waver in action; symbolizes moments of doubt.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing technique with this song, consider the following tips:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play small sections of the song and pause frequently. Repeat after the singer to capture their intonation and rhythm.
  • Focus on Emotion: Pay attention to the emotional tones in Jessica Darrow's voice. Mimicking her emotional delivery can help you sound more natural.
  • Slow Down: The pace of the song may be quick at times. Don't hesitate to slow down playback if necessary, allowing you to grasp and perfect your shadow speech.
  • Practice with Lyrics: Read along with the lyrics while listening. This helps reinforce vocabulary and enhances comprehension.
  • Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowing practice. Comparing your pronunciation to the original can aid in identifying areas for improvement.
  • Use Daily: Incorporate snippets of the song into your daily English speaking practice; repetition will help solidify your skills.

By using these techniques, you will not only improve your English speaking abilities but also learn to express the complex emotions often conveyed through language, making your communication more engaging and effective.

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.

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