Shadowing Practice: American English Connected Reading | Losing Your Patience (IELTS) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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hey what's up it's alex today i'd like to look at the connected sounds in a short passage
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that answers the ielts prompt describe a time you lost your patience let's take a look
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i'm really quite a patient guy here i often say really instead of really i'm really i'm really quite a
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so here i connect quite and uh into quiet there's a little tap there to connect the t
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to the uh i'm really quite a patient guy before the consonant the end of patient
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that t turns into a glottal stop patient guy i'm really quite a patient guy it's very very rare
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that i lose my patience it's very very rare i like
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to connect these two words this is actually something i say all the time.
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It's very, very rare.
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It's very, very rare that I, that I, that I, I connect the T at the end of that to I, that I lose my patience.
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But it still happens.
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But it, I tap that T at the end of but, and then I have a glottal stop for the T at the end of it, because I've got an S right after it
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but it still happens the most recent time the most recent
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i connect the with most the most the most recent now you notice
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when i said most by itself i pronounce the t but
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when i say most recent i take out
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that t in most the most recent time turn that t in recent into a glottal stop.
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The most recent time.
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Recent time.
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The most recent time was when I was, was when I was, for both of those was words,
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take that vowel and turn it into a very, very, very quick sound.
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Was when I was.
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The most recent time was when I was, was when I was.
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The most recent time was was when I was trying to get, trying to get, trying to, we connect to trying to,
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trying to get, trying to get, get has a glottal stop, was when I was trying to get something solved.
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Now this word something has this fast pronunciation, something.
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It's s-u-m, glottal stop, m.
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Something.
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I was trying to get something solved.
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Now some people don't like that something pronunciation
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and they prefer to say something with an i n instead
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of an ing i was trying to get something solved i
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was trying to get something solved with my home internet service with my home internet service notice
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that t in internet the first t gets removed internet and
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that second t turns into a global stop internet service internet service the most recent time was
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when i was trying to get get something solved with my home internet service.
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Now, I'll take a moment here to say that if you're enjoying this video and you like this style of teaching, definitely check out the other videos,
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the premium content that I've linked in my description and in the comments below.
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In those videos, I go into a lot more detail, and I talk about much longer texts, and I start breaking down some of the vocabulary and the organizational choices as well.
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Check those out if you're interested, and now let's get back to this lesson.
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Home Internet Service.
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I call them.
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I call them.
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Call them.
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So here we say call them.
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We completely take out that th in them.
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I call them like six or seven times.
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So here I'm adding the filler like.
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People use this all the time in natural English speech.
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I call them like six or seven times.
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I call them like six or seven.
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Connect that six or seven and reduce the vowel in or.
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I call them like six
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or seven times over more than a week over more than than turns into them
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when it's unstressed I call them like six
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or seven times over more than a week over more than
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than more than a week every call they said they were working on it
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and asked me to try this and that every call they said they Here I'm connecting that said to they,
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they said they, said they.
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They said they were working on it.
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They are working on it.
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That W sound in Word gets reduced in rapid speech.
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They're working on it, I'm not saying they're working.
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I'm not saying they are working.
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I'm saying they're, they're, they're, they said they're working on it.
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In fast speech, it really sounds like they are, but there is a very small difference in the rhythm.
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They said they're, they're, they're, there's like space for that W to exist, but it's really, really reduced.
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They said they're, they're working on it, working on it.
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Here, it has a glottal stop instead of a full T.
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Working on it and asked me and asked me and asked me.
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So here, and loses that d and asked asked
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which is such a difficult word to say slowly gets really simplified to asked asked
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and asked me and asked me
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that d at the end of asked also gets pretty reduced too
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and asked and asked me to and that's me
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and that's me to me to turns into and ask me to
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and ask me to try this And that over and over and nothing worked this and that over and over,
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and nothing worked This and that you're turning that and into just and this and that this and that over,
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and over Also, there's no D and and there either this and that over and over, and nothing worked This and that over and over,
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and nothing three ands, and no d's This and that over and over and nothing worked.
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Also pay attention that in that there's a glottal stop.
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This and that over and over and nothing worked.
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On one call, I explained the whole situation.
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On one call, I explained the.
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That N and the TH connect together.
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We completely skip the D at the end of explained.
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I explained the.
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I explained the whole situation very clearly at the beginning.
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very clearly yet yet yet I'm not saying at I'm saying
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it very clearly yet yet very clearly at the beginning I'm
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also connecting the at to the th very clearly at the
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it the it the very clearly at the beginning the guy
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listened patiently the guy listened patiently we have N D at the end of listened
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and that d gets removed and i connect the n to the p but
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when i connect an n to a p i actually turn
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the n into an m the guy listen patiently the guy
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listened patiently now you never hear the m in connected speech
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because it happens so fast and it naturally connects to the p
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but it does happen if you try to slow it down that m appears the guy listened patiently listen listen patiently.
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The guy listened patiently.
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Then he called me Jeffrey.
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Then he called me, called me.
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That D in called gets connected to the M in me.
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Called me.
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It really, really weakens, but it doesn't disappear.
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It's not call me.
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Then he called, called, it's like I want to say D, but I just don't finish the sound and I turn it into M instead.
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Then he called me Jeffrey it's such a small detail it's
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such connect those two s sounds together it's such a such a small detail it's such a small detail
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but getting but getting called I take out the t in
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but turn it into a glottal stop
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but getting called the getting called the here the d
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and the th connect called the wrong name
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but getting called the wrong name when I was really frustrated
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so I have two little chunks here the wrong name
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when I was the wrong name the wrong the wrong name
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when I was was again we're really really reducing the uh in was
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when I was was was really frustrated just sent me over edge just sent me
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so here just we lose that t and just
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and sent we connect
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that to me with a gloss stop just sent me over
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the edge just sent me over the edge just sent me over the edge the edge we connect the the
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and edge with a yuh sound just sent me over the edge i cancelled my service that That same day,
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I canceled my, canceled my.
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I'm really shortening that d sound in canceled.
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I canceled my service, canceled my service that same day, that same day.
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So here, I'm not saying the, I'm not really reducing that, because I'm saying which day?
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That day, that same day.
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I canceled my service that same day and switched to another company.
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Switch to, switch to.
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So I connect that switch to, to, by connecting those T sounds together.
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and I don't really say to another, to another.
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I often talk about having to reduce the ooh to a for two, but here I'm not doing that.
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To one another.
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Switch to one another company.
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Switch to, because two is part of the verb here, switch to something.
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Switch to one another company.
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I simply connect ooh and a with a what sound.
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And switch to another company.
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Of course, I'm also reducing that D in AND and switch to another company.
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I canceled my service that same day and switched to another company.
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Okay, now I'm going to read the whole thing twice.
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First, slowly, but still with all the connected sounds, which sounds funny, but it definitely helps to see where the connections happen.
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Then I'll read it at a natural speed.
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I'm really quite a patient guy.
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It's very, very rare that I lose my patience.
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But it still happens.
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The most recent time was when I was trying to get something solved with my home internet service.
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I called them like six or seven times over more than a week.
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Every call they said they were working on it
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and asked me to try this and that over and over and nothing worked.
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On one call I explained the whole situation very clearly at the beginning.
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The guy listened patiently.
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Then he called me Jeffrey.
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It's such a small detail,
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but getting called the wrong name when I was really frustrated just sent me over the edge.
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I canceled my service that same day and switched to another company.
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Can you tell that this is a real story?
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Really happened.
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Here we go with a full speed reading.
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I'm really quite a patient guy.
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It's very, very rare that I lose my patience, but it still happens.
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The most recent time was when I was trying to get something solved with my home internet service.
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I called them like six or seven times over more than a week.
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Every call, they said they were working on it
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and asked me to try this and that over and over and nothing worked.
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On one call, I explained the whole situation very clearly at the beginning.
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The guy listened patiently, then he called me Jeffrey.
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It's such a small detail, but getting called the wrong name when I was really frustrated just sent me over the edge.
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I canceled my service that same day and switched to another company.

