Shadowing Practice: 5 Ways on How to Achieve English Fluency - Learn English Speaking with Video

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I think most English learners out there would like to achieve a certain level of fluency.
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And that's why today I'm going to talk to you about several keys to success that will help you achieve your fluency goals. That's coming up.
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Welcome to today's lesson, which is all about achieving English fluency.
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And before we begin, I want to remind you to join our social media classes because it is a great way to improve your fluency.
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So I'm going to do things a little different I want to talk to you about five different ways that you can achieve your fluency goals using a motivational quote or expression that is very common in English.
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and by understanding these quotes and expressions, it will help you better understand how to improve your fluency.
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So let's just jump right into it.
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The first one that I want to tell you about is this one right here.
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If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.
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And again and again and again.
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Language learning - you can think of it kind of like a roller coaster.
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When you start learning, it's like we're on this uphill slope.
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We're learning new words, new expressions. We feel that we're making a lot of progress.
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But then, we start to hit a few dips along the way.
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And we think that maybe we're forgetting something Or we're not making as much progress as we want to.
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And when we hit those dips, those lows, when I think learners feel like: Look, this is too difficult. It's too much. I don't want to do this anymore.
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Those are the times that you really need to try and make yourself work harder to work through it, So you can get back to that uphill slope where you feel like you're making progress, and you're improving.
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One thing that's difficult is that the more fluent we become, I think for many people, they feel like they're making less progress because it's not as noticeable And you just need to remember that you really are making progress.
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You're learning new things, and most importantly you're improving on the skills that you already have.
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You're improving on what you already know.
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So if you feel like you are not succeeding, you just need to keep this in mind: Try again, and again, and again. Keep at it, keep practicing, and keep learning.
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The next tip I have for you is this: You just really have to want it, and that's most of it right there.
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It's saying: Yes, I really want to improve my fluency, and in order to do so, I'm going to do this, and I'm going to do that.
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You really have to make it a part of your lifestyle.
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And that decision right there that you are you are really going to make this happen, you are determined Making that decision is is one of the most difficult things, and that's eighty percent of it right there.
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Because when you make that decision and you're able to commit to it, Then you're going to put yourself on a path to fluency Because you're going to be doing the things that you need to do: you're going to be studying a little bit each day, You're going to be reviewing the material you already know. You're going to be practicing at home or in the classroom.
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You're basically going to do whatever it takes to improve your fluency.
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The next way to improve your fluency (and this is one of my favorite expressions that I say to students all the time) and that is You need to do things differently.
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Don't just say: Well, I'm going to learn English and I'm gonna buy a textbook and then it's done.
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I don't need to do anything else. I can just use this and my language skills are gonna flourish.
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That's not really how it happens. You need to find a variety of resources that you can use to practice and improve your skills and improve your fluency.
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And this could include getting a textbook and studying at home, This could include watching videos, and movies, taking e-courses You could also use technology to your advantage: use social media.
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if you live in a big city or town, there might be a foreign community there.
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You could find a Facebook group that maybe people meet up from time to time and they're having discussions in English.
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You could even start your own group in your town or city and try to get people together and find others who want to practice their English skills.
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And you need to think about what works best for you, and what you think is beneficial because we all have different language needs.
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If you're looking to to improve your pronunciation, then videos are a great way to do that and listen to the correct pronunciation.
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If you're looking to build your vocabulary, reading's a great way to do that.
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It's different for each and every one of us, and you need to think about which ways complement your needs.
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There are many ways out there to practice and improve your skills And you just need to think outside the box Another way to achieve your fluency goals is to be stronger than your excuses.
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It's easy to come up with excuses and think: Well, I'm just too busy for this or it's too difficult.
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It'll take too much time. You need to be stronger than your excuses.
