Shadowing Practice: 3 Most Common Mistakes When Learning a Language - Learn English Speaking with Video
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If you feel like you've been learning a language for months
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or even years and you still freeze up when someone is talking to you, you are not alone.
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Now, I am a native English speaker, but I've also learned three foreign languages.
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I speak German, Portuguese, and Polish and something I have realized along the way is
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that most language learners have this feeling like they're failing
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or they just simply do not have enough time
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and they just cannot get to a point where they are speaking fluently and it's a hard spot to be.
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It feels endless, it feels impossible
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when in reality you're likely just making a few subtle mistakes in your learning routine
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that are really blocking your road to fluency.
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So today I'm sharing with you the top three mistakes language learners make when they're studying a new language.
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So the first mistake is studying purely passive input.
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Now many language learners have this gift of input.
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I mean we are in a time where there is so much media.
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We have music, podcasts, tv shows, movies, I mean you name it.
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You You can just choose the language you are learning and you will find tons of resources.
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And that's amazing.
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We need input.
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We need to train our ear with that.
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We need to listen.
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We need input.
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But sometimes we get caught up in so much input that we forget to do the other stuff too.
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And to learn a language, you have to create output.
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You have to work on those skills.
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If you are only ever taking in input, you are only learning how to listen.
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And so when someone starts a conversation with you, you know how to understand them, you know how to listen to them,
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but you do not know how to speak back.
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Fluency is an active skill and if 90 % of your study routine is input, I mean, and this goes beyond media.
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It goes for textbooks, app drills, reading books.
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I mean, things that you think are very beneficial and they are.
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But if that makes up 90 % of your routine, you are going to have a massive gap in the output you produce.
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In this case, your speaking output will always lag behind.
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You have to balance out the scales a little bit and be doing as much output, if not more, than you are input.
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So to fix this gap, you need to have a daily habit where you are actively creating output.
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And this can look very different for every person as well as the language level you are in.
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If you're a beginner, this might look like sitting down and writing two sentences.
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I always recommend doing the language diary where you just write down two sentences about your day
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and you get to practice that output in just a very small dose on a daily basis.
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That's a great way to help this.
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And if you are a more advanced learner, this might look like sending voice messages to your friends something like
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that or recording audio of you just talking or talking to yourself on a run, you know, so this can look very different.
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But it is extremely important that you balance out these scales.
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You have to take in input, of course, but you also have to produce output.
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And that simple habit is going to bridge this gap in your fluency block.
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The second mistake here is one that I have personally made every single time
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that I have learned a language and that is waiting until you feel quote unquote ready to speak.
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A lot of language learners put off real conversations because they're afraid, they're nervous, and it's intimidating.
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You want to make sure that you have all the tools
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that you need in order to start speaking and that is a completely understandable feeling.
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So many language learners land in that spot but the truth is that if you wait to feel ready to speak, you will never start speaking.
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And that's just how it is.
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Fluency is not dependent on your language level.
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Fluency is about holding a conversation.
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It's about communicating.
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And you can actually learn that at an A1 level.
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You can learn basic vocabulary,
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basic grammar, basic comprehension to a point where you can understand basic sentences and can even respond in basic sentences.
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So this is extremely important.
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You need to start speaking right off the bat.
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That is not something you wait to do.
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You start doing it immediately.
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But the problem is that getting consistent speaking practice can be really difficult, especially if you don't live in the place where they speak that language.
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Or if you don't have someone that you feel comfortable to speak with.
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That's where italki has been really useful for me in my language learning journeys.
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If you're not familiar, italki is an online platform
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that connects you with native speaking teachers for personalized one -on -one lessons that are tailored specifically to your goals, interests, and skill level.
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Waiting until you feel fluent to speak creates this cycle of hesitation and speaking anxiety.
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Booking one -on -one lessons with a native speaker gives you a safe, supportive place where you can practice.
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You get real -time feedback and guidance on your pronunciation and grammar, which builds your speaking confidence 10 times faster than practicing solo.
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And because you're talking with a real person every week, it gives you that real immersion feeling, even if you're not living abroad.
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What I love most about italki is how completely customizable it is.
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With over 150 languages offered and more than 30 ,000 teachers worldwide,
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you can easily use the filters to find the perfect mentor
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that fits your budget and schedule whether you need deep conversation practice, business communication, or structured grammar help.
