Shadowing Practice: We Broke Becky G’s Reality with a Rubik’s Cube | Interview With a Magician - Learn English Speaking with Video

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287 sentences

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Choosing your next vehicle can feel like a decision with endless options, but it doesn't have to.

The right choice should feel easy.

Options are great, but the only one that matters is the one that's right for you.

Whatever cards you're dealt, Toyota's new all -electric family is the easy choice.

How the hell did you do that?

Oh, go!

That's crazy!

That's so cool!

You're so good!

Welcome to Interview with a Magician.

My name is Anna De Guzman.

Thank you so much for being here, Becky G.

Thank you so much.

We're so excited to hear your new album, Baraja Bendita.

You said Baraja really good though.

I'm Filipina.

It's like close enough.

We're cousins.

Basically.

What is the direct translation of Baraja Bendita?

It's the blessed deck of cards.

Blessed deck of cards.

So perfect that you're on this show.

We have a deck of cards that you've been shuffling, correct?

There we go.

I want to talk about your complexities.

You have a very complex story.

Have you ever solved one of these before?

No. I'm gonna put it into the paper bag.

Can you snap your fingers?

Instantly.

Solved, go away!

A lot of people think there's like, a second cube in the bag.

That'd be a really, you know, easy way to do it, right?

Here, so I want you to double check.

So can you go ahead and mix up the cube as much as you'd like?

Mm -hmm.

Yes.

It's funny, my very organized brain wants to keep it color -coded.

Well, the cube represents your challenges in life.

You know, it's obviously not always going to look perfect.

Right.

So here, hold on to your mixed -up cube, and then cover up all the sides.

Now, even though we just met, I feel like I have a connection with you.

So you started to turn it right like that.

And then you try to keep a lot of the solids, but it's like you got to keep it even further.

I think you got one side.

Look at this one side.

That's two.

That's crazy.

Three, four, five, six, all six sides, a perfect match.

With a cube that you just mixed up a moment ago.

I love LA.

I'm from New York, but I live in LA.

If you were to take me out for the best tacos in LA, where are we going?

Okay, can I be so for real with you?

I love going to the Santee Alley's.

Okay.

I love a good street taco, but I love even more a bacon -wrapped LA hot dog.

Oh, no tacos like it's kind of like

New York you know the street vendors

you want to go where like there's a long line you know they're like the turn

and burn is like they're fresh

and they do like the little chiles asados on the side

and the grilled onions

and it's just i feel like people are those are underrated yeah

i want to play a game with you do you know the trend on tiktok it's like he's a 10

and then they hold up the card yeah he's a 10 but he doesn't have his driver's license

you know why though because i hate driving but we have uber

and like i want to be passenger princess exactly like you're not a 10 no more he's a 10

but he can't do spicy oh you're like oh like a one oh

that's crazy you're gonna drive it was only a seven yeah no spicy food i'm sorry

Like, when I cook, you better eat my food.

I knew it, yeah, yeah.

He's a five, but he's a nice guy. So he's a five?

Oh!

Yes, he's a five!

That's a very good amount.

Yeah, to be honest, yeah.

He's a 10, but his card declines on the first date.

Ooh.

I'm gonna go on one again.

I got close, I got close.

I got two.

Yeah, I was trying to be nice, but I agree.

Like I can be big daddy on stage and like big daddy in a boardroom, but I Yeah, I can't be big daddy.

I'm paying the bills.

Sorry.

You've never split the bill on first date.

Uh -uh.

Never.

No No, so what if that happens his card declines twice?

He's a 10, but he didn't watch the Bad Bunny Super Bowl.

Oh Girl who's watching the game the card away.

Yeah, that card don't exist

That's like a, that's a negative.

Negative.

I want to go back to the start of your journey.

Do you remember your turning point as an artist?

100

There's, I mean, there's not really one.

101

But I think the first one was when I got signed.

102

Do you remember how you got signed?

103

Oh, making covers on YouTube.

104

Yes.

105

You do have a song on the new album, though.

106

It's called Bandera Blanca.

107

Okay, so hold out your hand.

108

One, two, three.

109

Oh, Bandera Blanca, which means white flag?

110

Yeah.

111

Check it out.

112

Do you remember what cover on YouTube it was that got you discovered?

113

uh it was a cover by jay -z and kanye west called otis take a look

114

oh we have to change your perspective

115

because it was otis what how the hell did you do

116

that so do you remember uploading that cover i do

117

and how did it feel what were you you know

118

you've uploaded a lot of youtube videos well i had been uploading

119

so many themes for many years

120

it was like the thing to do i remember like learning about justin bieber getting discovered on youtube and being like, oh, if he did it,

121

I can do it too.

