Shadowing Practice: The Chainsmokers - Closer (Lyric) ft. Halsey - Learn English Speaking with Video
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills using the lyrics of "Closer" by The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey. This song is a great resource for understanding conversational English as it features relatable themes such as love, nostalgia, and youthful experiences. By engaging in shadowspeak, you will improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. Listening to the song while practicing can enhance your grasp of natural speech patterns, making you more confident in everyday conversations.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Closer: To get nearer in space or time; to become near to someone.
- Pull me closer: An invitation to increase intimacy or closeness.
- Heartbreak: The intense sorrow or distress caused by love or loss.
- Hotel bar: A bar located within a hotel, often a social hub.
- Mattress: The large pad used for sleeping, often seen as personal or intimate when referenced.
- Insane: Informally used to describe an overwhelming feeling or situation.
- Roommate: A person with whom one shares a living space.
- Getting older: A reflection on maturity and the passage of time.
Practice Tips
To effectively use the shadowing technique while practicing with this song, consider the following tips:
- Listen first: Play the song a few times to familiarize yourself with the melody and flow of the lyrics. This will help you understand the mood and emotional context of the phrases.
- Repeat phrases: Start with small sections of the song. Pause after each line and repeat it aloud to mimic the singer's tone and rhythm. Using a shadowing app can also assist in syncing your speech with the song.
- Focus on emotion: Pay attention to how the emotions are conveyed in the lyrics. Try to express these feelings in your voice, adding a personal touch to your practice.
- Slow it down: If needed, slow down the playback speed, especially if the original pace feels too fast. Gradually increase the speed as you gain confidence in your pronunciation.
- Record and listen: Use your phone or computer to record your voice as you practice. Listen to the playback and compare it with the original, noting areas of improvement.
By engaging in english speaking practice with the song, you will not only expand your vocabulary but also improve your listening and speaking fluency using the engaging shadowing technique. Enjoy the process and remember to have fun while learning!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was doing · were making |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're looking · I'm looking |
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.












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