Shadowing Practice: How to speak English better ? (Kenjumboy - Talk to myself) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/45 sentences)
So you're probably wondering what is going on here,
⏸ Paused
All Sentences
45 sentences
1
So you're probably wondering what is going on here,
2
it is not how I normally start my videos but yes this is a brand new series on the channel and it's called talk to myself and so in
3
this series I'm going to be talking debating and discussing topics that you guys want me to talk about in the comment section down below so the reason why it's called talk to myself is that basically it's just you know me sitting in my room alone and talking to the camera.
4
So for the first episode of this brand new series I'm gonna be talking about my most common topic on the channel which is how to speak English better.
5
So back a few years ago I did actually make a video about tips on how to speak English better you
6
can check that video out right here but it was like a joke it wasn't really that serious at all so now I think that it's perfect time to make another video on how to speak English better.
7
So when you talk about learning a new language, you're gonna have to think about babies, right?
8
So for example, if a baby was born in Vietnam and grow up in the Vietnamese environment, it's gonna grow up speaking Vietnamese fluently, right?
9
So same goes with the baby who was born in America.
10
If it was born and grow up in the American environment, it's gonna grow up speaking English like an American, right?
11
So what I'm trying to say is, you don't have to go to that environment.
12
You don't to go there.
13
What you have to do is try to create your environment as similar to the environments of the language you're trying to
14
learn as possible and eventually you're going to be able to learn that language quite easily yeah so back in like when I was in elementary school or something like that I used to watch youtubers in England or maybe in
15
somewhere Australia or somewhere like that I can't remember but one of those youtubers I remember which is Stambilong knows I think you
16
know him if you've watched him before so he was a Minecraft youtubers and back then I really enjoyed
17
playing Minecraft so I started searching youtubers on YouTube that you know do Minecraft content and Stambilong had
18
apparently was one of the suggestion on YouTube so I watch him and coincidentally he was a English youtubers who was in England which is quite fascinating and so I just watch him day by day,
19
24-7, always have my headphones on watching his videos and eventually somehow I learned how to speak English better and learn how to listen to English better and also for some reason I have this accent which is kind of weird.
20
So the reason why I choose YouTube and not radio is that I believe that YouTubers on YouTube, everything they say, every reaction, every
21
situation whatever happens on YouTube is all natural like gaming for example so every reaction everything they say it's all natural so if
22
you watch that often you're going to somehow be able to learn their reaction and learn how to you know react in that situation in English better, you know what I mean.
23
So yeah so if you want to learn an accent which is quite easy, it worked for me and hopefully it worked for you too.
24
Like I said before, back to the baby story.
25
If a baby was born in the north of Vietnam It's gonna grow up speaking Vietnamese in a northern accent, right?
26
But if a baby was born in the south of Vietnam It's gonna grow up speaking Vietnamese in a southern accent, right?
27
So
28
Yeah, that's what you have to do Just create your environment as similar to the language you try to learn as possible And eventually
29
you're gonna learn that accent And if you have a new vocabulary that you've learned and you want to remember it I have a really
30
really cool like kind of like way for me to learn it now I know it sounds kind of weird okay but hear
31
me out I talk to myself a lot and yeah I know it's kind of weird so what you have to do is so in your
32
everyday life you lose things right or you're trying to find something or you do things and you speak to yourself a lot right so for example if you lose your phone you start asking oh where's my phone where's where's whatever you're trying to find in Vietnamese.
33
So this time try to do that in English and eventually you're going to grow into it and you'll get used to it and you just do that naturally.
34
I have this really weird thing that I do while I'm driving though.
35
I drive to work,
36
I drive to school back then also and while I'm driving I always think of like scenarios that never happen or
37
like I'm trying to create a scenario where two people are having like a conversation and I answer them and I ask like well
38
it's basically just me talking to myself but it's just like two person having a conversation and I ask it and I answer by
39
myself and I try to use the new word that I've learned as much as possible in that conversation and yeah eventually I'll
40
remember it which is quite cool and the last thing is that if you want to learn how to write English better the only thing I
41
have for you is just to practice mate just to practice there's that is the only way I can think of even though my IELTS score is
42
7.0 I still make a lot of mistake I'm not really that good in English yeah that's all I have for you just have to practice mate that's all you have to do
43
so yeah that is all I have for this video if you guys have any topic that you guys want me to talk about next make sure to comment down below using
44
the hashtag TTMS which stand for talk to myself and then the topic that you guys want me to talk about and I'll make sure to pick out the comment which is the most interesting so yeah see you guys in the next video stay fabulous yeah bye mate
45
.
4.9/5 on App Store & Google Play

Shadowing English On Mobile

Learn English anytime, anywhere with the Shadowing English app. Improve your communication skills today!

Track your learning progress
AI grading and error correction
Rich video library
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play
Shadowing English Mobile App

Why practice speaking with this video?

In this engaging video series, the speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a personalized environment that mirrors the culture of the language you are learning. By mimicking scenarios familiar to native speakers, you can significantly enhance your fluency, just as a baby learns to speak by immersing itself in its surroundings. This technique is especially effective when learning English through platforms like YouTube. Watching content creators who speak English provides not only language exposure but also cultural context, which is essential for mastering conversational nuances.

Moreover, the speaker shares personal anecdotes about how he improved his English by immersing himself in discussions and debates while watching English-language YouTube content. Taking this approach allows you to practice speaking naturally, which is an invaluable component of the shadowing technique. By repeating phrases and expressions while you watch, you incorporate the language into your daily life, enhancing your retention and spoken fluency.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several key structures are highlighted, giving learners actionable insights:

  • “You will have to think about…” – This phrase establishes the speaker's intention and prompts deeper thinking, reinforcing the idea of task-oriented learning.
  • “What I'm trying to say is…” – A common structure in conversational English, this phrase helps clarify thoughts and ensures effective communication.
  • “If you want to learn an accent…” – This subordinate clause introduces conditions, making it a practical construction for expressing hypothetical situations.
  • “Just create your environment…” – An imperative sentence, which conveys commands and encourages immediate action, is crucial for motivating learners to practice.

By understanding and utilizing these expressions, learners can improve both their speaking and comprehension, effectively engaging in conversations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

The speaker’s varied accents reflect the influence of different English-speaking cultures, which can introduce unique pronunciation challenges. For instance, the term “environment” can often be mispronounced, especially by non-native speakers. Additionally, words like “fluent” and “vocabulary” can be tricky as they may not follow phonetic rules. This is where the shadowing technique can be especially useful. Try to imitate the speaker's pronunciation and rhythm while you practice speaking.

Engaging with material on a shadowing site can enhance your intonation and accent. By listening and repeating phrases, you can tackle common pronunciation traps with greater ease, making your spoken English sound more natural and fluid.

In conclusion, embracing techniques such as shadow speech and immersing yourself in English through YouTube will not only improve your speaking skills but also your overall language comprehension. So start speaking to yourself in English, just as the speaker suggests, and you will find that 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.

☕ Buy us a coffee