Shadowing Practice: Improve Your English Speaking Fast With This One Technique - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Shadowing is one of the best ways to improve your speaking and pronunciation, but only if you do it right.
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In this video, I'll show you exactly how to shadow, no matter your level.
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Guys, you might think shadowing is just repeating words after a speaker, but it's actually much more than that.
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Now I'll walk you through everything step by step.
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What shadowing really is, why it works, the different types of shadowing, common mistakes in shadowing, and how to make it part of your daily English practice.
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So let's get started.
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So what is shadowing?
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Shadowing is active listening and speaking at the same time.
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You follow the shadow of the speaker's voice, rhythm, intonation, so English starts to feel automatic.
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For example, let me show you one way to do it with a TED Talk speech.
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I need to start by telling you a little bit about my social life.
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I need to start by telling you a little bit about my social life.
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Which I know may not seem relevant, but it is.
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Which I know may not seem relevant, but it is.
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See?
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So, why shadowing is so effective?
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Because it makes your brain work harder in a good way.
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You're not just listening quietly.
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You're listening and echoing the words out loud in real time.
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That means you can't just switch off or get lazy.
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Guys, this is really important to understand.
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If you want fast and effective improvement, you need to pay attention.
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Listening passively in the background won't do it.
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So if you stay focused and put in the effort, you can achieve more in less time.
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When you shadow, three things happen at once.
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First, you listen carefully.
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You hear the real sound of English, the rhythm, the stress, and the way words connect.
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Then you speak right away.
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Your mouth and tongue start to remember the movements, so speaking feels more natural.
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And if you're shy, it's a safe way to practice speaking out loud without pressure.
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I remember at university when I was learning foreign languages, we didn't have much speaking practice.
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I would come home, play an audiobook, I remember it was the picture of Dorian Gray, and read and listen along with the printed text.
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It immediately activated my speaking muscles and was an amazing practice that's so easy to integrate.
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10 minutes, twice a day, for example.
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This especially helped when I had no chance to speak with foreigners.
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And guys, when you shadow, you actually think in English.
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Yes, I'll definitely make a video on how to start thinking in English and whether it's even necessary,
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but this method really helps you to think in English and talk to yourself.
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There is no time to translate so your brain reacts faster.
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Of course, it doesn't happen overnight, but practice makes perfect.
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And of course, your pronunciation improves because you copy real speakers.
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This is obvious.
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Choose a speaker whose speech you can understand reasonably well and try to imitate their pronunciation.
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You can just pick one TED talk video and practice it for a week.
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Guys, no rush.
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The focus should be on quality, not speed.
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If you're a beginner, start simple.
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Don't worry about saying everything perfectly at first.
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Just repeat what you hear.
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Focus on the intonation, how the voice rises and falls, and recognizing the sounds of words.
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You can also try thumb twisters.
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That's how I started with my Chinese, not with grammar like most people think.
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Small tongue twisters, where's my mouth to work?
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It might sound like child rhymes, but for your English it's a big deal.
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Another great approach is to pick short videos, audiobooks or even your favorite songs and shadow line by line take your time
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and really listen before repeating even five minutes a day really makes a difference
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if you stick with it the key is consistency not long hours right now i'm listening to harry potter
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narrated by the amazing steven fry keep watching
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because next i'll show you exactly how i train shadowing with this
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and you'll practice along with me so at this stage
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if you're a beginner the goal is just to catch the rhythm
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so make sure you choose content that's easy for you trust
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me it's much better to master the basics with simple text
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here i'll do a couple of sentences from the audiobook all right he couldn't know
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that at this very moment people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses
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and saying in hushed voices to harry potter The boy who lived.
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After all this time, always.
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It gives me goosebumps.
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Now for higher levels.
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Once you've got the basics, it's time to level up.
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Focus on connected speech.
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This means how words naturally flow together in English.
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Here's what to pay attention to.
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Reduced forms, like gonna instead of going to.
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For example, I'm gonna grab some coffee.
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Then there is connected speech, where words kind of blend together.
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For example, next week sounds like next week.
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Other common shortcuts and blends are kind of, kinda.
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Could you, Could you?
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Go on?
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Go on.
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It's like adding a little sound.
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I'd practice this again and again.
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That's how you really start speaking like a native.
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Guys, I have a separate 20-minute video on how to speak fast and understand natives, so definitely check it out.
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After this stage choose content you enjoy tv shows vlogs podcasts
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when you enjoy what you shadow practice feels easier
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and your brain learns faster i personally love shadowing my favorite youtubers just pick what you love
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and take it to the next level
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and pay attention to the tricks i mentioned above all right moving on there are several ways to shadow
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and each trains slightly different skills the first is echo shadowing it means repeating immediately even
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if your speech is messy and slightly behind the speaker this builds speed
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and instinctive pronunciation that's exactly what i tried with the harry
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potter audiobook the second one is delayed shadowing listen first then repeat after a short pause this improves accuracy
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and understanding this is also what i showed in the example above listen pause repeat
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and the third is silent shadowing move your mouth as
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if you're speaking but don't make any sound this is my favorite
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because i do it most often on transport or walking
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when speaking out loud would be awkward i quietly move my lips
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and it really helps you might look weird
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but come on nobody cares the main thing is
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that you don't postpone practice and integrate it naturally into your life here is a practice exercise for you
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i'll say a sentence your task is to shadow it first do echo shadowing okay repeat immediately even
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if it's a little messy and here is the first sentence I'm gonna grab a coffee.