Context & Background

In today's lesson, we delve into a passage from an engaging video focused on American English connected speech. The speaker, Alex, shares a personal experience about a time he lost his patience while dealing with a frustrating issue related to his home internet service. This relatable scenario provides a practical context for English learners to absorb natural speech patterns and improve their pronunciation through shadowing techniques. Understanding the way sounds connect will significantly enhance your English speaking practice and elevate your overall communication skills.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I’m really quite a patient guy”: Learn to connect words smoothly for a more fluid conversation.
  • “It’s very, very rare”: Practice this phrase to emphasize rarity while observing stress on 'very.'
  • “The most recent time”: Notice the glottal stop in 'the' and its connection to 'most.'
  • “I was trying to get something solved”: Work on reducing sounds for faster speech.
  • “I call them like six or seven times”: Use 'like' as a filler word to sound more natural in conversation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowspeak method for improving your pronunciation, follow this structured guide based on Alex's speech:

  1. Choose a Segment: Start with a short segment of the video. Select a phrase that you find particularly challenging.
  2. Listen Carefully: Play the selected phrase multiple times. Pay close attention to how Alex connects sounds and reduces certain consonants, such as 't' in 'internet' becoming a glottal stop.
  3. Repeat and Imitate: Use the shadow speech technique. As Alex speaks, mimic his intonation, rhythm, and connected sounds. Focus on phrases like “I was trying to get something solved.”
  4. Record Yourself: After practicing, record your attempt to compare your pronunciation with Alex’s. Look for areas of improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Integrate this practice into your daily routine. The more you practice, the more fluent and natural your speech will become.

By following these steps, you can enhance your English pronunciation and develop fluency in speaking through consistent practice. Incorporating shadowing into your learning journey will not only help you sound more native but also build your confidence in everyday conversations.

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.