Shadowing Practice: I Tried English Shadowing for 10 Minutes — Day 1 of 10 (This Actually Works) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hey!
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Hey!
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Welcome!
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I'm really glad you're here.
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My name doesn't matter right now.
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What matters is this.
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You and I are about to go on a 10-day journey together.
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A journey that is going to change the way you speak English,
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the way you sound, the way you feel when you open your mouth and English comes out.
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This is episode one of a 10-day challenge I'm calling the English Shadowing Journey.
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Every single day for the next 10 days,
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I'm going to sit down with you right here for 10 minutes,
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and by the end of day 10,
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I promise you, you will hear a difference in yourself.
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But before we dive in,
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let me ask you something.
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When was the last time you spoke English and felt good about it?
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Not just okay, not just understood,
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but actually good, confident, natural,
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like the words were flowing out of you the way water flows from a tap.
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If you have to think hard about that answer,
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this podcast is for you.
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So let's start with the most important question of today.
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What exactly is shadowing?
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The word sounds fancy, but the concept is beautifully simple.
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Shadowing means you listen to a native speaker and you speak along with them at the same time,
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like their shadow, not after them,
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not repeating what they said when they stopped,
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with them, simultaneously, like a shadow follows a person.
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Think about it this way.
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Imagine you're watching a film and your favorite actor walks on screen.
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They speak with this incredible, natural, confident voice.
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And in your head, you think,
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I want to sound like that.
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I want that rhythm, that confidence, that natural flow.
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Shadowing is how you get there.
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When you shadow, you're not just practicing vocabulary.
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You're not studying grammar rules.
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You're training your mouth, your tongue,
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your breath, your entire speaking system to move the way a native speaker moves.
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you're downloading their rhythm directly into your body.
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And the science behind this is real.
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Language researchers, people like Alexander Argelis,
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who is one of the most well-known polyglots in the world,
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have been using shadowing for decades to learn multiple languages at an advanced level.
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The method works.
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It is tried, it is tested,
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and today, you and I are going to start using it.
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Now, here's what shadowing is not.
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It is not translation.
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You don't stop and look up every word.
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It is not grammar class.
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You don't analyze sentence structure.
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And it is absolutely not a passive activity.
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You cannot shadow while lying on your couch half asleep.
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Shadowing requires your full attention,
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your full voice, your full energy.
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And in return, it gives you full fluency.
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That's the deal.
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So why did I create this 10-day challenge?
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Why 10 days?
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Why 10 minutes?
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Because I know something about you.
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I know that you've probably tried to improve your English before.
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Maybe you downloaded an app.
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Maybe you watched YouTube videos.
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Maybe you took a class.
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And maybe, for a while,
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it felt like it was working.
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And then life happened.
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And you stopped.
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We've all been there.
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The problem isn't you.
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The problem is the method.
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Most English learning methods ask you to study the language from the outside.
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They put English in front of you like an object and say, Look at this.
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Analyze this.
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Remember this.
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But that's not how your brain learns language.
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Your brain learns language from the inside,
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through use, through repetition, through sound,
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through feeling the language in your mouth until it becomes automatic.
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Shadowing does exactly that.
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And 10 days, 10 minutes a day is enough to prove it to yourself.
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That's my challenge to you.
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10 days, 10 minutes, every single day.
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And at the end, you record yourself and you compare it to how you sound right now.
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I guarantee you will be shocked.
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Now, I want you to think about something.
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What would it mean for your life if you spoke English with confidence?
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Would it help your career?
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Your relationships?
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Your ability to travel?
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To connect?
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To express who you really are?
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Because language is not just communication.
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Language is identity.
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When you speak a language fluently,
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you don't just communicate, you connect, you belong.
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And that's what we're building here.
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Not just better pronunciation, not just smoother grammar.
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We are building your English identity.
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Okay, let's talk about structure,
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because I want you to know exactly what's coming so you can prepare.
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Each episode in this series is 10 minutes long.
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Every day has a theme.
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Every day builds on the day before.
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Think of it like a staircase.
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Each step takes you a little higher.
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Day 1, that's today, is about understanding the method and getting your first taste of shadowing.
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Day 2 is about rhythm and stress,
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learning to feel the beat of English sentences.
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Day 3 is about recording yourself for the first time and facing your voice honestly.
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Day 4 focuses on connected speech,
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the sounds that link words together in natural English.
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Day 5 is a fluency push.
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We go faster, we get uncomfortable, and we grow.
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Day 6 is about intonation and emotion,
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because English is not a flat language.
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It goes up, it comes down.
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It speeds up with excitement,
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it slows down for importance.
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Day 7 is a review and reflection day,
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a chance to look back and hear how far you've already come come.
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Day 8 introduces you to conversation shadowing.
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Two speakers, two voices, real dialogue.
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Day 9 is the hardest day.
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We shadow without any script or text,
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just our ears and our mouths.
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And Day 10, our finale,
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is your proof, your final recording,
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your before and after, your evidence.
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Every day I will give you a recommended piece of audio to shadow.
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I will walk you through the technique step by step
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and I will give you practice inside the episode itself
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So you're not just listening to me talk about shadowing you're actually doing it right here right now
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Because the only way to get better at speaking is to speak Alright,
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it's time to actually do this right now because the only way to get better at speaking is to speak.
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Alright, it's time to actually do this.
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Right now.
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Your first ever shadowing practice.
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Or if you've done this before,
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your day one warm up.
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Here's what I want you to do.
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I'm going to speak some sentences.
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Slowly at first.
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Then at normal speed.
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Your job is to shadow me.
