Shadowing Practice: Melanie Martinez - DEATH (Official Music Video) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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25 sentences
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1
Death is life is death is life is death is life is
2
They're carving my name in the grave again
3
The flowers are fresh and their faces wet My body has died but I'm still alive Look over your shoulder,
4
I'm back from the dead
5
Light a night candles to draw me in Seeing all the same things I've got this time Your words mean nothing,
6
so take them back and meet me here across the plain The other side,
7
I'm not far When you aren't around,
8
I sink into the ground I try to pretend I'm closer to you Never understand it You're always on my mind
9
I cannot help it I don't wanna be carrying the weight On my shoulders,
10
death is calm to me Fits me on cheap,
11
gave me closure Immortal by design I'll be meeting you here every time Back from the dead,
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back from the dead I'm back from the dead,
13
back from the dead Yeah.
14
I'm back
15
They're saying my name in their prayers again A flicker of light so they understand I won't say goodbye,
16
I'm right by your side We're screaming and pleading this operation ends Doing all your ish,
17
crafting, pull me in Burning all your shades to connect our line I show my presence,
18
you run away in fear of ghosts I try to talk,
19
the barriers are to stop When you aren't around,
20
I sink into the ground I try to pretend I'm closer to you Never understand it You're always on my mind,
21
I cannot help it I don't wanna be,
22
hairy in the way On my shoulders, death is calm to me Kiss me on cheek,
23
gave me closure Immortal by design I'll be meeting you here,
24
every time Back from death, back from death
25
I'm back
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 25 sentences and 301 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:38. The speaker talks slowly, about 65 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pretend verb | /pɹəˈtɛnd/ | To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. |
| sink verb | /ˈsɪŋk/ | To descend or submerge (or to cause to do so) into a liquid or similar substance. |
| closure noun | /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/ | An event or occurrence that signifies an ending. |
| plain noun | /pleɪn/ | An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse. |
| flower noun | /ˈfloʊɚ/ | A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), often conspicuously colourful and typically including sepals, petals, and either or both stamens… |
| ghost noun | /ɡoʊst/ | A disembodied soul; a soul or spirit of a deceased person; a spirit appearing after death. |
| prayer noun | /pɹɛɚ/ | A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| grave noun | /ɡɹeɪv/ | An excavation in the earth as a place of burial. |
| craft noun | /ˈkɹæft/ | Ability, skillfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning… |
| goodbye | /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing. |
| shade noun | /ʃeɪd/ | Darkness where light, particularly sunlight, is blocked. |
| barrier noun | /ˈbæɹi.ə/ | A structure that bars passage. |
| scream verb | /skɹiːm/ | To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek. |
| cheek noun | /t͡ʃiːk/ | The soft skin on each side of the face, below the eyes; the outer surface of the sides of the oral cavity. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| look over verb | To check quickly; to make a brief or cursory visual inspection of. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | They're carving · They're saying · We're screaming |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll be · won't say |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 24 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, aren't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: closure /ˈkloʊ.ʒɚ/, shade /ʃeɪd/
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 pretend, sink, closure.
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.