Shadowing Practice: Why we love sad songs? - Tekowl Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video

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32 sentences
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Welcome back to the Tech Owl Podcast.
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My name is Tom.
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I am so happy to share another story with you.
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Sit back, take a deep breath, and listen carefully.
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Today, we are going to talk about music and Feelings Imagine you are having a very bad day.
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Maybe you failed a test.
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Or you argued with a good friend.
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You feel very sad.
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You go to your room and put on your headphones.
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What kind of music do you choose?
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Do you play a fast, happy song?
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No, most people choose a very sad song.
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Why do we do this?
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Should we not listen to happy music to feel better?
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Science has a very beautiful answer.
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When we listen to a sad song, our brain releases a special chemical.
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This chemical makes us feel calm.
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A sad song is like an understanding friend.
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When the singer sings about a broken heart, you feel connected.
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You realize that someone else feels the same pain.
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You are not alone in your sadness.
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This connection is very comforting.
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So listening to sad music is not a bad thing.
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It helps your heart heal.
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It helps you process your difficult feelings safely.
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We have reached the end of today's lesson.
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In our next episode, we will travel back in time.
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Have you noticed that people never smile in very old photos?
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We will discover the funny reason next time.
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Thank you for listening to the Tech Owl Podcast.
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I am Tom.
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Have a peaceful day.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 32 sentences and 252 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:03. The speaker talks at a steady 123 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

  • lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
  • argue /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ (verb) — To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
  • carefully /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ (adverb) — With care; attentively, circumspectly.
  • comfort /ˈkʌm.fət/ (noun) — Contentment, ease.
  • discover /dɪˈskʌvə/ (verb) — To find or learn something for the first time.
  • connect /kəˈnɛkt/ (verb) — To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
  • breathe /bɹiːð/ (verb) — To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
  • safely /ˈseɪfli/ (adverb) — In a safe manner; without risk; using caution above all else.
  • heal /ˈhiːl/ (verb) — To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure.
  • headphones /ˈhɛdfoʊnz/ (noun) — A pair of cushioned speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer can hear the sound.
  • sadness /ˈsædnəs/ (noun) — The state or emotion of being sad.
  • chemical /ˈkɛm.ɪ.kəl/ (adjective) — Of or relating to chemistry.
  • smile /ˈsmaɪl/ (verb) — To have (a smile) on one's face.
  • fail /feɪl/ (verb) — To be unsuccessful.
  • calm /kɑm/ (adjective) — Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

  • back in (verb) — To reverse a vehicle into a space.
  • put on /ˌpʊt ˈɒn/ (verb) — To don (clothing, equipment, or the like).
  • sit back (verb) — To recline while still in a seated position, with one's back on the frame of the seat.
  • talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like lesson, argue, carefully.

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhave reached · Have you noticed
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwill travel · will discover

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 →