Shadowing Practice: I found the reason you can't speak English well - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Do you feel like it's impossible to improve your speaking?
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Do you feel like it's impossible to improve your speaking?
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No matter what you do,
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no matter how hard you try,
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you just can't seem to make progress.
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It's like you've been stuck at the same level forever.
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If that sounds like you,
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it's probably because you have a habit called faking progress.
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So, what is it?
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Faking progress is when you think you're improving your speaking,
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but in reality, you're just wasting time.
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For example, instead of actually speaking,
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you spend way too much time researching new methods or looking up tips.
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Another example is when you add non-speaking activities to your routine just to keep yourself busy.
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The result is that you practice a lot less than you should and because of that,
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your progress is extremely slow.
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Faking progress is very common among people trying to improve their speaking.
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We all know that to speak English well,
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we need a lot of practice, right?
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But because practice is hard and uncomfortable, many people avoid it.
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And you know what?
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You might be doing it too, without even realizing it.
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You see, the worst thing about this habit is that it happens unconsciously.
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That means you're not doing it intentionally.
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It's actually your brain trying to keep you in your comfort zone.
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So how do you know if you're faking progress?
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Well, let's take a look at the four symptoms right now.
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Problem number one, you're stuck in research mode.
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When you're in research mode,
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you're watching videos to find new tips or ideas on how to improve your speaking.
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So right now you're in research mode, right?
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You're watching this video about improving your speaking.
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Don't get me wrong, it's okay to do research from time to time.
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It can give you new ideas that can help you learn faster or practice more effectively.
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The problem is, many people don't do research to get new ideas.
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They do it to keep themselves busy so they don't have to practice speaking.
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They tell themselves they're not ready.
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They need more information.
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And they're stuck in research mode forever.
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So when you're doing research,
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if you keep hearing the same advice or the same tips again and again,
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that means you've got enough information already.
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You don't need any more theory.
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It's time to move on and start speaking.
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Symptom number 2.
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You only do the bare minimum.
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Speaking fluently takes a lot of practice.
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Practicing for 5 minutes per day isn't enough.
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You should You should practice for at least 20 minutes each day.
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If you want to improve faster,
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aim for 40 minutes or more.
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But because speaking is hard,
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many people only do the bare minimum just to say they have done it.
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They might speak for a few minutes and then tell themselves,
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Alright, I've practiced today, now I can go do something else.
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So, instead of putting in the time to make real progress,
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they do a tiny bit of speaking and spend the rest of their time learning passively.
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And then they wonder why their speaking isn't improving.
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Don't make that mistake.
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Spend more time speaking.
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The more time you put in,
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the faster you're going to see progress.
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Symptom number three.
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You only do easy practice.
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Speaking English is really hard.
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During a conversation, you need to think about what to say,
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search for the right words,
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and form sentences on the fly.
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And you need to do all of this very quickly.
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To improve a hard skill like this,
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your practice needs to be challenging.
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It can be something simple like reading sentences out loud or repeating after someone like a parrot.
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That kind of practice doesn't help you with real-life English.
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Instead, you need to think and form your own sentences.
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You can do that by chatting with AI.
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Just fire up your AI chatbot and talk about anything you like.
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But here's the problem.
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When you speak spontaneously, you'll make mistakes and say confusing things all the time.
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You'll feel frustrated with your speaking.
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I mean the whole experience will be terrible.
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So to avoid that unpleasant experience,
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you might find yourself choosing the easier practice instead.
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I'm talking about low effort exercises like reading or repeating sentences out loud.
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Something simple like that.
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When you do these super easy exercises,
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you're not developing the ability to think quickly and form sentences on the fly.
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So when you have to speak in real life,
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you'll struggle to express yourself.
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Why?
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Because in real life, there's no script or subtitles to read.
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You're on your own.
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So if you want to be ready for real conversations,
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you have to embrace the struggle.
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Stop avoiding the hard work and start practicing spontaneously.
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It's going to be tough at first,
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but that's how you make real progress.
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Symptom number four, you overcomplicate your routine.
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This is Here's another trick people use to avoid speaking.
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They overcomplicate their learning by using too many different methods.
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You know, studying grammar, writing, reading, using language apps.
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They're doing everything except speaking and they're wasting a lot of their valuable time.
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You see, if you want to improve quickly,
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you need to keep your routine simple and focus on the most important activities.
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For example, when I started,
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I focused on just two things,
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listening practice and speaking practice.
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That's it.
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I didn't watch videos to look for new tips or tricks.
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I didn't use 10 different methods or techniques.
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I kept things simple and focused on what actually matter.
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Because I use my time efficiently,
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my speaking improved very quickly.
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So if your routine is super complicated,
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get rid of all the activities that don't really help.
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Focus on the key things that really move the needle.
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Stop faking progress.
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So there you have it,
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these are the symptoms of faking progress.
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Now it's time to take a close look at your behavior.
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Are you having any of these symptoms?
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If so, share them in the comments below.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

If you've ever felt frustration in your English speaking skills, this video is an essential resource for you. The speaker highlights a common issue known as "faking progress." Many learners, while aiming to improve, spend excessive time in research mode, watching videos, and seeking tips without dedicating enough time to actual speaking practice. This video emphasizes the importance of actively engaging in english speaking practice instead of just passively absorbing information.

To truly enhance your speaking abilities, it's essential to set aside time each day — ideally aiming for at least 20 minutes of effective speaking practice. By committing to a consistent routine where you challenge yourself and engage in real conversations, you can break the cycle of stagnation and witness meaningful progress in your speaking skills. This approach aligns perfectly with the idea of learning through practical engagement, as discussed in the video.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, the speaker uses several effective grammatical structures that can be beneficial for English learners. Here are a few key expressions to take note of:

  • “It's like you’ve been stuck at the same level forever.” - This expression utilizes the perfect continuous tense, which emphasizes an ongoing condition. Practice using similar structures to express your own experiences.
  • “You might be doing it too, without even realizing it.” - The use of “might” indicates possibility, a useful modal verb to imply uncertainty. Incorporating modals can add depth to your conversations.
  • “You need to think and form your own sentences.” - This imperative structure conveys urgency and importance. Commands can be a powerful way to express suggestions or advice effectively.

Focusing on these structures in your speaking practice can help you become more fluid and natural in conversation. Consider using shadow speaking techniques to mimic the speaker’s phrases and improve your delivery.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice your speaking skills, be aware of some common pronunciation challenges highlighted in the video. For instance, the speaker’s emphasis on the phrase “research mode” may be tricky due to the linking of sounds — be mindful to articulate each word clearly instead of slurring them together. Additionally, terms like “practice” and “improving” can pose pronunciation difficulties for learners, especially regarding the distinguishing between short and long vowel sounds.

Moreover, pay attention to intonation — how the speaker raises or lowers their voice throughout different sentences can convey certain emotions or emphases. Shadowing this aspect of their speech will allow you to practice not only the vocabulary but the expressive quality of your English speaking. Incorporating these elements into your routine will significantly boost your confidence and clarity while communicating in English.

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.

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