Shadowing Practice: How to use Dreaming Spanish - Learn English Speaking with Video
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I've watched over 3,000 Dreaming Spanish videos, and I use the Dreaming Spanish method to get all the way from zero to fluent.
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In this video I'm going to talk about how to use Dreaming Spanish, and at the end I'll share my top 5 tips for people who are just starting out.
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Dreaming Spanish is a language learning method
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and video platform built to provide Spanish learners with lots of comprehensible input in a streamlined, all-in-one package.
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The Dreaming Spanish method is centered around a roadmap that breaks the language learning journey into different levels,
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each of which is determined by how much time you've spent consuming comprehensible input in the language.
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The roadmap goes from level 1, or 0 hours spent with Spanish, all the way to level 7, which you complete at 1500 hours.
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By the end of the roadmap, you will be at a point of fluency in the language where you can comfortably consume native-level content
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and can converse with native speakers.
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Everything you need to get started learning Spanish is built into the Dreaming Spanish website.
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It tells you which videos you should be watching when, and automatically tracks the amount of time that you spend so you know how far along in the process you are.
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I know it sounds simple, maybe even too good to be true, but that's part of the beauty of dreaming Spanish.
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You log on to the website, watch videos that correspond to your level, and before you know it, speak Spanish.
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At the start, you're going to watch the super beginner level videos, which use pictures and gestures to make them comprehensible even for someone who knows zero Spanish.
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Eventually, you will transition to the beginner videos, then intermediate videos, and finally to the advanced videos.
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Each level, the videos get more difficult, using fewer gestures and pictures, faster speaking, and discussing more complex topics, but when you're at that level,
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you will be able to understand them.
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And by the time you're watching the advanced videos, you will also be able to comfortably use TV shows, movies, and other types of content intended for native speakers as your comprehensible input.
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If you're coming to Dreaming Spanish from other language learning methods, it might feel weird at first because when you're watching the Dreaming Spanish videos,
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you won't be able to pinpoint a specific word or grammar idea that you learned, and there are going to be words here and there that you can't understand at all.
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But you don't need to understand the words being said, just the overall ideas being expressed.
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This feeling of ambiguity can be really frustrating for a lot
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of people who have been trained to get everything before moving on to the next subject.
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But with Dreaming Spanish, instead of learning all of one thing at a time, you are learning tiny pieces of hundreds of words every video.
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And each time you encounter a word in a new context, you will be developing a slightly clearer picture of what it means and how it's used.
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Over time, you will subconsciously absorb all of the vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation you need and will develop an intuitive understanding of the language,
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to the point where it will feel weird to think that there was ever a time you couldn't understand it, and your ability to speak will naturally emerge.
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If you want to strictly follow the Dreaming Spanish method, you should not use subtitles when watching videos, you should never look up words in the dictionary,
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and you should never study vocabulary or grammar.
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You are also not supposed to be dissecting the language or trying to translate it to English as you hear it.
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Rather, you should just be focusing on enjoying the content.
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If a video is too difficult for you to follow along with, Dreaming Spanish recommends you simply find an easier video and save that one for later.
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For the first 600 hours, there are only two things that the Dreaming Spanish method recommends you do.
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The first is watch and listen to the super beginner, then beginner, and then intermediate videos.
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And the second is crosstalk, which is a type of language exchange where both people speak in their native language.
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So if you're an English speaker, you would find a Spanish speaker who is learning English, and you would have conversations with them where you speak in English and they respond in Spanish.
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After 600 hours, you can optionally start reading, engaging with easier native media, and having Spanish conversations with native speakers,
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all of which Dreaming Spanish recommends you do once you have received 1,000 hours of input.
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Dreaming Spanish's website has a very detailed FAQ answering why these are their recommendations
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and expanding on the overall philosophy behind the method.
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I strongly suggest you take the time to read through it
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if you are just starting out and considering investing time into Dreaming Spanish.
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While it's not necessary, it is pretty helpful to understand the why behind their recommendations.
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You don't have to strictly follow the dreaming Spanish method if you don't want to, and there are some situations where it probably makes sense not to follow the method strictly.
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For example, if you are learning Spanish for a class
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or for immigration purposes and need to be able to pass a test by a certain date, you should probably study specifically for the test.
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You should absolutely use dreaming Spanish as a supplement, but you should do what you need to do to pass the test,
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even if that requires breaking some of the Dreaming Spanish rules about studying grammar and vocabulary.
