Shadowing Practice: Selena Gomez - Souvenir (Lyric Video) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Selena Gomez - Souvenir”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: breath, giving, eyes, chills, souvenir. This video has 35 sentences and 280 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:26. The speaker talks at a steady 115 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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
12 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| chill verb | /tʃɪl/ | To lower the temperature of something; to cool. |
| pill noun | /pɪl/ | A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of medication. |
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| suite noun | /swiːt/ | A group or train of attendants, servants etc.; a retinue. |
| sunset noun | /ˈsʌnˌsɛt/ | The moment each evening when the sun disappears below the western horizon. |
| lobby noun | /ˈlɑ.bi/ | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| elevator noun | /ˈɛləˌveɪtɚ/ | Anything that raises or uplifts. |
| float verb | /fləʊt/ | To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object). |
| spine noun | /spaɪn/ | A series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a human, or from the head to the tail of an animal, enclosing the spinal cord and… |
| balcony noun | /ˈbælkəni/ | An accessible structure extending from a building, especially outside a window. |
| souvenir noun | /ˈsu.vəˌnɪɹ/ | An item of sentimental value, that is given or kept to remember an event or location. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| open up verb | To open. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've never had |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | better than |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | is floating · they're watching · You're giving |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, I've. 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 breathe, chill, pill.
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.