Shadowing Practice: Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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The As
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he came into the window, was the sound of a crescendo He came into her apartment, he left the blood screens on the carpet She ran out of the table,
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you can see she was a neighbor So she ran into the bedroom, she was struck down in a soud room So, any, are you okay?
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Any, any, are you okay?
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Will you dance?
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Are you okay?
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Then are you okay?
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Are you okay, Annie?
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Annie, are you okay?
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Oh, you tell us that you're okay.
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Then I slide on the window, then he's stuck you, like a shinto.
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Annie, he can play your whart like a blessed place on my puppet.
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Then you run into the bedroom, you'll shut down, you'll shut the door.
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Annie, are you okay?
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Annie, are you okay?
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Are you okay, Annie?
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Annie, are you okay?
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Annie, are you okay?
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Are you okay, Annie?
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Annie, are you walking?
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Annie, are you walking?
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Are you walking?
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You've been hit by, you've been hit by A smooth criminal So they came into the outbreak It was Sunday,
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what a black day My tumourish hesitation Sounding heartbeats, intimidations Annie, are you walking?
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Annie, are you walking?
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Are you walking?
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Annie-a-you-wokey Annie-a-you-wokey Annie-a-you-wokey Annie-a-you-wokey Annie-a-you-wokey Annie-a-you-wokey Are you walkie, Annie?
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Annie-a-you-wokey Will ya tell Will you tell us that you're okay?
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Down the side of the window, then he struck you like a shindo wanny He can raise your fire, let the blast taste on the carpet Then you ran to the bedroom,
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you were struck down, he was shot too Annie, are you okay?
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Annie, are you okay?
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Are you okay, Annie?
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You've been hit by, you've been struck by a smooth wanny Okay,
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I want everybody to clear the area of grace now!
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I love you After a whizha out of hand,
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a mother's start of the feeling After a whizha out of hand Like I'm shouldan woe
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It could make you want- After a bust, I still want How that whizha out of hand At
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that you're black and a little girl Remember took- For a holy day You're shook by me At that moment, A- To the one day Come with an ass For a holy day Through a song At that moment,
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baby Start to whizha out of hand As she'll wait- Take it back to work At that moment, A- He's cut- On the cup I'll beat it I- To the front of your bed Then we tuck
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that whizha out of hand For a holy day Ow!
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Ow!
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Ow!
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Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, ow!
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Thank you.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the song "Smooth Criminal" offers a unique opportunity for learners to enhance their English speaking skills through rhythm and emotion. By practicing with this iconic track, English language learners can focus on pronunciation, intonation, and the flow of conversation—key aspects of effective communication. The narrative style of the lyrics allows learners to immerse themselves in a dramatic context, enabling them to express emotions and scenarios more vividly. Using this video as part of your IELTS speaking practice can be particularly beneficial, as it encourages not only verbal skills but also auditory comprehension.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, several phrases and structures can be highlighted for their educational value:

  • “Are you okay?” - This phrase illustrates a common way to check on someone’s wellbeing, an important conversational skill in both formal and informal contexts.
  • “He came into her apartment” - The use of the past tense here helps learners practice narrative storytelling, a useful skill for both speaking and writing. Learners can mimic this structure to describe their own experiences.
  • “You’ve been hit by a smooth criminal” - The passive voice in this line presents a compelling method to express actions without focusing on the subject. This construction is essential for conveying experiences in a more indirect way.

Incorporating these expressions into your shadowspeak practice enables learners to build a stronger vocabulary and comprehension of conversational English.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When shadowing the lyrics of "Smooth Criminal," learners may encounter several pronunciation challenges:

  • “Crescendo” - This musical term may be tricky due to its unique stress pattern. It’s essential to emphasize the second syllable correctly to avoid confusion.
  • “Intimidation” - The combination of sounds in this word can be challenging. Practicing the transitions from ‘-idi-’ to ‘-ta-’ will improve clarity.
  • “Smooth criminal” - The rhythm and flow between these words require practice. Focus on linking sounds to achieve a more native-like cadence.

Utilizing a shadowing app can greatly assist learners in perfecting these challenging words and phrases. By repeatedly practicing, learners can gain confidence in their speaking skills while enjoying the emotional depth and storytelling in the song.

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.