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And if you're a complete beginner, you can find a teacher who also speaks your native language so that you feel comfortable right from day one.
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Plus, there are no subscription traps or hidden fees.
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You simply just pay per lesson.
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And it's completely flexible, making it easy to book around a busy schedule and learn anywhere, anytime.
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Yes, yes.
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And that's all.
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And Catherine, do you often go to a trip?
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Yes, I like to go to a trip.
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It's a hobby, I can say.
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I can go to a book and listen to a book or talk to friends.
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That's really a good break.
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If you're ready to start speaking naturally, click the link at the top of my description.
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Italki is offering a special discount for my community.
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When you use my promo code CAT9 to buy $10 of Italki credits, you'll get $5 off of your first purchase.
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Make sure to act quickly because this offer is only valid for the first 50 users.
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Also, don't miss out on the 2026 Italki Language Challenge.
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It's the perfect way to build a daily habit, stay consistent, and make real, measurable progress in just 45 days.
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Plus, you can unlock exciting rewards along the way as you hit your milestones.
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Mistake number three is over -focusing on grammar rules over sentence patterns.
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It's very common to obsess over specific grammar rules instead of learning high -frequency sentence patterns.
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As we all know, when you try to translate a sentence word for word, it just does not come out right.
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And it also doesn't sound natural.
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It's really blocking your fluency.
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And so instead, if you try to replace that focus on really minute grammar rules into sentence patterns,
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the way that you speak is going to become so much more fluid.
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The way that you can practically make this adjustment is by studying real sentence chunks and phrases.
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When you learn chunks and phrases in a language, your brain starts to retrieve those effortlessly.
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And so you're not building sentences like
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Lego blocks, one word here, one word there.
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You actually are speaking in real phrases and they just come out so much more quickly.
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Now you can just look up the language you are learning and search high frequency sentence chunks, high frequency phrases or chunks, something like that.
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And you'll get a list.
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And if you just practice from that list, you'll slowly add that into your vocabulary and you'll be speaking with those phrases instead.
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Remember that fluency is not about knowing every single rule or word in a textbook.
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It's something entirely different.
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It's about building low friction habits that get you using the language every single day.
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If you're ready to break these habits and start speaking with real confidence,
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don't forget to grab your $5 discount on italki using the link at the top of my description
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and my promo cat nine at checkout.
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And don't forget to check out the 2026 italki language challenge to lock in your 45 day progress.
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Let me know in the comments below which of these three mistakes you've fallen into before.
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I know personally I have made them all, so I'm curious which ones you guys have fallen into the most.
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Thanks so much for watching and hit subscribe for more practical language learning tips and strategies.
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I'll see you in the next video.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “3 Most Common Mistakes When Learning a Language”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: language, speaking, sentence, input, speak. This video has 118 sentences and 1538 words to shadow. The speech runs for 9:48. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| input noun | /ˈɪnpʊt/ | The act or process of putting in; infusion. |
| output noun | /ˈaʊtpʊt/ | Production; quantity produced, created, or completed. |
| grammar noun | /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ | A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| chunk noun | /t͡ʃʌŋk/ | A part of something that has been separated; a generally squat, thick, irregular piece of something, e.g. wood or stone. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| 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. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| frequency noun | /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/ | The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period. |
| consistent adjective | /kənˈsɪs.tənt/ | Of a regularly occurring, dependable nature. |
| discount noun | /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ | A reduction in price. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| promo noun | /ˈpɹəʊməʊ/ | A reduction in consumer cost for a limited time for items or services rendered; a special. |
| textbook noun | /ˈtɛkst.bʊk/ | A coursebook, a formal manual of instruction in a specific subject, especially one for use in schools or colleges. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| look up verb | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | To have better prospects. |
| put off verb | To postpone, especially through procrastination. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. | |
| write down verb | To produce or set (something) down in writing; to record something. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- It's a hobby, I can say.
- It's really blocking your fluency.
- I'll see you in the next video.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 29 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: beneficial /ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/, subscription /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/, friction /ˈfɹɪkʃən/, comprehension /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/, hesitation /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, anxiety /æŋˈzaɪ.əti/, communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, practically /ˈpɹæk.tɪ.k(ə.)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 input, output, grammar.
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.