Shadowing Practice: 💪How To Build Confidence - Priyanka Chopra - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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recognizing that confidence is not something we are born with.
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It's a skill.
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It's like, you know, it's a muscle almost.
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If you think of it like going to the gym and you know, to have muscles and to shape, you got to work at it.
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Just like the vocal cords, people, the greatest musicians in the world, they use, you know, their vocal cords.
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They do riyas like we call it in Hindi, but which is warmups and stuff like that.
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So confidence to me is like that.
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You start using that at a very small level.

Context & Background

In a motivational talk, actress Priyanka Chopra emphasizes the importance of building confidence as a skill rather than an innate trait. She explains that confidence can be likened to a muscle that requires regular exercise and practice to develop and strengthen. Just like how singers warm up their vocal cords through riyas, individuals can cultivate their self-assurance through consistent efforts and small steps. This insight serves as a powerful reminder for English learners; confidence plays a significant role in effective communication and can be enhanced through methods like the shadowing technique.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Confidence is a skill.” - This phrase underlines the fact that confidence can be developed.
  • “It’s like a muscle.” - A metaphor suggesting the need for continuous practice to achieve desired results.
  • “You got to work at it.” - A call to action emphasizing the effort required in personal development.
  • “Start using that at a very small level.” - Encouragement to take baby steps in building confidence.
  • “Vocal cords need warmups.” - This can relate to the practice needed to improve language and pronunciation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use the shadowing technique with Priyanka Chopra's talk, follow these steps to improve your English pronunciation and confidence:

  1. Watch the video: Start by viewing the video without any distractions. Focus on Priyanka's delivery, intonation, and confidence.
  2. Identify keywords: Take note of key phrases and vocabulary that resonate with you, particularly the ones mentioned above.
  3. Listen and repeat: Play the video again and pause after each short segment. Try to shadow speech by repeating what Priyanka says while mimicking her tone and pace.
  4. Record yourself: Use your device to record your voice as you shadow her speech. This will help you assess your pronunciation and confidence level.
  5. Review and improve: Listen to your recording and compare it with the original. Identify areas for improvement and practice those specific phrases.

By incorporating these strategies into your learning process, you can enhance your English speaking skills, build confidence, and effectively apply the shadowing technique in your studies. Utilizing resources like “learn English with YouTube” videos will make this practice not just a task but a fun and engaging part of your daily routine.

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.