Shadowing Practice: used to's - Learn English Speaking with Video

I'm not an early riser

But that doesn't come as a surprise I watch from beneath the stage How'd it turn out this way?

Widing me inside of my cheek I wish that you'd just look at me And I'm too scared to move on

If I do what's left to rely on Lay me on your shoulder Envy is all that I have

You can't keep your composure I didn't know you wanted that bad I hope that you're having a good time

Well, I'd die to be you,

oh, I'd die to be you On the high that used to be mine Carry the weight of used to's,

the weight of used to's Could've been a star at 15 But I lost it all on any gold trip

Oh, how far I've fallen But was I ever better than this?

Lay me on your shoulder Envy is all that I have You can't keep your composure

I didn't know you wanted it that bad It could have been different,

but it wasn't, it wasn't, it wasn't The posture get lighter, but it doesn't, it doesn't,

it doesn't I can't change who I was I didn't want it enough, I know, I know, I know Oh,

I know, I know, I know I hope that you're having a good time Why I'd die to be you?

Oh, I'd die to be you On the high that used to be mine Carry the weight I used to

The way I feel to I hope that you're having a good time Riding the high

It used to be mine It used to be mine It used to be mine Thank you.

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43 sentences

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

The speaker keeps coming back to these words: mine, die, weight. This video has 17 sentences and 279 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:40. The speaker talks slowly, about 76 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 3 of its 17 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 10 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
rely verb	/ɹɪˈlaɪ/	To trust; to have confidence in; to depend.
beneath	/bɪˈniːθ/	Below.
scare verb	/skɛɚ/	To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
cheek noun	/t͡ʃiːk/	The soft skin on each side of the face, below the eyes; the outer surface of the sides of the oral cavity.
posture noun	/ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/	The way a person holds and positions their body.
composure noun	/kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/	Calmness of mind or temperament.
riser noun	/ˈɹaɪ.zə(ɹ)/	Someone or something which rises.
shoulder noun	/ˈʃoʊldɚ/	The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck.
trip noun	/tɹɪp/	A journey; an excursion or jaunt.
surprise noun	/sə(ː)ˈpɹaɪ̯z/	Something unexpected.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
turn out verb	To end up; to result.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
“Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true	used to be
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	Could've been · I've fallen
Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things	better than
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now	you're having

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 26 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, I'd, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: composure /kəmˈpoʊʒɚ/, shoulder /ˈʃoʊldɚ/

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 rely, beneath, scare.

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 →

Shadowing Practice: used to's - Learn English Speaking with Video

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