Shadowing Practice: 12 Ways To Improve Communication Skills Instantly - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Brainy Dose Presents… 12 Ways To Improve Communication Skills Instantly
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Effective communication is one of the most important life skills that a person can have.
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Whether you want to have better conversations in your personal and social life, or get your ideas across better at work,
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there are some key things you can do to help improve your communication skills.
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After having watched this video, and the 12 points we outline, you should become a better communicator instantly.
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Number 1 – Show Respect and Appreciation Appreciation and respect can go a long way.
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People will be more open to communicating with you if you convey respect for them in their ideas.
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Even simple actions, like using a person's name, will make them feel appreciated.
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It's also important to be respectful and considerate of other people's time.
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Number 2 – Listen Actively People want to know that they are being heard.
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Instead of just focusing on formulating a response, freely listen to what the other person is saying.
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The person speaking to you should be the most important thing at that moment.
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Also, when you're talking to someone on the phone, person, do not respond to an email or send a text at the same time.
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The person will know that they don't have your undivided attention.
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Number 3 – Ask Questions and Paraphrase Asking questions will not only help you understand what the other person is saying,
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but it also indicates that you're actually interested in what they're saying.
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This opens up the conversation, and signals that you want to see them, hear them, and understand them.
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And if you want to show that you really understand, then paraphrasing is a great tool.
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All you need to do is repeat back to someone what they just said, before you comment yourself.
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Number 4 – Make Eye Contact It's important that you connect with the person you are talking to,
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and eye contact is essential when having a meaningful conversation.
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Looking at the floor or out the window signifies you don't care, are bored, or aren't really listening to them.
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By looking the other person in the eye, you are proving that you're interested in what they're saying.
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This also keeps you focused and less distracted.
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Number 5 – Pay Attention to Body Language Your non -verbal and non -written cues often reveal more than you think.
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Remember that you're constantly communicating, even when you're not saying a word.
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So make sure that you have open body language when interacting with others.
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Face your conversational partner, pay close attention to your gestures, and don't cross your arms.
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Number 6 – Get Rid of Conversation Fillers Om and ah does little to improve your speech or conversations.
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Cut them out to be more persuasive, and to feel and appear more confident.
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One way is to start keeping track of when you say words like om or like.
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You could also try simply relaxing and pausing before you speak.
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Trust me, those silences seem more awkward to you than they do to others.
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Number 7 – Be Brief But Specific For written and verbal communication,
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practice being brief, yet specific enough that you provide enough information for the other person to understand what you're trying to say.
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And if you're responding to an email, make sure that you read the entire email before crafting your response.
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With enough practice, you will learn not to ramble or give away too much information.
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Having said that, you should take the time to edit your messages.
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If you send a sloppy, confusing email, the recipient will think you don't care enough to think through your communication with them.
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Number 8 – Put Away Devices Somehow, most people just don't get this one.
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But, it's quite rude to have your head buried in your phone while someone's talking to you.
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So, put down your devices and look at the person who is speaking to you.
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Don't answer calls, check texts, or notice vibrations.
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Let it all pass.
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Stay focused on what the other person is telling you.
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Your body language, words, and emotional tone will let them know that you're really taking in what they're sharing.
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Number 9 – Validate Other's Thoughts and Feelings When someone feels a certain way, they feel that way for a reason.
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And even if you wouldn't react the same way, it's important to acknowledge the emotions they're experiencing.
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You don't have to agree with the other person to validate them.
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You can make them feel impo - important by simply letting them know
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that you hear what they're saying and accept their perspective.
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Number 10 – Never Talk Over People By talking over someone, what you're basically saying is, I don't care what you're saying,
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what I have to say is more important.
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And this demonstrates a real lack of respect.
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On the same note, refrain from finishing people's sentences for them.
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By doing this, you are disempowering the other person, because you're taking control of the conversation.
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So bite your tongue!
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Number 11 – Watch Your Tone While it's sometimes necessary to be assertive in order to make your point, don't be aggressive.
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There's a fine line between the two.
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Try not to cross it.
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A combative tone is not in any way productive.
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Be confident and direct, while maintaining a calm, cooperative tone.
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Number 12 – Smile and Have a Positive Attitude When you smile often and exude a positive attitude,
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people will respond positively to you.
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Even when you're talking on the phone, smile, because your positive attitude will shine through and the other person will know it.
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You see, the more you pay attention to how you express yourself to others, the better you'll get at communicating effectively.
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So give it a try!
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Apply these tips in your day -to -day interactions, and you will improve your communication skills instantly.
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What are your greatest challenges when it comes to communication?
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And how does social behavior differ between your online and offline interactions?
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Let us know in the comments below!
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If you enjoyed this video, give it a thumbs up, and share it with your friends.
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It really does help us out!
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For more videos like this, hit the subscribe button, and remember to click on the notification bell.
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Also, be sure to check out our other videos!
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Thanks for watching!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “12 Ways To Improve Communication Skills Instantly”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: communication, conversation, tone, email, skills. This video has 63 sentences and 1039 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:41. The speaker talks at a natural 156 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 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 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tone noun | /ˈtəʊn/ | A specific pitch. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| instantly adverb | /ˈɪnstəntli/ | At once; without delay. |
| communicate verb | /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ | To impart or transmit (information or knowledge) to someone; to make known, to tell. |
| interaction noun | /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/ | The situation or occurrence in which two or more things act upon one another to produce an effect; the effect resulting from such a situation or occurrence. |
| verbal adjective | /ˈvɜː.bəl/ | Of or relating to words. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| reveal verb | /ɹɪˈviːl/ | To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| indicate verb | /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/ | To point out; to discover; to direct to a knowledge of; to show; to make known. |
| aggressive adjective | /əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ | Characterized by aggression; highly combative; prone to behave in a way that involves attacking (especially if unjustly) or arguing. |
| bite verb | /baɪt/ | To cut into something by clamping the teeth. |
| craft noun | /ˈkɹæft/ | Ability, skillfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning… |
| edit verb | /ˈɛdɪt/ | To change a text, or a document. |
| awkward adjective | /ˈɔk.wɚd/ | Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| talk over verb | To discuss; to converse about a matter or issue. |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
| give away verb | To make a gift of (something). |
| open up verb | To open. |
| put away verb | To put (something) in its usual storage place; to place out of the way, clean up. |
| put down verb | To insult, belittle, or demean. |
| think through verb | To fully consider, so as to understand all the consequences of. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 28 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, they're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, shine /ʃaɪn/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, vibration /vaɪˈbɹeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, recipient /ɹəˈsɪp.i.ənt/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, positively /ˈpɑ.zɪ.tɪv.li/
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 tone, skill, instantly.
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.