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You need to overcome these excuses and find ways to get through them.
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So if you think: Well I just don't have enough time, you need to try and find just a little bit of time during the day or during the week to practice.
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You could just do 5 minutes a day, and that is going to add up.
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The most important thing is that you are consistent.
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You might think: Well, this is just too difficult, and yeah...
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language learning: it is a challenge for most of us, especially me.
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It takes a long time.
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And it's just something that you really need to want. So much of it depends on you and your motivation and your desire and how strong you can be to overcome each of these excuses.
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Maybe you tell yourself: Well, I don't have anybody to speak to.
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Well, you can find people to practice your speaking skills.
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You can invest in yourself and take some online classes, or find a private English tutor.
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You can even try to start your own language learning club, because in your town, in your city, if you are looking to practice your speaking skills, I guarantee you somebody else is as well.
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And you just need to find these other people so you can meet with them You can practice your speaking skills and help support each other.
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For every excuse out there, there is a way through it, so you just need to be stronger than your excuses And I promise you: You will see the results.
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The last way to achieve your fluency goals is to keep in mind that the sky is the limit.
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When it comes to learning a language there is always something that you can learn.
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There's always something that you can improve.
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For example, every year new words are added to the English language.
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So there is new vocabulary that you can use all the time.
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I learn new things about English every single day as I'm preparing lessons, and I'm doing research.
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There's things that I'm learning about grammar and vocabulary and the way the language is used, and all of that helps me become a better instructor because I really want to learn. I want to find out new things.
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It's not like you can think: Well, I'm just gonna finish learning English, and then I'm done.
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I don't need to do any more.
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There's always something that you can keep practicing and improving.
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And that's not only going to help you achieve your fluency goals, But it's going to help you maintain your fluency goals when you do get to a level that you're comfortable with, and that you're happy with.
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The sky is the limit.
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So in the comments, I want to hear from you: Which of these ways applies to you and your fluency goals?
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Do you need to think outside the box?
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Are you the type of person that needs to be stronger than your excuses?
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Which one do you think would benefit you the most right now in trying to achieve your goals?
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We love hearing from you guys and writing this down and expressing this is a great way for you to start even thinking about where you're at and what you need to do to improve your fluency skills If you enjoyed this lesson, and you feel more confident and motivated to go out there and improve your fluency, please give this video a thumbs up.
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I hope you can use this advice to benefit yourself and improve your English skills.
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Thanks so much for watching, and I'll see you next time.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will explore effective strategies for achieving English fluency based on motivational phrases and expressions. The lesson focuses on five key methods to enhance your speaking skills, emphasizing the importance of persistence, motivation, diverse resources, overcoming excuses, and consistent practice. By integrating these techniques into your routine, you will become more confident in your spoken English abilities.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Fluency: The ability to speak a language smoothly and effortlessly.
  • Try again: A phrase encouraging perseverance in the face of challenges.
  • Commitment: The decision to dedicate yourself to achieving a goal, such as language proficiency.
  • Practice: Engaging in activities that enhance your language skills.
  • Consistency: Regularly practicing a skill to improve it over time.
  • Excuses: Reasons we create to justify not doing something, which can hinder progress.
  • Diverse resources: Various materials and methods to improve language skills, such as videos and books.
  • Challenge: A difficulty faced while learning, which can either motivate or discourage learners.

Practice Tips

To effectively incorporate the lessons from this video into your practice, consider employing the shadowing technique. This technique involves listening and speaking simultaneously, allowing you to mimic the pronunciation and intonation of native speakers. To get started, try using a shadowing app to select a short video segment that resonates with you. Aim for segments that match the speaker’s speed and tone in the transcript provided.

As you engage in shadow speak, start by listening closely to the phrases of the speaker. Repeat them in real time, focusing on matching their rhythm and pronunciation. If the pace feels too fast, don't hesitate to replay the clip until you're comfortable. As a tip, record your voice while practicing; this will allow you to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Consistent practice is key. Even if you can only spare five minutes a day, use that time wisely! By dedicating those few minutes to shadowing, you will gradually build your fluency and confidence. Remember to be stronger than your excuses and keep pushing past any obstacles. Embracing these challenges is part of your journey toward achieving English fluency!

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.