Shadowing Practice: Self aware Temper city - Learn English Speaking with Video
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![self aware (tiktok version/god you look so pretty) - temper city || [audio edit]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Cg9OXLBQFzg/mqdefault.jpg)
B1self aware (tiktok version/god you look so pretty) - temper city || [audio edit]
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Self aware Temper city”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: aware, lie, wish, self, pretend. This video has 21 sentences and 285 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:57. The speaker talks slowly, about 96 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
The 11 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pretend verb | /pɹəˈtɛnd/ | To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| layer noun | /ˈleɪ̯ɚ/ | A single thickness of some material covering a surface. |
| swing verb | /ˈswɪŋ/ | To rotate about an off-centre fixed point. |
| imagination noun | /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/ | The image-making power of the mind; the act of mentally creating or reproducing an object not previously perceived; the ability to create such images. |
| attraction noun | /əˈtɹækʃn̩/ | The tendency to attract. |
| flow verb | /ˈfloʊ̯/ | To move as a fluid from one position to another. |
| smoke verb | /sməʊk/ | To inhale and exhale the smoke from a burning cigarette or cigar, burning material in a pipe, etc. |
| aware adjective | /əˈwɛə/ | Vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty. |
| drink verb | /ˈdɹɪŋk/ | To consume (a liquid) through the mouth. |
| weather noun | /ˈwɛðɚ/ | The short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, wanna, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: imagination /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/, attraction /əˈtɹækʃn̩/
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, silence, layer.
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.