Shadowing Practice: SZA - Open Arms (Official Audio) ft. Travis Scott - 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 “SZA - Open Arms (Official Audio) ft. Travis Scott”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: arms, devoted, holding. This video has 23 sentences and 340 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:51. The speaker talks slowly, about 88 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
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| devote verb | /dɪˈvəʊt/ | to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate. |
| concrete adjective | /ˌkɑnˈkɹit/ | Real, actual, tangible. |
| slide noun | /ˈslaɪ̯d/ | An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again. |
| curve noun | /kɚv/ | A bend, such as in a road. |
| joking verb | /ˈd͡ʒoʊkɪŋ/ | Kidding, trying to fool. |
| wrist noun | /ɹɪst/ | The complex joint between forearm bones, carpus, and metacarpals where the hand is attached to the arm; the carpus in a narrow sense. |
| esteem verb | /ɪˈstiːm/ | To set a high value on; to regard with respect or reverence. |
| surround verb | /səˈɹaʊnd/ | To encircle something or simultaneously extend in all directions. |
| relieve verb | /ɹɪˈliːv/ | To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. |
| hopeless adjective | /ˈhoʊplɪs/ | Without hope; despairing; not expecting anything positive. |
| insecurity noun | A lack of security; uncertainty. | |
| leash noun | /liːʃ/ | A strap, cord or rope with which to restrain an animal, often a dog. |
| valet noun | /ˈvæleɪ/ | A man's personal male attendant, responsible for his clothes and appearance. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| run away from verb | To avoid or shirk a problem or consequences; to rush to back away from or disclaim responsibility for something. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 24 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, ain't, gotta. 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 devote, concrete, slide.
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.