Shadowing Practice: Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
What do you mean? Oh, oh When you nod your head yes But you wanna say no What do you mean? Hey-ey When you don't want me to move But you tell me to go What do you mean?
2
Oh, what do you mean?
3
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
4
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
5
Better make up your mind What do you mean?
6
You're so indecisive, what I'm saying Tryna catch the beat, make up your heart Don't know if you're happy or complaining Don't want for us to end, where do I start?
7
First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right Wanna argue all day, making love all night First you're up, then you're down and then between Oh, I really wanna know What do you mean? Oh, oh When you nod your head yes But you wanna say no What do you mean? Hey-yeah When you don't want me to move But you tell me to go What do you mean?
8
Oh, what do you mean?
9
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
10
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
11
Better make up your mind What do you mean?
12
You're overprotective when I'm leaving Tryna compromise but I can't win You wanna make a point, but you keep preaching You had me from the start, won't let this end First you wanna go to the left, then you wanna turn right Wanna argue all day, making love all night First you're up, then you're down and then between Oh, I really wanna know What do you mean? Oh, oh When you nod your head yes But you wanna say no What do you mean? Hey-yeah When you don't want me to move But you tell me to go What do you mean?
13
(I wanna know) Oh, what do you mean?
14
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
15
(Oh baby) Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
16
Better make up your mind What do you mean?
17
Oh, oh (this is ours baby, yeah) When you nod your head yes But you wanna say no What do you mean?
18
(You're so confusing baby) Hey-yeah When you don't want me to move But you tell me to go What do you mean?
19
(Be more straight forward) Oh, what do you mean?
20
Said you're running out of time, what do you mean?
21
Oh, oh, oh, what do you mean?
22
Better make up your mind What do you mean?

Learn English with YouTube: Dive into Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean?"

Practicing English with popular songs is a fun way to master everyday language, and Justin Bieber's "What Do You Mean?" is packed with relatable phrases. The song's dialogue centers on confusion in a relationship, making it perfect for learning how to express mixed feelings and ask for clarity—skills you’ll use in real life!

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "What do you mean?": A go-to question when you’re confused. Use it to ask for clarification, like "You said you’d come, but now you’re busy—what do you mean?"
  • "Make up your mind": Tell someone to decide, e.g., "We need to leave soon—make up your mind about where to eat!"
  • "Running out of time": Express urgency: "I’m running out of time to finish this project—can you help?"
  • "Overprotective": Describe someone who worries too much: "My mom is overprotective—she calls me every hour when I’m out."
  • "Tryna compromise": Short for "trying to compromise," meaning to find a middle ground: "We’re tryna compromise on the vacation destination."

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video

Shadowing—repeating lines right after the speaker—is a great way to improve pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use this song: 1. Listen once to get the rhythm—the song has a steady beat, so focus on the flow. 2. Pause after each line and repeat—copy Bieber’s tone (he sounds curious and a little frustrated). 3. Speed up gradually until you match his pace. 4. Focus on tricky words like "indecisive" (in-de-SY-siv) and "compromise" (KOM-pruh-myze). For extra practice, use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare. Whether you use a shadowing site or just your phone, consistency is key—spend 5 minutes daily, and you’ll notice progress fast!

Learning English with YouTube doesn’t have to be boring—songs like this make it engaging. So hit play, start shadowing, and soon you’ll be using these phrases like a pro!

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 →