122

And yeah, it was like a cover that I put together.

123

I recorded it in one take, and so I wanted to do the music video in one take.

124

So I asked my cousins to be a part of it.

125

My little brother was a part of it.

126

And it was like basically like a student film.

127

Yeah, we did it with stuff out of my grandpa's garage.

128

You even reinvented yourself four times before 30.

129

Damn, were we counting?

130

I think you're a year older than Mason O 'Feele.

131

Okay.

132

When did reinvention stop feeling like starting over and start feeling like you're becoming yourself?

133

Oh, I think really early on.

134

In the last few years, I got to do a Musica Mexicana project called Esquinas.

135

And that was kind of like, I would say the beginning of my Saturn return.

136

And now Baraja Bendita is happening like at the end of my Saturn return.

137

So it feels like a homecoming season where I'm returning to like my truest self.

138

Was there a version of Becky G that the audiences loved, but you already outgrew?

139

Of course, there's so many versions of that, but I embrace all of them, to be honest, so.

140

Because you had your, you know, rap era, Spanish era, pop era, which one do you resonate with more?

141

Because I heard this album, I got a little sneak peek, and I do hear you singing a lot in Spanish.

142

Yes, but it's Spanglish.

143

I would say this is maybe my favorite season because I embrace all sides.

144

There's just a lot of genre bending happening and unapologetically, which I think is, it's just the coolest time to be an artist today.

145

What made you get comfortable with kind of experimenting with sound, this album?

146

I think kind of coming to terms with the fact that some people will get it and some people may not.

147

And being an artist isn't about everybody liking you.

148

One of my favorite Tupac quotes is, what's not growing is dead.

149

And I just feel like if I kept looking at myself in versions of eras, it's like not really embracing the journey versus looking at it

150

as an evolution like my essence yeah my essence is always there

151

but like it's just an expansion of me if you will i watched your documentary

152

rebecca yeah with two b's with two b's

153

i honestly really resonate with your story uh growing up

154

i grew up in kind of a similar situation during the recession my mom she's a single mother

155

so that was actually very like comforting to see

156

that it wasn't something

157

that i was the only one ever experiencing

158

you know in the moment as a kid

159

you feel like oh no one gets it no one in school is dealing with this

160

or whatever like thank you so much for sharing that

161

because one thing about rebecca and filming

162

that documentary was um i've always just truly felt

163

that half the truth is still a lie

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and i feel like to embrace all sides is important for

165

me to be able to continue to step into myself

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and to practice what i preach really because it's one thing to tell people

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and it's another thing to actually show them i felt really connected to you sharing that that means a lot

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Honestly, your story was very inspiring to me.

169

Thank you.

170

Thank you so much for being here again.

171

What was the last decision you made without overthinking it?

172

The one that just felt right.

173

This morning, it was my blueberry bagel, scooped, double toasted.

174

I was originally going to go with a cream cheese toasted bagel, keep it simple.

175

And I was like, you know what?

176

We're in New York.

177

We're in New York.

178

The bagels are fire.

179

I bet you a blueberry one's going to hit.

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Didn't even think about it.

181

And it did.

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I switched it right then and then.

183

I was like, oof, and I had it.

184

Phenomenal.

185

Well, you're kind of a queen.

186

Not kind of, you are a queen.

187

You're like royalty.

188

Queen of spades.

189

Look at that!

190

Greatest croony!

191

Take the queen of spades.

192

You have something right here.

193

What?

194

Could you do initials?

195

In the middle?

196

Yeah, B -G.

197

Cool.

198

Take the queen of spades, put it back, say stop, stop.

199

Right there, put the card back face down.

200

I put it in already.

201

Sorry.

202

Oh, you said, sorry, I mixed it out.

203

It's okay.

204

I've never had this happen before.

205

It's fine.

206

I think I missed.

207

No, I think all you got to do is snap

208

Take a look Y 'all are funny not everybody else being in on it

209

I should know better than to not fall for all of this.

210

I'm done.

211

You hold out your hands flat I'm gonna reach in.

212

There's about 51 cards now in the middle.

213

I'm gonna reach in.

214

Hopefully it's the card with the signature.

215

Ready?

216

No, that's not it.

217

Okay.

218

I'll do one better.

219

Baraja bendita, blessed deck.

220

I'm gonna do one better just for you, Becky G.

221

We're gonna make all the cards in your hand completely disappear without me touching you.

222

Take a look.

223

Are you serious?

224

Guys, come on.

225

Well, there goes my blessed deck.

226

What?

227

We need a magic wand for this.

228

Rotate.

229

Oh, goodness.

230

What is happening?

231

You got it.

