Shadowing Practice: British English Pronunciation: Shadowing Exercises (Listen and Repeat) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello and welcome back to Pronunciation with Emma, or welcome if you're brand new to my channel.
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Today I have a shadowing exercise planned for you.
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I have over 50 different sentences planned, and each of them contain a difficult combination of sounds.
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So to get the full benefit of this video, please ensure that you are in a quiet place where you can listen and repeat.
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Before we get started though, are you interested in taking private lessons to improve your English?
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Then I highly recommend Preply.
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Preply offers one-to-one classes for many different languages.
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You can find a teacher that suits your schedule
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and your needs using the filter options and you can easily book your lessons on their website or mobile app.
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You can also keep track of your learning progress as well as doing activities outside your lessons to practice your reading, your grammar and so on.
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It truly is a complete and all-in-one platform and is perfect for any language learner.
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Just click the link in the description of this video and use the code Emma50 to get 50% off your first lesson.
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I'm also a teacher on Preply, but my availabilities are quite limited.
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So I'm sorry if you cannot get a slot with me.
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But there are thousands of other teachers on there
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and you can use that code Emma50 with me or any teacher on the platform to get 50% off your first lesson.
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One of the most amazing things about language is the ability to communicate with other people from around the world.
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So why not broaden your horizons and check out Preply.
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Thank you Preply for sponsoring this video.
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Now it's time to do some shadowing.
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So there are a number of different techniques that you can use and let me share four of them with you here.
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The first technique is that you listen, you read, you pause and then you repeat.
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The second technique, you don't read, you only listen, pause and repeat.
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The third technique is you read it and you try and repeat at exactly the same time as me.
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And then the fourth one is that you don't read
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but you listen and you try and repeat at the same time as me.
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Number four is quite tricky but it is doable.
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So choose your favourite shadowing technique and we will begin with the first tricky combination.
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The path seems dangerous.
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His breath smelt bad.
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The mouse thought it was cheese.
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The mouse thought it was cheese.
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Can I pass through here?
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Can I pass through here?
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I loathe zucchini.
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I love films with zombies.
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I love films with zombies.
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Memorise this sentence.
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Memorise this sentence.
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She moves them all the time.
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She moves them all the time.
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Put some cream on.
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Put some cream on.
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The mat The mat seems wet.
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He likes talking.
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He looks tall. Did someone say something? Did someone say something?
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I made some cakes.
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She walks down the stairs.
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The students did their homework.
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I eat less sugar.
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I eat less sugar.
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He likes sharing food.
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He likes sharing food.
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The fish smells bad.
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The fish smells bad.
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I wish someone would help.
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I wish someone would help.
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He likes zoos.
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He also likes zebras.
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The dogs stole the food.
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The buses slowed down.
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We move there tomorrow.
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They paved the way.
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They did it with very little time.
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They loathe very humid environments.
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They loathe very humid environments.
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There was proof that he did it.
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There was proof that he did it.
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Take it off the table.
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Take it off the table.
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I bought a smooth faux fur coat.
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I bought a smooth faux fur coat.
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I bathed for 30 minutes every night.
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I bathed for 30 minutes every night.
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The staff thought it was terrible.
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The staff thought it was terrible.
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We walked enough through the forest.
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The warmth from the fire was cozy.
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cozy.
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Kath froze in fear.
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Kath froze in fear.
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What you'll notice with this one is when we have a D and an R together, sometimes they can sound a little bit like a j sound.
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So similar to a j almost.
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I had really bad stomach pains.
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I had really bad stomach pains.
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I made red velvet cake.
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I made red velvet cake.
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The same also happens when we have t and r.
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It becomes something more like a ch sound, quite similar to ch.
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They put the mat right next to the door.
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They put the mat right next to the door.
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It might run away.
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It might run away.
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Beth really gets on my nerves.
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Beth really gets on my nerves. Where is the bathroom?
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Your health should improve soon.
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This month she moves to Italy.
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Push through the crowd.
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I wish thieves wouldn't take my things.
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The men thought it was a good idea. Can three people volunteer?
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My tooth needs to be removed.
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the path needs redoing the path needs redoing put it in the bag
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put it in the bag the flat came with new furniture
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the flat came with new furniture i live with new flatmates I live with new flatmates.
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If I have missed any combinations that you find difficult, please put them in the comments or send me a direct message
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or an email or something and I can always make a part two like this video in the future.
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Let me know as well which combination you found the most difficult
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and is there a combination you found that was actually quite easy?
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Let me know in the comments.
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As a quick reminder, remember if you're interested in booking a private lesson with me
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or any of the other teachers on Preply, then you can use the link down below in the description.
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And remember to use the code EMMA50 to get 50% off your first lesson.
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Have an amazing week and I will see you next lesson.
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Bye-bye.
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will enhance your British English pronunciation through engaging shadowing exercises designed to challenge your sound combinations. By practicing sentences that include difficult phonetic blends, you will develop better oral skills and improve your overall fluency. This activity will also help to sharpen your listening skills as you focus on mimicking the rhythm and intonation of a native speaker. Whether you choose to listen and repeat or synchronize your speech with the audio, you will be actively participating in your language learning journey.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- shadow speak - a method of practicing pronunciation through repetition.
- breath - the air needed for speaking; important for effective communication.
- loathe - to feel intense dislike; useful for expressing emotions.
- cream - a noun that illustrates everyday vocabulary related to food.
- memorize - to commit to memory; a key skill in language acquisition.
- wet - an adjective that describes a state of matter, enhancing descriptive language.
- homework - a practical term often used in academic contexts.
- zombie - a popular cultural reference that can assist in conversational English.
Practice Tips
As you embark on your shadowing journey in this lesson, consider these effective tips to maximize your practice:
- Choose the Right Technique: Select one of the four shadowing techniques introduced. If you're a beginner, start with listening first and then reading before attempting to repeat simultaneously.
- Focus on Pronunciation: Pay close attention to the pronunciation of difficult combinations of sounds, such as "smelt bad" or "moves them," as these will enhance your shadow speech.
- Control Your Environment: Find a quiet space free from distractions. This will help you to listen carefully and replicate the accurate sounds.
- Repeat Multiple Times: Don’t hesitate to re-watch sections of the video. Repetition is key in mastering the shadowing technique.
- Utilize a Shadowing App: Consider using a shadowing app that allows you to record your speech for comparison with the original audio, ensuring you are on the right track with your pronunciation.
- Adjust the Speed: If the sentences feel too fast, use tools within the video platform to slow down the playback speed. This can make it easier to catch tricky phrases.
By employing these techniques, you will effectively learn English with YouTube, gaining confidence in your speaking abilities and enhancing your overall communicative competence.
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.