Shadowing Practice: Ajahn Brahm Guided Meditation 20min - Learn English Speaking with Video

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So now it's a beautiful time, we can just relax to the max
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and let go and just to see some peace and calmness in our own bodies and minds.
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So if you close your eyes.
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What Ajahn Chah always used to remind me and everybody else, we meditate to let go of things, not to attain things.
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So don't try and achieve something.
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Just so much.
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See how much you can unburden yourself. So let him go.
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So first of all we have to unburden ourselves with all these concerns of our physical body.
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the aches and the pains and discomforts So I usually begin by asking my legs as if they were different being.
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and ask them, "How are you legs?" And as soon as I ask the question, it's like a doctor saying,
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"How is your arm today when you've wounded it or broken a wrist or something?
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How's your wrist today?" As soon as you ask a question of yourself, you get a response.
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How are your legs?
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And you know whether they need some adjustment or not.
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is called the arising of mindfulness.
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focusing on where you wish to put it, so that your legs can be comfortable.
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Thank you.
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And once you have comforted your legs by just adjusting them this way or that way.
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Thank you.
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Then you look at your Bottom, your buttocks.
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How was I?
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and seeing if you can adjust your buttocks, your bottom, So they too can be comfortable.
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Thank you.
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It's better to fidget first then I have to fidget later.
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And then you feel your back If you're on a chair,
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you need to lean back Or if you're sitting on a cushion or a stool, do you want to straighten your back?
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But don't straighten it so it's so tense that you get pains later on.
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What I usually do is I stretch my back first of all.
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Because I see animals in the forest, even in Thailand in the jungle having a good stretch And then,
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it releases endorphins in the bloodstream, it feels good.
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It increases your immune enhances your immune system.
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And after I stretched my back, Then I let go.
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And I like I go to my shoulders Always.
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So single out the shoulders because people do have sore Shoulders.
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They have aches and pains.
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Because they're too tight, too tense.
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And I imagine those muscles in the shoulders like someone has been putting them apart.
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They've been strained and stretched and extended.
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And I imagine letting go of both ends of those muscles.
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So nothing is pulling them at all.
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that they go to a place of the Natural relaxation.
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Because I'm aware, I can actually feel that happening.
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I can feel...
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Just the muscles easing off.
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Then I go down to my hands just to make sure that they're comfortable because I noticed, and before I used to be that mindful of my body,
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my hands would always be fidgeting around.
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And I thought that was maybe a problem, but it was because I didn't care enough.
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to put my hands in a comfortable position.
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Once the hands were comfortable then back up to my shoulders and my neck.
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making sure the head was well balanced on top of the neck.
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Even do a few exercises to stretch this way and that way.
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until I find the optimum position by my neck.
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It's comfortable.
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It's like tuning a guitar or tuning the piano.
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just to balance it so it's just right. That eggs.
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Some movements of trial and error.
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and some awareness too, to find out the very best position. And then we go...
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From the neck up to the head.
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And especially the muscles around the eyes and the mouth.
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Because if you have, Any negative emotion, you can see that.
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because the muscles around the eyes and the mouth has tensed up in a certain fashion.
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Save your access muscles.
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No tiredness, tension anywhere. by the whole body.
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Relaxed.
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To the max.
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Getting very close to the end of the meditation now.
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Don't open your eyes yet.
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How do you feel?
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What is this?
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Little practice of letting go.
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I don't get in things but seeing how much you can let go of How does it affect your body?
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and the peace of your mind.
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Trying to get things, striving.
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leads to tightness and tension.
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Seeing how much you can let go of.
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This is wonderful sense. for putting down burdens.
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Letting go of concerns.
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Not being afraid of the future.
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the lightness of body. And the mind cleared.
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from obstacles in your future.
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and bad memories of the past.
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three So I'm now going to ring the gong.
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three times to end.
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this meditation session.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with Ajahn Brahm's guided meditation video is an excellent choice for those seeking to improve English pronunciation through immersive listening and shadowing techniques. This video not only provides a serene environment but also encourages a mindful approach to speaking. By practicing speaking along with Ajahn Brahm, learners can focus on their intonation and rhythm, vital components in achieving clarity and fluency in English.

Moreover, the calming tone and deliberate pace of the speaker create an ideal context for IELTS speaking practice. As aspiring IELTS candidates, students can utilize this video to refine their speaking skills, particularly in conveying emotions and maintaining a composed demeanor—skills that are immensely beneficial during the exam.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Ajahn Brahm utilizes several grammatical structures and expressions that are valuable for English learners. Here are a few key highlights:

  • “How are you legs?” - This informal way of addressing body parts can help learners understand the conversational style of asking about well-being. It's a gentle reminder that personal connection can be fostered even in speaking about ourselves.
  • “Thank you.” - The repeated use of gratitude not only models politeness but also illustrates how expressing thanks can be naturally integrated into conversations.
  • “Imagine letting go…” - This expression emphasizes the use of the verb "imagine," demonstrating how to guide listeners through visualization, a technique often useful in both spoken and written communication.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with Ajahn Brahm, learners may encounter specific pronunciation challenges. Here are a few to note:

  • “Comfortable” - Many learners struggle with the placement of syllables in this word. It is commonly mispronounced; practice saying it clearly as com-fort-a-ble.
  • “Shoulders” - This term often trips up non-native speakers. Pay attention to the sh- and -lders sounds, ensuring that you articulate each part distinctly.
  • “Relax” - This word should be pronounced with a clear emphasis on the 're-' and a softer ‘lax’; it’s important to practice the transition between the sounds to enhance fluency.

As you engage with the guided meditation, implement the shadowing technique where you repeat what Ajahn Brahm says in real-time. This can effectively build your confidence and lead to noticeable improvements in your speaking skills.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowyou've wounded · have comforted · They've been strained
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itis called · They've been strained

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →