Shadowing Practice: American English Connected Reading | IELTS: Why do some people prefer phone calls over texting (one） - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today, we're going to look at the connected readings in an IELTS sample answer for the question, why do some people prefer phone calls over texting?
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Let's have a look.
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The first thing that comes to mind is speed.
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The first thing, the first thing, that T at the end of first disappears.
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The first thing that that comes to mind,
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the T in that becomes a glottal stop, comes to mind.
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To is reduced.
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Comes to mind is speed.
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Is and speed connect.
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The first thing that comes to mind is speed.
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I can express myself.
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I can.
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Can gets reduced.
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The vowel becomes a lot shorter.
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I can.
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I can express myself much faster when I'm speaking.
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I bet a lot of other people.
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I bet a lot of other people.
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Here, a lot of kind of connects into one word.
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And depending on the speed that you're speaking and how formally you're speaking, you might choose to say a lot of other, a lot of other.
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Or you might say a lot of other.
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Both are correct.
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But to me, a lot of other is a little bit less formal.
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A lot of other people are like that too.
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Like that.
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We connect like and that.
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Like that too.
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Like that too.
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A lot of other people are like that too, especially older people.
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It's also easier to do other things.
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Also easier, we add a wa in between o and e.
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also easier.
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It's also easier to do other things.
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Here, to gets reduced to to.
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To do other things. Do other.
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We have a wuh here too.
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Do other things.
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It's also easier to do other things. Do other.
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We have a w here too.
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Do other things.
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It's also easier to do other things when you're talking on the phone. On the.
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We connect the n and the th. On the.
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On the phone.
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When you're texting, both hands are occupied.
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Here, R gets reduced and kind of connects to hands.
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Hands are occupied.
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Hands are occupied.
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Both hands are occupied.
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Also, sometimes it's just nice to hear the sound of someone's voice.
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Just nice.
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That T after the S disappears.
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Just nice.
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Just nice to hear.
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Again, to gets reduced to to to to hear, to hear the sound of someone's voice,
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like a friend or a family member,
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like a friend or a or a gets reduced and combined into one sound.
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A friend or a family member.
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You can't get that with a text message.
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Here, can't and that both turn their final T's into glottal stops.
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Can't get that.
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Can't get that with a text message.
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Here, that T doesn't turn into a glottal stop.
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Text message.
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If I speak carefully, I say text message.
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But if I speak quickly, the T disappears.
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Text message.
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Text message.
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You can't get that with a text message.
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The first thing that comes to mind is speed.
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I can express myself much faster when I'm speaking, and I bet a lot of other people are like that too, especially older people.
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It's also easier to do other things when you're talking on the phone.
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When you're texting, both hands are occupied.
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Also, sometimes it's just nice to hear the sound of someone's voice, like a friend or a family member.
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You can't get that with a text message.

Context & Background

In the video titled "American English Connected Reading | IELTS: Why do some people prefer phone calls over texting," speaker Alex explores common conversational patterns in American English. It focuses on the preferences people may have for communication methods and highlights specific aspects of connected speech that are often overlooked by non-native speakers. By engaging in this dialogue, learners can improve their understanding of natural spoken English, specifically in the context of the IELTS speaking practice. The video serves as a practical guide to enhance listening and speaking skills using the shadowing technique, which involves mimicking the speaker's pace and intonation.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • The first thing that comes to mind is... - A useful expression for sharing initial thoughts or ideas.
  • I can express myself much faster... - An essential phrase indicating the speed of verbal communication.
  • A lot of other people are like that too... - A way to include consensus in conversations, particularly about preferences.
  • It’s also easier to do other things... - Useful for discussing multitasking while communicating.
  • Both hands are occupied... - A phrase to highlight the physical constraints of texting compared to calling.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the speaking difficulties presented in this video, consider the following steps using the shadowing technique:

  1. Watch and Listen: Begin by watching the video while listening carefully to the dialogue. Pay attention to how words connect and the natural rhythm of speech.
  2. Pause and Rewind: Don’t hesitate to pause the video to understand specific phrases or sections better. Rewind to repeat any areas where you noticed challenges.
  3. Shadowing Practice: Start shadowing Alex's speech. Repeat his words and phrases in real-time. Focus on mimicking the intonation and stress. Remember, phonetic reductions, like “can” becoming “’can”, are crucial for natural speech.
  4. Record Yourself: Record your attempts to echo what Alex says. Playback the recording to identify any discrepancies in pronunciation or rhythm.
  5. Practice Regularly: Incorporate this shadow speech practice into your routine. Consistency is key in mastering the nuances of connected speech, which enhances your IELTS speaking practice significantly.

By utilizing the shadowspeaks philosophy, English learners can effectively improve their communication skills and become more adept in both spoken and written English contexts.

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.