Shadowing Practice: How to Change Any Habit - Nwal Hadaki - Learn English Speaking with Video

This short video is a goldmine for building practical speaking skills. First, you’ll practice conveying determination through your tone—notice how the speaker balances honesty (“Change is not always easy”) with encouragement (“any habit can be reshaped”). Second, you’ll learn to connect ideas smoothly in casual speech, as the phrases flow from challenge to solution. Finally, you’ll master emphasizing key messages, like “Get up today” and “I promise you'll get there,” which stand out to motivate the listener.

Listen For These Sounds

Pay close attention to connected speech in the video. The phrase “it's not always simple” links “not” and “always” into a smooth “not-always” (the “t” in “not” softens to a flap sound). You’ll also hear reduction in “with enough dedication”—the “th” in “with” is light, and “enough” shortens to “enuf” in fast speech. Notice how “want it becoming” blends into “want-it-becoming,” with the “t” in “it” almost silent. These small sound changes make your speech sound more natural, so listen repeatedly to catch them.

Say It Like a Native

To mirror the speaker’s rhythm and stress, focus on shadowing technique—repeat the lines aloud immediately after hearing them, matching the pace and emphasis. The speaker stresses words like “dedication,” “reshaped,” and “best version” to highlight importance; copy that stress to make your speech impactful. The rhythm is conversational, with pauses after “but” and “So” to build tension. For extra practice, use a shadowing app or shadowing site to record yourself and compare. Remember, shadow speech (or shadow speak) is about mimicking not just words, but the energy and flow. Start with short phrases, then work up to the full clip—you’ll be surprised how quickly your pronunciation and fluency improve!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video: