Shadowing Practice: Sabrina Carpenter - Tears (Lyrics) - 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 “Sabrina Carpenter - Tears”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: supposed, thighs, Tears, responsible, Treating. This video has 15 sentences and 213 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:34. The speaker talks slowly, about 83 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% 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
The 11 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| thigh noun | /θaɪ/ | The upper leg of a human, between the hip and the knee. |
| ideal adjective | /aɪˈdi(ə)l/ | Pertaining to ideas, or to a given idea. |
| initiative noun | /ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/ | A beginning; a first move. |
| dish noun | /dɪʃ/ | A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle. |
| commune noun | /ˈkɑmjuːn/ | A small community, often rural, whose members share in the ownership of property, and in the division of labour; the members of such a community. |
| suppose verb | /səˈpoʊz/ | To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe. |
| responsible adjective | /ɹɪˈspɑn.sə.bəl/ | Having the duty of taking care of something; answerable for an act performed or for its consequences; accountable; amenable, especially legally or politically. |
| photo verb | /ˈfəʊ̯.təʊ̯/ | To take a photograph of. |
| location noun | /loʊˈkeɪʃən/ | A particular point or place in physical space. |
| healthy adjective | /ˈhɛl.θi/ | Enjoying good health; free from disease or disorder. |
| arm noun | /ɑɹm/ | The portion of the upper human appendage, from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| run down verb | To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll give |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 10 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thigh /θaɪ/, healthy /ˈhɛl.θi/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: initiative /ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/, dish /dɪʃ/, location /loʊˈkeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: initiative /ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.tɪv/, responsible /ɹɪˈspɑn.sə.bəl/
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 thigh, ideal, initiative.
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.