Shadowing Practice: 2 simple steps to stop procrastinating - Learn English Speaking with Video

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When you notice yourself procrastinating, when you notice yourself avoiding something, think about the emotion you're experiencing.
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Are you feeling overwhelmed?
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Are you feeling anxious?
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Are you afraid that your result is not going to be good enough?
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Just naming that emotion is enough for you to switch from your emotional mind back into your rational mind.
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And second step is to make your task stupidly small.
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Essentially, think about what is the tiniest possible action you can set for yourself as the goal
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just to make at least a little bit of progress.
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For example, don't think that you have to write a whole essay tonight.
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Think, oh, my task is to open the document in Google Doc and write for just 10 minutes.
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And don't think, oh, I have to do this hour long workout, I'm really dreading it.
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Think of your task as just putting on your shoes and going outside.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "2 simple steps to stop procrastinating" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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.