Shadowing Practice: Good Presentation VS Bad Presentation * - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hello everyone, welcome to Public Speaking.
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Today's first presenter is Ranjit, and I would ask everyone to give him their full attention.
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Chantal, could you dim the lights please?
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The British imposed a lot of unpopular taxes on the American colonists and didn't let them elect representatives to the British government.
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In retaliation, the Americans started to boycott British goods.
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In 1773, Americans in Massachusetts dumped a shipload of British tea into Boston Harbor.
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This became known as the Boston Tea Party.
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As punishment, the British imposed laws known as the Intolerable Acts,
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including the Quartering act which made Americans let British soldiers live in their homes.
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Some of the American colonies created a declaration of rights and grievances, which they sent to Britain,
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but the British just sent soldiers to the colonies to put down any rebellion.
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This led to the first battles of the revolution at Lexington and Concord.
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Thank you, Ranjit.
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I know it's very hard to give a presentation in front of the entire class.
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Now, would anyone like to offer Ranjit constructive feedback about his presentation?
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Any tips for what he might do differently next time?
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For example, were you all able to hear what Ranjit was saying?
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Not really.
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He needs to speak louder and face the audience.
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Yes.
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Great suggestion.
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Anyone else?
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He was reading from his paper, so it didn't feel like he was really talking to us, you know?
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Exactly.
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It's important when you're speaking to look up every sentence or two and make eye contact with someone in the audience.
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Anything else that Ranjit could do to appear more relaxed and feel more confident?
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He could smile more?
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Yes.
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Smiling makes us feel relaxed.
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Oh, and make sure your phone is off before you speak next time.
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I do have one more suggestion.
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To connect with listeners, it's a great idea to use a personal story or experience as an example.
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Can you try that next time?
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I think so, yes.
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Next week, my presentation will be about about the causes and effects of stress.
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We look forward to hearing it.
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Ranjit is first up again today, and I look forward to his new presentation.
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Jorge, could you dim the lights, please?
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Good morning.
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Today I'd like to talk about the causes and effects of stress and how to cope with stress.
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Stress has many causes, including work or school,
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life events, changes, or unrealistic expectations of yourself.
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Some effects of stress include headaches, trouble sleeping, depression, or lack of concentration.
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I know how hard it can be to deal with stress.
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Last year I started working after school to save for college, but I didn't have time to do homework and my grades went down.
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I had trouble sleeping, I only ate junk food, and I stopped hanging out with my friends.
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Fortunately, I was able to talk with a school counselor to manage my stress.
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She suggested that I reduce my hours at my job, eat healthy foods, and get some exercise.
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So I literally started walking home from school and bringing my lunch.
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I also asked my teachers for extra help.
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Now I feel better.
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It's important to recognize when you're stressed and to ask for help.
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Thank you.
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Great work, Ranjit.
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I want you all to reflect on how much stronger today's his presentation was.
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Ranjit looked us in the eyes, he spoke clearly, he smiled at us,
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and he used a personal anecdote to help us feel more connected to him.
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Well done.
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Thank you, sir.
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Thank you.

Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

The video showcases a clear before-and-after of a presentation, making it ideal for learning real-world communication skills. It highlights common mistakes (like reading from notes or speaking too softly) and practical fixes, giving learners concrete examples to mimic. This mix of error and improvement makes it a dynamic tool for english speaking practice, as you can compare both versions and focus on refining your own delivery.

Key Phrases That Sound Natural (and Why)

Let’s break down 3 impactful lines from the dialogue:

  • "I know how hard it can be to deal with stress." This personal opener builds connection. Using "I know" makes the speaker relatable, and "how hard it can be" acknowledges the audience’s potential experiences—natural phrasing for engaging listeners.
  • "Fortunately, I was able to talk with a school counselor to manage my stress." "Fortunately" softens the story and shows a turning point, a common way to structure anecdotes in English. "Was able to" is more natural than "could" here, as it emphasizes a specific achievement.
  • "It’s important to recognize when you are stressed and to ask for help." This closing statement is clear and actionable. "It’s important to" is a go-to phrase for giving advice, and the parallel structure ("recognize... and ask") makes it easy to follow.

A Simple Shadow Speech Routine for This Video

Use a shadowing app or record yourself to practice. Here’s how: 1. Watch the "after" presentation (Ranjit’s second talk) and pause after each sentence. 2. Repeat the sentence aloud, mimicking his tone, pace, and volume—this is shadow speech. Focus on eye contact (even if you’re alone!) and smiling to build confidence. 3. Record your version, then compare it to the video. Note if you’re speaking clearly and using natural pauses. 4. Try the same with the "before" presentation, but fix the mistakes (speak louder, look up) as you go. This shadowspeak loop helps you internalize good habits and improve fluency fast.

Learning English with videos like this turns passive watching into active practice—perfect for mastering real-life communication.

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.