Shadowing Practice: How to think in English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Are you trying your best to learn English, but you still think in your native language before speaking?
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That might be the reason why you feel slow, confused or nervous every time you try to speak English.
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Your brain has to translate every word, and that takes time.
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But here's the good news.
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You can train your brain to stop translating and start thinking directly in English.
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Yes, it's possible.
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And in this video, I'm going to show you exactly how to do that in simple and easy steps.
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Let's begin with the first step.
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Start with easy and simple words you see around you every day.
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Look around you.
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Your home.
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Your room.
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Your desk.
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Try to name everything you see in English.
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Instead of thinking kursi or chaise, say chair.
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Instead of kitab, say book.
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Say things like, this is a chair.
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My phone is on the table, or I see a window, even if it feels very basic.
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This small daily habit will help your brain get used to using English for simple things.
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And this is where thinking.
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In English begins with the little things you see every day.
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Step 2.
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Use English when you talk to yourself or when you think about your daily life.
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Every person has thoughts in their mind all day things like I am tired I need to eat
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or I forgot my keys usually you say these things in your native language inside your head
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but now you need to start saying them in English for example
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when you are brushing your teeth think I'm brushing my teeth now
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when you are getting ready for work think I need to hurry
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or i'll be late even simple thoughts like it's hot today
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or i feel sleepy should be in english the more you
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think in english the faster you'll become comfortable speaking it step three
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watch english videos
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and try to repeat what you hear just like shadowing choose a short video in english
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that you enjoy make sure it has subtitles
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so you can understand the words then listen to one sentence at a time
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and repeat it after the speaker try to copy the same tone pronunciation
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and speed just like you're imitating a native speaker
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so I will suggest the English waves YouTube channel for this practice
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because it has simple and clear English especially made for beginners
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and intermediate learners the videos are in the form of graded readers
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which makes it easy to follow and repeat the link to the english waves youtube channel is in the description
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step four talk to yourself in english even
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when no one is around it may feel a little strange in the beginning
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but this is one of the best ways to practice you can stand in front of the mirror
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and say what you are doing
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or what you are feeling say things like today is going
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to be a good day I will finish my homework
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or I'm learning something new every day You are not just
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practicing speaking You are also training your brain to think in English without fear
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and the best part You don't need anyone else to practice
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with you can start right now Step 5 use your imagination
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and create simple English stories in your mind Let's say you are walking to school or going to work During that time,
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try to imagine something interesting in your mind, in English.
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For example, think, a dog is chasing a ball, or a girl is reading a book under a tree.
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You can even make funny stories in your head.
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A banana is talking to a watermelon at the market.
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It sounds silly, but it trains your brain to create and understand English sentences without needing translation.
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Step 7.
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Be patient with yourself and trust the process.
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Learning to think in English will not happen in one day or one week.
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It takes time, practice and patience.
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But if you follow these small steps every day, your brain will slowly begin to use English naturally without needing to translate.
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One day, you will suddenly notice that your thoughts are coming in English and that's a beautiful moment.
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Remember, you don't need to speak perfect English.
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You just need to make progress every day.
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Start with simple words.
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Turn your small daily thoughts into English.
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Talk to yourself, repeat what you hear, and use your imagination.
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Be patient and don't give up.
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Soon, you will stop thinking in your native language, and you will start thinking in English like it's your second nature.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 70 sentences and 766 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:04. The speaker talks at a natural 151 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 91% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| translate verb | /tɹænzˈleɪt/ | To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another. |
| brush noun | /bɹʌʃ/ | An implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including… |
| imagination noun | /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/ | The image-making power of the mind; the act of mentally creating or reproducing an object not previously perceived; the ability to create such images. |
| tone noun | /ˈtəʊn/ | A specific pitch. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| confused adjective | /kənˈfjuːzd/ | unable to think clearly or understand |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| chase verb | /t͡ʃeɪs/ | To follow at speed. |
| shadow noun | /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ | A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object. |
| desk noun | /dɛsk/ | A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a… |
| silly adjective | /ˈsɪl.i/ | Laughable or amusing through foolishness or a foolish appearance. |
| translation noun | /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/ | The conversion of text from one language to another. |
| reader noun | /ˈɹi.dɚ/ | A person who reads. |
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| patience noun | /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/ | The quality of being patient. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). |
| look around verb | To inspect a building or area. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | stop translating · start saying · stop thinking |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might be · may feel |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are brushing · are getting · you're imitating |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: brush /bɹʌʃ/, imagination /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/, shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, translation /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/, patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/
- Long words — get the stress right: imagination /ɪˌmæd͡ʒəˈneɪʃən/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, intermediate /ɪn.tə(ɹ)ˈmi.di.ət/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like translate, brush, imagination.
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.