Shadowing Practice: How to Think in English and Improve Your Fluency — Mini English Class - Learn English Speaking with Video

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43 sentences
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Hello everyone!
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Welcome to this A2 English listening practice video.
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Today we are going to talk about how to think in English.
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Learning to think in English is very important because it helps you become more fluent.
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When you stop translating words from your native language, you can speak faster and more naturally.
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You will feel more confident when you don't have to stop and think of the right words.
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This will also make conversations smoother because you won't need to pause as much.
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One of the easiest ways to start thinking in English is by using simple words in your daily life.
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When you see something like a chair or a table, try to say the English words in your mind.
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This is a small but effective way to begin.
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At first, it might feel a bit strange, but the more you practice, the easier it will become.
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Soon, these words will come to you automatically.
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Once you are comfortable with single words, try moving on to short sentences.
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For example, when you want to say, I'm going to the store, think of this in English instead of your native language.
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You can also think about what you are doing at the moment.
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For instance, if you are cooking, say to yourself, I am cooking dinner.
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This will train your brain to use English more naturally.
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The more you practice, the quicker you will improve.
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Another good tip is to talk to yourself in English.
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You can do this when you are alone.
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For example, if you are getting ready in the morning, try saying things like, I am brushing my teeth, or I am putting on my shoes.
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These small actions will help you get used to thinking in English.
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You can even describe your surroundings or what you plan to do next.
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Over time, you will feel more confident speaking and thinking in English.
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It also helps to think about your day in English.
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At the end of the day, ask yourself, What did I do today?
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Try to answer in English.
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For example, you can say, Today I went to work.
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Or, I had lunch with a friend.
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This will help you reflect on your day while practicing your English thinking skills.
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It's a simple activity but very useful for building the habit of thinking in another language.
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Learning to think in English can take some time, so it's important to be patient with yourself.
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Don't worry if you make mistakes.
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It's a normal part of learning.
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The key is to keep practicing every day.
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The more you immerse yourself in English, through reading, listening, or speaking, the more natural it will become to think in English.
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Remember, practice makes perfect.
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Now, I'm going to ask you two questions about today's article.
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Write your answers in a comment down below.
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1. Why is it important to think in English?
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2. What is one way you can practice thinking in English?
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Okay, that's all for today's lesson.
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Keep practicing your English and I'll see you next time.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “How to Think in English and Improve Your Fluency — Mini English Class”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: English, thinking, words, practice, practicing. This video has 43 sentences and 508 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:03. The speaker talks at a natural 166 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 92% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

13 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

WordPronunciationMeaning
naturally adverb/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/In a natural manner.
lesson noun/ˈlɛs.ən/A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
skill noun/skɪl/A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
smooth adjective/smuːð/Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough.
reflect verb/ɹɪˈflɛkt/To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
habit noun/ˈhæb.ɪt/An action performed on a regular basis.
shoe noun/ˈʃu/A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of…
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…
pause noun/pɔːz/A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
translate verb/tɹænzˈleɪt/To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another.
surroundings noun/səˈɹaʊndɪŋz/The area surrounding someone or something, together with the objects and circumstances in the vicinity; the environment or ambiance.
fluent adjective/ˈfluənt/That flows; flowing, liquid.
immerse verb/ɪˈmɜɹs/To place within a fluid (generally a liquid, but also a gas).

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing formstop translating · start thinking · keep practicing
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwill feel · will also make · will become
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around noware doing · are cooking · are getting
Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see comingare going to talk · I'm going to ask

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 6 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: shoe /ˈʃu/, brush /bɹʌʃ/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like naturally, lesson, skill.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →