Shadowing Practice: The Cranberries – Linger (Lyrics) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
Same Channel
B1Olivia Rodrigo - honeybee (Lyrics)
B1Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Home
B1Ed Sheeran – Shape of You (Lyrics)
B1Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling (Lyrics)
B1Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj – Beauty And A Beat (Lyrics)
A2Post Malone - Sunflower (Lyrics) ft. Swae Lee
B1Maroon 5, Wiz Khalifa – Payphone (Lyrics)
Recommend Video
A2How - The Cranberries (Lyrics)
![Dangrangto - 'wrong times (interlude)' [Prod. DONAL]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/maHCnWt3qLU/mqdefault.jpg)
B1Dangrangto - 'wrong times (interlude)' [Prod. DONAL]
B1Lucky Strike
A2Chicago - If You Leave Me Now (Lyrics)
B1The Fray - How to Save a Life (Lyrics)
B1Westlife - Soledad (Official Audio)
B15 Seconds of Summer - Teeth (Lyrics)
B1Ariana Grande - Stuck with U (Lyrics) Feat. Justin Bieber
B2Merry Christmas (Please Don't Call, I Miss You) - Bleachers & Alex Crichton
B1Slander- I'm sorry مترجمة
B1Need You Now - Lady Antebellum (Lyrics)
B1FALLEN ANGEL
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “The Cranberries – Linger”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: linger, fool, finger, wrapped. This video has 35 sentences and 286 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:31. The speaker talks slowly, about 81 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 11 of its 35 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| finger noun | /ˈfɪŋɡɚ/ | A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb, and the corresponding part, irrespective of including a thumb, in many other… |
| wrap verb | /ɹæp/ | To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper. |
| confused adjective | /kənˈfjuːzd/ | unable to think clearly or understand |
| tear verb | /tɛɹ/ | To rend (a solid material) by holding or restraining in two places and pulling apart, whether intentionally or not; to destroy or separate. |
| ruin noun | /ˈɹuː.ɪn/ | The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle. |
| rude adjective | /ɹuːd/ | Lacking in refinement or civility; bad-mannered; discourteous. |
| fade verb | /feɪd/ | To hit the ball with the shot called a fade. |
| linger verb | /ˈlɪŋɡɚ/ | To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so. |
| swear verb | /ˈswɛɚ/ | To take an oath, to promise intensely, solemnly, and/or with legally binding effect. |
| attitude noun | /ˈætɪˌtud/ | The position of the body or way of carrying oneself. |
| burn verb | /bɝn/ | To cause to be consumed by fire. |
| ring noun | /ɹɪŋ/ | A circumscribing object, (roughly) circular and hollow, looking like an annual ring, earring, finger ring etc. |
| lie verb | /laɪ̯/ | To rest in a horizontal position on a surface. |
| apart | /əˈpɑɹt/ | Excluded from consideration. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| wrap around verb | To move (text or other content) to the beginning of the next line when unable to fit it at the end of the current line. |
| ring up verb | To telephone; to call someone on the telephone. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Is that the way we stand?
- Was it just a game to you?
- Do you have to let it linger?
- Do you have to let it ring up?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to let |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll not be · won't be |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 16 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, wouldn't. 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 finger, wrap, confused.
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.