Shadowing Practice: SZA - Nobody Gets Me (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video

This video has 18 sentences and 254 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:35. The speaker talks slowly, about 98 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 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

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

• naked /ˈneɪkɪd/ (adjective) — Bare, not covered by clothing.
• vacation /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (noun) — An extended trip or journey away from home for rest or pleasure.
• pretend /pɹəˈtɛnd/ (verb) — To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance.
• beef /bif/ (noun) — The meat from cattle or other bovines; especially, that from adults.
• butt /bʌt/ (noun) — The buttocks or anus (used as a minced oath in idiomatic expressions; less objectionable than arse/ass).
• scream /skɹiːm/ (verb) — To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to screech, to shriek.
• propose /pɹəˈpəʊz/ (verb) — To suggest a plan, course of action, etc.
• ballet /bælˈeɪ/ (noun) — A classical form of dance.
• suppose /səˈpoʊz/ (verb) — To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.
• deserve /dɪˈzɝv/ (verb) — To be entitled to, as a result of past actions; to be worthy to have.
• empty /ˈɛm(p).ti/ (adjective) — Devoid of content; containing nothing or nobody; vacant.
• nobody /ˈnoʊ.bə.di/ (noun) — A person dismissed as unimportant.
• stick /stɪk/ (noun) — A small, thin branch from a tree or bush; a twig; a branch.
• minute /ˈmɪnɪt/ (noun) — A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds).
• memory /ˈmɛm.ə.ɹi/ (noun) — The ability of the brain to record information or impressions with the facility of recalling them later, usually at will.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

• deal with (verb) — To handle verbally or in some form of artistic expression; to address or discuss as a subject.
• go on /ˈɡoʊˌɒn/ (verb) — To continue in extent.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 15 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, wanna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

How to practise with this video

1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like naked, vacation, pretend.