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Do you want to come with me?
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I'm gonna grab a coffee.
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Do you want to come with me?
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Too fast, huh?
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Not too fast.
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Alright, next sentence here.
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Do delay shadowing.
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Listen, pause, repeat.
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And here is the sentence.
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I just got back from the store and I found something really cool I want to show you.
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I just got back from the store and I found something really cool I want to show you.
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How did he do?
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Any homework is to pick a short clip, for example, from BBC Learning English.
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They have lots of great material for all levels.
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Practice shadowing for a few minutes, then share in the comments how it went.
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All right, what are some common mistakes in shadowing?
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The first one is going too fast, too soon.
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Many learners try to measure the speaker's speed immediately, but this only leads to mistakes and frustration.
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Guys, natives speak fast.
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That's because they're native speakers.
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Start slower.
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Going at half speed is fine.
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Focus on accuracy first.
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Make sure you pronounce every word clearly and follow the rhythm.
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And then gradually return to normal speed.
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And the second mistake is copying only the words, not the rhythm.
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Okay, it's easy to just repeat words and forget how the speaker actually says them.
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So don't just mimic vocabulary.
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Pay attention to sentence flow.
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Voice rises and falls.
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This makes your speech sound natural.
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Next mistake is practicing once and stopping.
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Some learners do shadowing once and think it's enough.
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But shadowing trains your brain and mouth repeatedly.
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Use loops of 5-10 seconds.
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And repeat many times, especially for reduced forms and connected sounds.
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And the last mistake is not recording yourself.
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Yes, it's hard to know what you're really saying if you only hear it in your head.
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So record yourself, then compare with the original speaker.
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Recording helps you notice mistakes you'd otherwise miss and track your progress.
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All right, finally, how to use shadowing in daily life.
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Shadowing works best when it's regular and consistent.
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Even five minutes a day is better than one hour once a week.
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Choose content you enjoy.
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TV shows, podcasts, movies, YouTube videos.
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The more you like it, the more likely you are to stick with it.
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So here is a challenge for you.
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Choose a 30-second clip you love.
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Shadow it every day for five minutes for one week.
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At the end, record yourself staying the same clip.
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You will be amazed at how much more fluent, confident and natural your English sounds.
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Guys, now you know what shadowing is, the different types and levels, common mistakes to avoid, and how to make it part of your daily practice.
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If you practice consistently, your fluency will grow faster than you expect.
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Don't just watch this video once.
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Come back, shadow with me again, and make it a habit.
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And that's it.
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Thank you guys for being in shadowing with me today.
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Don't forget to like, subscribe to my channel, and I'll see you in the next video!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Improve Your English Speaking Fast With This One Technique”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: shadowing, practice, shadow, English, speaking. This video has 162 sentences and 1665 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:07. The speaker talks at a steady 137 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| rhythm noun | /ˈɹɪð.əm/ | The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. |
| audiobook noun | /ˈɔdi.oʊbʊk/ | A recording, usually made available for sale, of a reading of the full text or of an abridgement of a book. |
| pronunciation noun | /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken. |
| pause noun | /pɔːz/ | A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation. |
| echo noun | /ˈɛk.oʊ/ | A reflected sound that is heard again by its initial observer. |
| potter noun | /ˈpɑtɚ/ | One who makes pots and other ceramic wares. |
| clip noun | /klɪp/ | Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another. |
| intonation noun | /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/ | The rise and fall of the voice in speaking. |
| learner noun | /ˈlɜɹnəɹ/ | One who is learning; one receiving instruction. |
| twister noun | /ˈtwɪstəɹ/ | One who twists. |
| beginner noun | /bəˈɡɪnɚ/ | Someone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started. |
| integrate verb | /ˈɪn.tɪ.ɡɹeɪt/ | To include as a constituent part or functionality. |
| messy adjective | /ˈmɛsi/ | In a disorderly state; chaotic; disorderly. |
| blend verb | /blɛnd/ | To mingle; to mix; to unite intimately; to pass or shade insensibly into each other. |
| quietly adverb | /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ | Producing little or no noise. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| speak out verb | To assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
| hold up verb | To wait or delay. |
| switch off verb | To stop or disable a device by turning a switch or a lever. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You're not just listening quietly.
- If you're a beginner, start simple.
- Small tongue twisters, where's my mouth to work?
- For example, I'm gonna grab some coffee.
- Do you want to come with me?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 39 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, thumb /ˈθʌm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/, shortcut /ˈʃɔːtkʌt/, frustration /fɹʌsˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: audiobook /ˈɔdi.oʊbʊk/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, intonation /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/, accuracy /ˈæk.jɚ.ə.si/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like rhythm, audiobook, pronunciation.
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.