Shadowing Practice: 5 things I do to maintain my C2 English (and keep improving) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C2
There are five things I still do after many years to keep my level of English,
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There are five things I still do after many years to keep my level of English,
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because language is not something you learn once and then you have that permanently.
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We don't automatically keep the same level forever.
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We need to take care of it.
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For example, I can feel that if I don't use English for a week or two,
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for example, over the Christmas holidays,
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I can feel that my brain is a little slower and my fluency is not that great.
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I have to search for words longer.
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So, nothing dramatic but it is noticeable.
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Today I'm going to give you tips on what I do to keep a C2 level.
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But of course the things could be different for different people and that's totally fine.
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And these tips could work for students who are at C2 or C1 as well,
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just advanced learners.
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I'm Eva or call me Eva.
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I'm a non-native speaker of English and I studied English at university.
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I have a master's degree in English.
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Then I also passed the CPA exam a few years ago, C2 level certificate.
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I'm now saying this to brag again.
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I just want you to know who you are listening to and what my life looks like.
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So I'm also a professional English teacher.
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So I am in contact with English every day.
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I speak every day.
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But of course, my students are,
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their level is lower than mine, which is natural.
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So I also need to actively seek some opportunities where I can meet my needs and my level as well.
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I live in the Czech Republic.
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I don't have any native speakers around.
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My husband is Czech, so it's really up to me what I do with my English.
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First of all, number one,
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I think it starts here.
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It's my conscious decision to challenge myself,
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to choose something that challenges me,
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to choose difficulty on purpose.
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Because at this level, even C1 or C2,
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it's incredibly easy to stay comfortable.
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I could sit down, watch a sitcom like Friends,
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understand everything effortlessly because it's an easy concept and you get everything even from the picture,
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from the actors.
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So it's not that difficult to understand.
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My brain is not really working.
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I mean, it's a nice activity.
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It's enjoyable.
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Of course, I do these as well,
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but I try to make sure that I also find something challenging that triggers my brain.
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Something that pushes me.
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For example, a podcast with complex ideas or books on miscellaneous topics
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because I know that my brain will have to think and work a little more.
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So that's why discomfort is important.
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The second thing I do is really simple but I believe it's really powerful and it's this.
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It's keeping a notebook with some English notes and vocabulary and I have a few older ones behind me somewhere over there.
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It's not just about writing down a new vocabulary
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because at this level you usually know a lot
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but I know a lot of words passively and
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when I for example watch something I see a word
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and I'm like okay I think I know the word I think I understand from the context
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but would I use that word actively do I know a hundred percent what
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that means or am I just guessing based on the context even
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if I see something and it's clear
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and I understand I still write it down if I find it interesting and I think okay would I really use it,
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would I not?
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So, or an idiom, I'm like,
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oh yeah, I understand, but I don't think I ever use that actively.
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I write it down, I write an example sentence,
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and then from time to time,
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I get back to my notes.
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On top of that, I think I use a lot of that as inspiration for my classes or videos,
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so I kill two birds with one stone that way.
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Number three, the thing I do is that from time to time I book a lesson,
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either with a native speaker or with a Czech speaker who teaches English.
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And the reason is simple.
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It's refreshing.
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I need to speak.
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I need to react.
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It's completely different than just watching something or listening to something.
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I need to be active.
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So that's important.
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And it's also good for me as a teacher from time
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to time to be on the other side to feel like a student and to understand how students might feel.
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So I don't do that very often,
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maybe once a month or if I have,
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I don't know, in the summer,
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if I have more free time,
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I book a few classes, a package with someone.
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And I must say, I enjoy that.
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It's also enjoyable for me to see different people from different countries.
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And these days with online learning,
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it's so, so easy and convenient.
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You can talk to someone in the US,
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you can talk to someone here,
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but it can be online.
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I don't need to go anywhere and still I can get good practice.
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But don't worry if it looks like a lot.
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It's not really because it's really like from time to time or when I feel like that.
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But from time to time,
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it's good to do these things.
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Let me know what you think.
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Now let me move on to number four and
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when it comes to tools
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and apps the only app I still use is Quizlet again from time to time
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and if I really learn something completely new a new word i put it there
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because you can have your like your personally it's my personal
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set of vocabulary i update it i add some words
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or i can delete some words
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and again from time to time i just click through these games
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and flash cards and i review things maybe once a month
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or something like that or in a car or on the bus,
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I click through my Quizlet.
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And the last thing, number five, is not that frequent.
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Again, don't worry, but it's an exercise,
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a worksheet or something like that.
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Again, from time to time,
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for example, something like this CPE past papers,
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I just pick one exercise.
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It takes like 10 minutes,
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but it's really challenging because you need to choose the right word
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or thing of the word you're filling the missing gaps
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and you really need to think about the language actively 10
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minutes instead of you know scrolling on my phone i just do something like
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that as you can see none of these tips are groundbreaking it's nothing super special it's not rocket science
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but these simple things and the intention it really matters
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and it really helps me please share your experience and your tips
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if you're at c1c2 what do you do to keep an advanced level of english
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or what do you do to maintain your level of english
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please let me know also this episode is completely free for you as usual to watch
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and learn from so if you find some value here please subscribe
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or like this video because this way you can support this channel completely for free
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and we can spread beautiful English around the world at no cost.
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So thank you for that.
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So I hope this episode helps you as well to speak beautiful English.
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Take care.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking using video resources like the one titled "5 things I do to maintain my C2 English (and keep improving)" offers unique benefits for advanced learners. This video not only presents a non-native speaker’s experience and challenges but also illustrates practical strategies to maintain and improve language proficiency. By engaging with this content, learners can improve their English pronunciation, enhance their fluency, and gain insights into the mindset required for language maintenance. Incorporating such videos into your study routine allows for a multi-dimensional learning experience, combining listening, reflection, and active speaking practice.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several grammatical structures and expressions emerge that can be beneficial for learners. Here are a few key examples:

  • Present Simple Tense: The speaker frequently uses the present simple to describe ongoing habits and routines, e.g., “I think it starts here.” This structure helps convey regular actions and general truths.
  • Modals of Obligation: Expressions like “I need to” or “I have to” indicate obligation and necessity, crucial for articulating intentions and priorities.
  • Complex Sentences: The use of clauses (e.g., “because language is not something you learn once and then you have that permanently”) encourages the construction of rich, nuanced statements, adding depth to your expression.

Advanced learners should focus on incorporating these structures into their own speaking practice, as they enhance clarity and sophistication in communication.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As learners adopt the techniques shared in the video, they should be mindful of specific pronunciation challenges. Here are a couple of tricky words and phrases to watch for:

  • "Conscious": This word often trips up learners due to its spelling and pronunciation. Ensure the emphasis is placed correctly to avoid confusion.
  • "Challenging": The pronunciation can vary slightly with regional accents, so practicing through shadow speech can help solidify a consistent and clear articulation.

Consider using a shadowing app to practice these words and expressions by mimicking the speaker’s tone and pace. Engaging in shadow speak not only improves pronunciation but also builds confidence in using the language fluidly.

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.

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