Shadowing Practice: Rihanna - Disturbia (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
Same Channel
Recommend Video
B2Rihanna - Love On The Brain - Lyrics
B1Alexander Stewart - Scared of Myself (Official)
B1Kesha - Take It Off (Lyrics)
B1Dua Lipa - Training Season (Lyrics) مترجمة
B1Tame Impala - Dracula (Lyrics)
B1Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter (Official Audio)
B1Kolektivo - Dangerous (Lyrics)
A2Rihanna - Dancing In The Dark (Lyrics) | (From The "HOME" Soundtrack)
B1brb. - do me right (lyric video)
B1Jessie J - Bang Bang (Lyrics) ft. Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
B1Rihanna - We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris
B1Dutch Melrose - RUNRUNRUN (Official Audio)
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Rihanna - Disturbia”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: disturb, Disturbia, twice, wonder, tonight. This video has 50 sentences and 391 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:39. The speaker talks slowly, about 107 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 86% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| disturb verb | /dɪˈstɜːb/ | to confuse a quiet, constant state or a calm, continuous flow, in particular: thoughts, actions or liquids. |
| scare verb | /skɛɚ/ | To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way. |
| comfort noun | /ˈkʌm.fət/ | Contentment, ease. |
| darkness noun | /ˈdɑɹk.nɪs/ | The state of being dark; lack of light; the absolute or comparative absence of light. |
| consume verb | /kənˈsum/ | To use up. |
| thief noun | /ˈθiːf/ | One who carries out a theft. |
| creep verb | /kɹiːp/ | To move slowly with the abdomen close to the ground. |
| insane adjective | /ɪnˈseɪn/ | Exhibiting unsoundness or disorder of mind; not sane; utterly mad. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| complain verb | /kəmˈpleɪn/ | To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment. |
| alter verb | /ˈɔl.təɹ/ | To change the form or structure of. |
| grab verb | /ˈɡɹæb/ | To grip suddenly; to seize; to clutch. |
| maintain verb | /meɪnˈteɪn/ | To keep up; to preserve; to uphold (a state, condition etc.). |
| opposite adjective | /ˈɑ.pə.sɪt/ | Located directly across from something else, or from each other. |
| struggle noun | /ˈstɹʌɡəl/ | A contortion of the body in an attempt to escape or to perform a difficult task. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| watch out | Used to warn someone of an imminent danger. |
| get out verb | To leave or escape. |
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 going · I'm struggling · I'm wondering |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will be · I'll tell |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 27 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 disturb, scare, comfort.
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.