Shadowing Practice: Do These 6 Things Every Day to Become Fluent in English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Let's talk about six things you should do every day if you want to become fluent in English.
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Let's talk about six things you should do every day if you want to become fluent in English.
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My name is Michael Anton.
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I'm the founder of English at the Ready,
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and it's my goal to make you fluent in English.
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Now, I know that learning a language can sometimes feel overwhelming.
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There are so many things you have to focus on.
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Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, the list goes on.
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But if you focus on these six simple habits every single day,
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I promise you, you will see real progress.
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I've seen so many students make huge improvements in their English just by following these six simple steps.
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Let's dive right into today's video and talk about the first thing you need to do every day,
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which is to speak.
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Yeah, you need to speak English.
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English.
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I know that sounds obvious but so many students spend hours studying grammar or reading textbooks and they forget to actually speak.
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Speaking is the number one most important thing you need to do if you want to become fluent.
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You will never get comfortable speaking English if you don't practice regularly.
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Even if you're at home you can still practice.
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Try reading out loud or talking to yourself.
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Imagine you're having a conversation and respond to yourself.
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It might feel a little strange at first,
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but it's a great way to practice.
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You can also use language exchange apps to talk to other learners
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or even to find friends who are willing and able to practice with you.
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If you don't have anyone to talk to, don't worry.
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Try speaking in front of a mirror.
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Look at yourself in the mirror and say things in English.
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It will build your confidence and help you focus on your pronunciation and also your delivery.
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Next up, set your phone and your computer to English.
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This might sound simple but it's a powerful way to immerse yourself in the language.
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Think about it.
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Your phone is something you use all the time.
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Why not take advantage of that time and learn English as well?
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When When you set your devices to English,
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you start seeing English everywhere.
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English is the first thing you see in the morning when you wake up and when you check your phone.
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Why not make that the start of your English practice as soon as you wake up in the morning?
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Plus, you'll get used to everyday words and phrases that native speakers see and use.
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You can also change the language settings in other apps.
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For example, if you're active on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter,
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this is a great option.
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Follow English-speaking accounts.
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You can follow me on Instagram or TikTok or Facebook.
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My username is English at the Ready.
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But of course, there are lots of celebrities or influencers who post in English.
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Now, number three on our list is to listen to English.
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And I don't just mean by watching movies.
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I mean listening to English throughout the day even when you're not actively studying.
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This is one of the best ways to improve your listening skills without even trying.
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You can listen to podcasts,
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to audiobooks, or even my videos in the background while you're doing other things like cooking,
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cleaning, or maybe you're driving or commuting to work or school in the morning.
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The key here is to be consistent.
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The more you listen, the more natural English will start to sound to you.
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I recommend podcasts because they're often conversational,
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so they can help you with real-life English.
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You can also listen to podcasts about topics you're interested in,
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whether that's technology, sports, travel, or culture.
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This way, you're learning English in a way that's fun,
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and it keeps you engaged.
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Now before we continue, if you're enjoying today's video so far,
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make sure to leave a like and let me know in the comments what you think.
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Your support means a lot to me and
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if you want to learn more about improving your English this year using just your computer,
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your phone, and the internet,
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click the link in the description below to watch my free video training.
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It's completely free, it's only 30 minutes long,
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and it will give you some valuable insights on how how to take of technology to learn English.
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Alright, moving on to number four.
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Practice pronunciation in front of the mirror.
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Now I mentioned practicing speaking in front of the mirror,
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but you should also focus on pronunciation.
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English has quite a few sounds that might be very different from your native language.
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For example, the th sound,
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the v sound, or the w sound,
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or even the difference between short and long vowel sounds.
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For example, ship and sheep.
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Ship and sheep.
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They sound very similar, but they're completely different.
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With the word ship, your mouth is closed,
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and with the word sheep, your mouth is stretched.
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Look in the mirror, try saying these words,
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and watch your mouth to see how it moves.
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Ship and sheep.
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This is a great way to check and to improve your pronunciation.
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You can also imitate native speakers.
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Watch videos, movies, or even my lessons here on YouTube,
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and repeat what a native speaker says.
