Shadowing Practice: Michael Jackson - Bad (Shortened Version) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Michael Jackson - Bad”. This video has 24 sentences and 315 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:17. The speaker talks slowly, about 74 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. 6 of its 24 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| runner noun | /ˈɹʌnɚ/ | A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete. |
| dare verb | /dɛ(ə)ɹ/ | To have enough courage (to do something). |
| spin verb | /spɪn/ | To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction. |
| jamo noun | /ˈd͡ʒɑmoʊ/ | Any of the component letters of the Korean hangul alphabet. |
| bunch noun | /bʌnt͡ʃ/ | A group of similar things, either growing together, or in a cluster or clump, usually fastened together. |
| lie verb | /laɪ̯/ | To rest in a horizontal position on a surface. |
| kid noun | /ˈkɪd/ | A child, adolescent, or (loosely) a young adult. |
| dance noun | /dæns/ | A sequence of rhythmic steps or movements usually performed to music, for pleasure or as a form of social interaction. |
| catch verb | /kæt͡ʃ/ | To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). |
| wind noun | /ˈwɪnd/ | Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air usually caused by convection or differences in air pressure. |
| mouth noun | /maʊθ/ | The front opening of a creature through which food is ingested. |
| throw verb | /θɹoʊ/ | To hurl; to release (an object) with some force from one’s hands, an apparatus, etc. so that it moves rapidly through the air. |
| stone noun | /stoʊ̯n/ | A hard earthen substance that can form rocks; especially, such substance when regarded as a building material. |
| neither | /ˈnaɪ.ðɚ/ | Not either (used with nor). |
| cheap adjective | /ˈt͡ʃiːp/ | Low or reduced in price. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| listen up verb | To listen closely; to pay attention. |
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 | I'm kidding · I'm telling · You're lying |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | they'll tell · Won't you dare · I'll tell |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | Gonna catch · gonna tell |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 55 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: mouth /maʊθ/, throw /θɹoʊ/, neither /ˈnaɪ.ðɚ/
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 runner, dare, spin.
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.