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Speak along with me, at the same time.
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Don't wait.
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Don't hesitate.
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Just go.
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It will feel strange.
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It will feel uncomfortable.
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You might feel like you're speaking over me.
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That's exactly right.
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Keep going.
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Okay, let's start.
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Shadow me now.
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Speak along as I speak.
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I am learning English every single day.
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I am getting better and better with practice.
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My voice is becoming more confident and more natural.
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Good!
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How did that feel?
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Strange?
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A little awkward?
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Perfect!
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That's exactly how it should feel on day one.
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Now let's do it again,
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this time at normal conversational speed.
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Ready?
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I am learning English every single day.
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I am getting better and better with practice.
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My voice is becoming more confident and more natural.
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Yes, that's it.
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That's shadowing.
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That simple.
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That powerful.
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Now I'm going to give you a longer passage.
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This one is about eight sentences.
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I'll read it at a natural podcast pace.
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Your job is to shadow every word.
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Don't stop if you fall behind, just jump back in.
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Okay, here we go.
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Every great speaker you have ever admired started exactly where you are right now.
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They stumbled.
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They hesitated.
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They mispronounced words and felt embarrassed.
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But they kept going.
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They practiced when no one was watching.
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They repeated the same sentences ten times,
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twenty times, a hundred times,
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and slowly, slowly, the language became a part of them.
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It stopped being something they were learning and started being something they were living.
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That is the journey we are on, and it starts today.
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Beautiful.
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Whether you got every word or not,
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you did it, and that's what matters on day one.
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Before we close today, I want to talk to you about mindset,
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because technique is only half the battle.
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The other half is what happens in your head.
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Most English learners have a voice inside them that says things like,
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my accent is too too strong.
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My grammar is too bad,
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I sound ridiculous, people will laugh at me.
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I want you to hear me when I say this.
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That voice is lying to you.
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Every person on this planet who speaks more than one language went through a phase where they sounded imperfect.
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Every single one.
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The difference between those who became fluent and those who stayed stuck is not talent,
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it is not intelligence, it is not even time.
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It is courage.
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The courage to sound bad today so you can sound great tomorrow.
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Shadowing will ask you to be a little bit brave,
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to hear your own voice,
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to notice where you sound different from the speaker you're shadowing,
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and instead of feeling embarrassed by that gap,
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to get curious about it,
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to say, interesting, that's the gap I'm going to close.
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Every gap you notice is a gift.
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It's your road mop.
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It's showing you exactly where to go.
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So here's your mindset for this 10-day challenge.
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Progress over perfection.
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Every single day.
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Not perfect English.
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Better English.
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A little bit better than yesterday.
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That's it.
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That's the whole goal.
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Okay, we are almost at the end of episode one,
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and I want to say I am genuinely proud of you for showing up today.
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Seriously, most people think about doing things like this.
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You actually pressed play.
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That already puts you ahead.
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Before you go, here is your day one homework.
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It's simple.
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Find one English podcast or YouTube video that you enjoy.
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It can be about anything—travel,
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science, comedy, news—whatever speaks to you.
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to two or three minutes of it, and then shadow it.
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Just whisper along.
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Just try.
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Five minutes is enough for day one.
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And if you want to go further, record yourself doing it.
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You don't have to share it with anyone.
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Just keep it.
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Because on day ten, when you listen back to it,
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you are going to smile.
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Tomorrow, Day 2, we are going to go deep on something that most English learners completely ignore,
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and it's one of the most important things that separates natural-sounding English from textbook English.
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We're talking about rhythm, the heartbeat of the language,
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the music inside the sentences.
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If you want to stop sounding like you're reading from a script and start sounding like you're actually thinking in English,
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day two is going to change everything.
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Don't miss it!
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I'll see you tomorrow.
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Keep going and subscribe to Keep Connected.
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You've already started and starting is everything.
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Context & Background
In this enlightening video series, the speaker embarks on a 10-day challenge to teach you how to shadow effectively. Shadowing is an innovative technique that allows learners to practice English speaking by mimicking native speakers in real-time. This method not only enhances your vocabulary but also improves your English pronunciation and builds your confidence as a speaker. By following along for just 10 minutes a day, you're setting yourself up for rapid improvement in your spoken English, which is crucial for various situations, including the IELTS speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "I want to sound like that." - A desire to emulate the natural flow of native speakers.
- "This podcast is for you." - Reaching out to learners who need engaging content.
- "You will hear a difference in yourself." - A motivational reminder of progress.
- "Like a shadow follows a person." - Illustrating the essence of shadowing.
- "Training your mouth, your tongue, your breath." - Emphasizing the physical aspect of speaking.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To make the most out of this shadowing method, follow these steps:
- Choose Your Material: Pick a 10-minute clip from the video, ensuring it features clear speech from a native English speaker.
- Listen Actively: Before attempting to shadow, listen to the entire segment to familiarize yourself with the content and style.
- Start Shadowing: Play the clip again, and as you listen, speak along with the native speaker simultaneously. Focus on matching their rhythm, tone, and pronunciation.
- Record Yourself: Use your device to record your shadow speech. Listening to your recording will allow you to identify areas for improvement.
- Reflect and Repeat: After shadowing, reflect on what felt good and what didn’t. Adjust your practice in the next session to continually improve your skills.
By embracing this method and actively engaging with the material, you are setting yourself up to improve English pronunciation and develop stronger communication skills that will benefit you in everyday conversations as well as in formal assessments like the IELTS. Remember, consistency is key, so make shadowing a regular part of your language learning journey with this learn English with YouTube approach!
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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