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Additionally, the Dreaming Spanish videos are core to the method, so if you can't sit through them, it's going to be impossible to make much progress.
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If you are someone who for whatever reason doesn't find the Dreaming Spanish videos entertaining or doesn't like the guides, you should consider something like the refold method,
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where you start with native Spanish content even if it is totally incomprehensible.
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At the end of the day, you can mix and match methods if you want to.
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If you really enjoy flashcards or studying grammar, you can.
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The Dreaming Spanish videos are an amazing source of comprehensible input for people learning Spanish
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that you should take advantage of whether you're strictly following the Dreaming Spanish method or not.
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If you've enjoyed this video so far, I'd appreciate you liking and subscribing, and I've been told that doing so counts as 20 hours of Spanish input.
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On a serious note though, here are my top 5 tips for people just starting out with the the Dreaming Spanish method.
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The first is to carve out a specific time each day when you will absolutely, no matter what, watch Dreaming Spanish videos.
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It could just be 5 or 10 minutes each morning or right before bed, but try to get in that habit.
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Second, you should keep some kind of journal.
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Every time you hit a new level, write up or record a short reflection about how you're feeling.
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You can publish it if you want, or just keep it to yourself, but it's really helpful to be able to look back at where you were and where you're at now.
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Another way you can do this is to pick a piece of content that is way above your level, like an advanced video or an episode of a Mexican TV show,
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and rewatch it occasionally, maybe every few hundred hours.
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You will be absolutely amazed at how much of a difference there is in your abilities each time you do this.
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I did this with Avatar The Last Airbender, watching it at 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 hours, and it was so motivating to see how I went from barely understanding it,
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to be able to understand it as if it were English.
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The third tip is to not worry.
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I know it sounds cliche, but along the way, you will experience ups and downs where one day you feel great,
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but then the next it feels like you're going backwards and everything is harder than it used to be.
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Just trust the process.
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It works, your brain will figure it out.
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The fourth tip is to make Dreaming Spanish your browser start page on your computer
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and phone so that whenever you open up a new tab or window, you are greeted by the Dreaming Spanish website.
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If every time you pick up your phone, the first thing you see is the Dreaming Spanish homepage, in the long run you're probably going to end up watching more videos
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and therefore get the results that you want more quickly.
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And lastly, I think you should join the unofficial Dreaming Spanish subreddit and discord.
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There are tons of people following the Dreaming Spanish method, sharing their experiences, and helping to motivate each other.
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I really hope this video could be helpful for anyone considering trying the Dreaming Spanish method, and if you still have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments you
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Why practice speaking with this video?
Utilizing the Dreaming Spanish video method offers a unique opportunity for English speaking practice. Engaging with comprehensible input not only helps in mastering vocabulary but also enhances your speaking confidence. As you watch and listen to various levels of Spanish content, you pick up on natural speech patterns and intonations, which are crucial for developing a fluent speaking style. The immersive approach allows you to absorb language organically, making it easier to produce spoken language that feels natural and spontaneous.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
In the provided transcript, several key structures and expressions stand out, providing excellent material for practice:
- Verb forms in context: The speaker uses various verb tenses like present continuous ("I am going to talk") and future predictions ("you will be able to understand"). This showcases how tense affects meaning and can be practiced through shadow speech.
- Transitions and connectors: Phrases such as "eventually," "for example," and "by the time" help to connect thoughts and structure arguments. Practicing these helps learners not only understand but also create fluent speech.
- Descriptive expressions: The speaker describes content levels with expressions like "comfortably consume native-level content." Practicing such phrases can enhance your ability to convey complex ideas simply and effectively.
Common Pronunciation Traps
As you engage with the video, be mindful of certain pronunciation challenges that can arise:
- Intonation patterns: Pay close attention to how the speaker's intonation changes with different sentence types, especially in questions versus statements.
- Fast speech rates: As the content progresses to advanced levels, watch for phrases where words are blended together, which can make them less recognizable. Practice these segments slowly, then gradually increase your speed.
- Specific vocabulary: Be aware of words that may blend phonetically, such as "comprehensible input." Practicing them in isolation and within sentences can help you recognize and reproduce them accurately in conversation.
Incorporating these elements into your english speaking practice will enhance your skills as you explore the shadowspeak technique. This engaging, immersive method can transform how you approach language acquisition and conversational fluency.
Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?
Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.