232

What is going on?

233

Baby.

234

Hot!

235

Hot!

236

There you go.

237

Wait, what?

238

Queen of spades with BG.

239

What?

240

Fire.

241

That's so cool!

242

You're so good!

243

What still scares you?

244

You know, actually, it's one I've conquered recently.

245

I used to be afraid of the dark.

246

You're lying.

247

I swear.

248

Yeah, I love it now.

249

The dark?

250

I'm talking.

251

So I'm just kidding.

252

What's on your tour, Ryder?

253

Jacheros. For sure.

254

Like scented candles that smell like my mom's house.

255

It's just like an apple cinnamon scented candle.

256

Love having those.

257

It just makes me feel like I'm at home.

258

Are you announcing a tour for this album soon?

259

That's a great question.

260

Okay, I thought we were getting a complex exclusive over here.

261

So I can't wait to see your show one day.

262

Yo, I'm currently on tour right now with Carole G.

263

Yes, what is it like with Carole G?

264

Amazing.

265

Think about this.

266

Imagine getting to live your dreams.

267

Amazing already. So cool.

268

Imagine getting to do that with your homegirls.

269

Like, even better.

270

Top.

271

Yeah.

272

I'm like, oh my god, are you guys going to pull a magic trick right now?

273

Let me find out.

274

And Carole's going to play!

275

Really?

276

I was going to be like, she's here!

277

Oh my god.

278

Thank you so much for coming on the show.

279

Thank you for having me.

280

You had some fun and learned something.

281

Oh, I definitely learned a few things.

282

And I learned about your game.

283

What's a game?

284

She's got game, guys.

285

She's not giving herself enough credit.

286

We're gonna work on this.

287

We're gonna work on it.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “We Broke Becky G’s Reality with a Rubik’s Cube”. This video has 287 sentences and 2133 words to shadow. The speech runs for 11:37. The speaker talks fast, about 184 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 83% 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

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
deck noun	/ˈdɛk/	Any raised flat surface that can be walked on: a balcony; a porch; a raised patio; a flat rooftop.
cube noun	/kjub/	A regular polyhedron having six identical square faces.
bless verb	/blɛs/	To make something holy by religious rite, sanctify.
embrace verb	/ɛmˈbɹes/	To clasp (someone or each other) in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
daddy noun	/ˈdædi/	Also used as a term of address: a father; one's father.
upload verb	/ˈʌpˌloʊd/	To transfer data to a computer on a network, especially to a server on the Internet.
taco noun	/ˈtɑkoʊ/	A Mexican snack food made of a small tortilla (soft- or hard-shelled) filled with ingredients such as meat, rice, beans, cheese, diced vegetables, and salsa.
solve verb	/sɒlv/	To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out.
cousin noun	/ˈkʌz(ə)n/	Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a…
decline verb	/dɪˈklaɪn/	To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
discover verb	/dɪˈskʌvə/	To find or learn something for the first time.
documentary noun	/ˌdɒk.jʊˈmɛn.tɹi/	A film, TV program, publication etc. which presents a social, political, scientific or historical subject in a factual or informative manner.
snap verb	/snæp/	To fracture or break apart suddenly.
essence noun	/ˈɛsəns/	The inherent nature of a thing or idea.
toast noun	/toʊst/	Bread that has been toasted (cooked lightly by browning).

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
mix up verb		To mix or blend thoroughly and completely.
hold out verb		To hold (something) out; to extend (something) forward.
cover up verb		To conceal or disguise.
find out verb		To discover, as by asking or investigating.
go ahead verb	/ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/	To proceed with; to begin.
go away verb		To depart or leave a place.
go back to verb		To stem from; to originate in.
grow up verb		To mature and become an adult.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

We have a deck of cards that you've been shuffling, correct?
Have you ever solved one of these before?
Can you snap your fingers?
Do you remember your turning point as an artist?
Do you remember how you got signed?

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	Have you ever solved · You've never split · you've uploaded
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group	the best · my truest · the coolest
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	hate driving · kept looking · Love having
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	was trying · were getting

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 65 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: evolution /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/, translation /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/, garage /ɡəˈɹɑʒ/, genre /ˈ(d)ʒɑnɹə/, recession /ɹɪˈsɛʃn̩/
Long words — get the stress right: documentary /ˌdɒk.jʊˈmɛn.tɹi/, evolution /ˌiːvəˈluːʃ(ə)n/, experiment /ɪkˈspɛɹ.ə.mənt/, complexity /kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/, phenomenal /fɪˈnɒmɪnəl/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like deck, cube, bless.

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: We Broke Becky G’s Reality with a Rubik’s Cube | Interview With a Magician - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?