Shadowing Practice: Track 20b - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Recording 20b My taste in music is quite eclectic, and there isn't really one style of music that I like.
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I listen to everything from popular music to classical.
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Music plays a very important role in my life, and I listen to it almost constantly.
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I find that it helps to set or to change a mood.
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So I tend to choose my music according to who I'm with or what I'm doing.
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For example, if I'm driving long distances in my car, I prefer to play something stimulating to help keep me awake.
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But if I'm having a dinner party with friends, then I play something more relaxing.
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I think that music helps to inspire me when I'm working, although my colleagues find it distracting, so I tend to listen with headphones on,
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in that way I can escape into my own little world.
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When I was younger, I would definitely have said that I preferred live music.
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The atmosphere in a live concert can be electric.
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Nowadays, though, a lot of popular groups only perform at very large venues in front of audiences of 20 ,000 or more, and I don't really like that.
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I prefer the intimacy of listening to recorded music, and the sound quality is better as well.
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Music really enriches our lives.
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It can turn a boring, monotonous period of time into a magical experience, So I think it's essential to have music and,
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in fact, all of the arts in your life.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "Track 20b" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →