Shadowing Practice: What is a 'social media influencer'? - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
The English We Speak From BBC Learning English dot com Hi Neil, you look stressed.
⏸ Paused
52 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
The English We Speak From BBC Learning English dot com Hi Neil, you look stressed.
2
Not really.
3
Just writing a script for The English We Speak.
4
I'm a bit stuck.
5
What's the phrase?
6
Social media influencer.
7
Well that's easy.
8
Well maybe for someone young and trendy like you.
9
Go on then, tell me.
10
Let me talk you through it step by step.
11
Well, you know social media? Of course.
12
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
13
Instagram?
14
A social media influencer is someone who has a lot of followers online
15
and who is an expert or authority in a particular subject, like photography or cookery or make-up.
16
What that person says or does or buys or wears can influence the decisions of their followers,
17
which is why we call them social media influencers, or simply influencers.
18
OK, I have a few followers.
19
So if I start, say, growing a long moustache and all my friends copy me, would you say I was a social media influencer?
20
I suppose so.
21
And then what might happen is the marketing department of a company selling moustache products gets in touch
22
and pays you to start using their moustache oil.
23
OK, I like the sound of this.
24
Grow a moustache and get paid.
25
Let's listen to some examples.
26
Our company was finding it hard to reach new customers aged 16 to 25.
27
Then we hired a few social media influencers and sales just rocketed.
28
Kylie Jenner is one of America's biggest social media influencers.
29
Companies pay her up to a million dollars for a single post.
30
There's a lot of debate about whether or not influencers should be open about who is paying them to promote products.
31
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.
32
Our expression is social media influencer.
33
So Neil, how's the script going?
34
I'm not writing it anymore, Feifei.
35
I'm focusing full time on my new business.
36
Ah, I see you've grown a moustache.
37
Are you going to post a picture so all your 20 followers can see it and be influenced by your amazing style?
38
Don't worry, I've realised I don't have enough followers or authority to influence anyone, Feifei.
39
But I have discovered there's a gap in the market for organic moustache oil.
40
Oh, well done.
41
Neil's marvellous moustache oil.
42
Nice.
43
Now I just need to find an influencer to help me with marketing.
44
A hairy influencer.
45
Good luck, Neil.
46
Bye.
47
Bye.
48
Hi everyone.
49
We hope you enjoyed that video and thank you very much for watching.
50
We have so many more just like it, so if you don't want to miss a single one, make sure to subscribe and we will see you regularly.
51
Hope to see you soon.
52
Bye, guys.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play

Context & Background

In this informative episode of "The English We Speak," we delve into the trendy topic of social media influencers. The conversation takes place between two characters, Neil and Feifei, who explore what defines a social media influencer and how they can impact trends and consumer behavior. The dialogue provides both entertainment and valuable insights into modern language use, particularly useful for English learners trying to navigate digital vernacular. Learning such contemporary terms can significantly boost your english speaking practice by familiarizing you with everyday conversations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Social media influencer: A person with a large following on social media, recognized for their expertise in a specific area.
  • To influence decisions: The ability to sway the choices or opinions of others through one's actions or statements.
  • Marketing department: A section of a company responsible for promoting products and consulting influencers to reach customers.
  • To promote products: Actively advocating or advertising goods/services, often through social media.
  • Open about sponsorship: Being transparent about being paid to endorse products, which is a topic of ongoing debate.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Using the shadowing technique can greatly enhance your English fluency, especially when tackling conversations filled with current vocabulary like that of social media influencers. Here’s a practical approach to applying shadow speech with this video:

  1. Watch the video: Begin by watching the clip attentively. Pay close attention to the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers.
  2. Break it down: Focus on one segment at a time. Pause after each sentence to repeat what you hear. This can help with both IELTS speaking practice and general conversation skills.
  3. Imitate the rhythm: As you repeat, try to mimic not only the words but also the cadence and emotional tone of the speakers to improve fluency.
  4. Use the learned phrases: Incorporate the phrases from the list into your daily conversations. This will solidify your understanding and increase your vocabulary.
  5. Record yourself: Lastly, record your shadowing sessions and play them back. This self-review can help you catch areas for improvement and track your progress.

By utilizing this shadowspeak method with relevant video content, you'll become more comfortable and confident in your English speaking abilities, allowing you to effectively engage in discussions about social media and more!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee