Shadowing Practice: American English Connected Reading ｜TedTalk (Part three) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Welcome back.
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This is part three of the TED Talk that we're going to examine together for connected reading.
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So let's look at the proof.
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Look at the, not look at the.
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The consonants connect together and the vowels become very short.
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Let's look at the proof.
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1926. 20.
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Not 20, but 26.
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Kurt Lewin, founder of social psychology, called this substitution.
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1933, Vera Mahler found when it was acknowledged by others, it felt real in the mind.
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Felt real.
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It felt real.
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No T.
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Felt real in the.
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Real in the.
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All connected together.
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Real in the mind.
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1982, Peter Galwitzer wrote a whole book.
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Wrote a.
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Wrote a whole book.
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Very quickly, wrote a whole book about this.
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and in 2009 he did some new tests that were published. Did some.
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Did some new tests that were published.
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The T isn't pronounced. That were.
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Goes like this.
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A hundred and...
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A hundred n...
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And turns totally to n...
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A hundred and sixty-three people across four separate tests.
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Everyone wrote down their personal goal.
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Then half of them...
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Half of them...
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Not half of them...
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half of them announced their commitment to this goal to the room.
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Commitment to, commitment to, the two Ts connect, and here, to, to the room,
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just becomes to the room, and half didn't.
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And then everyone was given 45 minutes of work that would directly lead them towards their goal, but they were told that they could stop,
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that they, not that they, but that they, could stop.
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The D and the S connect a little bit.
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Could stop at any time.
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Now those who kept their mouths shut, kept their, the T and the TH connect, kept their mouths shut.
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The end of mouths and the beginning of shut connect together.
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Mouths shut.
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Worked the entire 45 minutes on average. On average.
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These two words connect. On average.
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And when asked, the same thing, when asked afterwards, said that they felt that they,
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felt that they, that is totally reduced to that,
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felt that they, said that they felt that they had a long way to go, long way to, long way to go,
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still to achieve their goal.
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But those who had announced it quit after only 33 minutes on average,
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and when asked afterwards, said that the D and the TH blend together, said that they felt much,
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the T and the M connect, felt much closer to, again,
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T becomes very short, closer to achieving their goal.
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So if this is true, what can we do?
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Well, you could resist.
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Kudr, the D and the R connect together.
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Resist the temptation to announce your goal.
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You can, can becomes very short, you can delay the gratification.
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Delay the, very short, not the in a long vowel, but delay the gratification that the social acknowledgement brings.
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And you can understand that your mind mistakes the talking for the doing.
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for the, the talking for the doing.
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But if you do need to, need to, the D and the T connect together, if you do need to talk about something,
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you can state it, state it.
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The T in state and the it connect together to just become state it in a way that gives you no satisfaction,
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such as, I really want to run this marathon, so I need to train five times a week and kick my ass if I don't, okay?
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So audience, and again we add a W in the middle of these two vowels.
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So audience, next time you're tempted to tell someone your goal, what will you say?
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Exactly.
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Well done.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will focus on the concept of connected reading in American English, as presented in a TED Talk. By examining how consonants and vowels blend together in spoken language, you will enhance your listening and speaking skills. The aim is to practice the shadowing technique, which involves imitating the speaker's pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. This practice will not only improve your fluency but also help you sound more natural in everyday conversations. By using statements from the talk as practice material, you'll gain confidence in your speaking abilities and expand your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Look at the proof - A phrase indicating a focus on evidence.
  • Felt real - Expresses a personal experience that seems genuine.
  • Commitment to - Refers to dedicating oneself to a specific goal.
  • On average - Indicates a statistical mean; useful in discussions of data.
  • Can stop - A common phrase indicating permission to pause action.
  • Long way to go - An idiomatic expression meaning there is still much to achieve.
  • New tests - Refers to experimental approaches in research.
  • Personal goal - A targeted aim based on individual aspirations.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning from this section, employ the shadowing technique effectively. Here's how you can do it:

  • Listen Actively: Play the TED Talk and listen closely to how the speaker connects words and phrases. Pay attention to the reduction of sounds, such as how "that is" becomes "that’s," which can be crucial for sounding more fluent.
  • Repeat and Imitate: Once you have listened, repeat sentences right after the speaker. Use the shadow speak method where you mimic their tone and pace. The speed of the TED Talk may vary, so practice with patience.
  • Focus on Consonant and Vowel Connections: Notice how consonants blend and vowels shorten, such as “to the” sounding like “ta the.” This observation is key for improving your pronunciation.
  • Use Recorded Material: Consider using shadowing sites that provide transcripts and audio recordings to practice both in context. This is particularly beneficial for preparing for exams like IELTS speaking practice.
  • Self-Record: Record yourself while shadowing and play it back to identify areas for improvement. This will help you align your speech more closely with natural American English.

By integrating these practices into your routine, you will enhance your connected reading skills and effectively support your overall language learning journey.

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.