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Look at how they're moving their mouth,
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look at how they're stressing words,
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look at how they're linking sounds together.
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Now number five is to journal every day.
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I'm not saying you need to write a novel,
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but keeping a small daily journal in English can make a big difference.
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Every day, try writing down what you did,
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how you're feeling, or what you're thinking, all in English.
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Even if it's just one or two paragraphs,
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this is going to go a long way to helping you get used to expressing your thoughts on paper,
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to structuring sentences, and to using vocabulary in conversation.
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Practice writing things down even if it's just five to ten minutes every day.
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You can write about your day,
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what you ate for lunch,
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or maybe if you had an interesting conversation,
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and over time you'll be able to compare your writing from months ago with today,
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and you'll see that your writing is slowly improving and that you're able to use new vocabulary.
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And last but not least,
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if you can speak with a native English speaker.
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I know this can sound intimidating for a lot of students,
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but it's one of the fastest ways to improve your fluency.
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It's okay to make mistakes.
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Native speakers make mistakes too.
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So don't feel shy, don't feel embarrassed.
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Now lots of people tell me,
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Michael, I don't have any native speakers to talk to.
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Well, you can try language exchange apps.
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There are lots of different apps out there that you can try where you speak their language.
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I also recommend looking at Facebook groups,
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especially for expats in your city.
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There might be Americans, Canadians,
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Brits who have moved to your city who want to make new friends and who you can practice English with.
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And of course, if you want to take lessons with me and my team,
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click the link in the description below to learn more about that.
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Just having real conversations with native speakers will really transform your English
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and it will force you to think faster in English and to become more confident.
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So there you have it.
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Six simple things you can do every day to become fluent in English.
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I know a lot of these tips sound obvious at first,
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but remember it's the combination of several things that makes all the difference.
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and it's about doing them every day.
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It's about being consistent, making these habits a part of your daily life.
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Start small, but stay consistent.
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Little by little, you'll see progress,
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and before you know it,
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you'll be speaking English with confidence.
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Which of these tips are you going to start with today?
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Let me know in the comments,
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and don't forget to like this video
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and to subscribe to English at the Ready here on YouTube if you want to improve your English.
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If you want to learn more about how you can improve your English with just your phone,
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your computer, and the internet,
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then I'm inviting you to watch a free video I've prepared for you,
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which will tell you how to take advantage of modern technology to become fluent in English this year.
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To watch the video, just click the link in the description below.
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I hope you found this lesson useful,
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and I'll see you in the next one.
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Context & Background
In the journey of mastering English, establishing effective daily habits is crucial. In a recent video, Michael Anton, founder of English at the Ready, emphasizes the importance of consistent practice to achieve fluency. With today's fast-paced lifestyle, many learners find it challenging to prioritize speaking skills amidst their other studies, such as grammar and vocabulary. Anton shares six essential activities that can enhance English proficiency, focusing particularly on the power of regular speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "How do you say this in English?" - A useful phrase when you're curious about translations.
- "Can you please repeat that?" - Essential for practicing listening and comprehension.
- "What does this word mean?" - Helps you seek clarification while engaging with others.
- "I don't understand; can you explain it?" - Encourages conversation and helps you learn contextually.
- "I think..." - A great way to express your opinion and practice speaking fluidly.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To tackle the challenges of speaking fluently, consider incorporating a shadowing app into your routine. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to practice shadow speech effectively:
- Select Engaging Content: Choose videos or audio clips that interest you, such as podcasts or YouTube channels featuring native speakers.
- Listen Actively: Play a short segment and listen carefully. Focus on pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm.
- Repeat in Real-time: Play the audio again, and as you listen, speak along with the speaker. This is where your shadow speak practice comes into play.
- Record Yourself: Use your phone to record your shadowing attempts. Listening back helps identify areas for improvement.
- Integrate into Daily Routine: Incorporate this practice into your everyday life. Consider listening during commutes or while doing household chores.
Incorporating these habits into your daily life will strengthen your English speaking practice. By focusing on consistent, interactive practice, utilizing a shadowing app, and engaging with native content, you will gradually build confidence and fluency in English. Remember, practice makes perfect!
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.
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