Shadowing Practice: Is it normal to talk to yourself? - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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As your morning alarm blares, you mutter to yourself, “Why did I set it so early?” While brushing your teeth, you think, “I need a haircut... unless?” Rushing out the front door, you reach for your keys and realize they’re not there.
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As your morning alarm blares, you mutter to yourself, “Why did I set it so early?” While brushing your teeth, you think, “I need a haircut... unless?” Rushing out the front door, you reach for your keys and realize they’re not there.
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Frustrated you shout, “I can’t do anything right!” just in time to notice your neighbor.
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Being caught talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, and some people even stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability.
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But decades of psychology research show that talking to yourself is completely normal.
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In fact, most, if not all, of us engage in some form of self-talk every single day.
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So why do we talk to ourselves?
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And does what we say matter?
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Self-talk refers to the narration inside your head, sometimes called inner speech.
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It differs from mental imagery or recalling facts and figures.
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Specifically, psychologists define self-talk as verbalized thoughts directed toward yourself or some facet of your life.
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This includes personal conversations like “I need to work on my free throw.” But it also includes reflections you have throughout the day, like “The gym is crowded tonight. I’ll come back tomorrow.” And while most self-talk in adults tends to be silent, speaking to yourself out loud also falls into this category.
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In fact, psychologists believe our first experiences with self-talk are mostly vocal, as children often speak to themselves out loud as they play.
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In the 1930s, Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky hypothesized that this kind of speech was actually key to development.
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By repeating conversations they’ve had with adults, children practice managing their behaviors and emotions on their own.
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Then, as they grow older, this outward self-talk tends to become internalized, morphing into a private inner dialogue.
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We know this internal self-talk is important, and can help you plan, work through difficult situations, and even motivate you throughout the day.
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But studying self-talk can be difficult.
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It relies on study subjects clearly tracking a behavior that’s spontaneous and often done without conscious control.
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For this reason, scientists are still working to answer basic questions, like, why do some people self-talk more than others?
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What areas of the brain are activated during self-talk?
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And how does this activation differ from normal conversation?
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One thing we know for certain, however, is that what you say in these conversations can have real impacts on your attitude and performance.
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Engaging in self-talk that’s instructional or motivational has been shown to increase focus, boost self-esteem, and help tackle everyday tasks.
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For example, one study of collegiate tennis players found that incorporating instructional self-talk into practice increased their concentration and accuracy.
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And just as chatting to a friend can help decrease stress, speaking directly to yourself may also help you regulate your emotions.
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Distanced self-talk is when you talk to yourself, as if in conversation with another person.
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So, rather than “I’m going to crush this exam,” you might think, “Caleb, you are prepared for this test!” One study found that this kind of self-talk was especially beneficial for reducing stress when engaging in anxiety-inducing tasks, such as meeting new people or public speaking.
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But where positive self-talk can help you, negative self-talk can harm you.
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Most people are critical of themselves occasionally, but when this behavior gets too frequent or excessively negative, it can become toxic.
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High levels of negative self-talk are often predictive of anxiety in children and adults.
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And those who constantly blame themselves for their problems and ruminate on those situations typically experience more intense feelings of depression.
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Today, there’s a field of psychological treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, which is partially focused on regulating the tone of self-talk.
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Cognitive behavioral therapists often teach strategies to identify cycles of negative thoughts and replace them with neutral or more compassionate reflections.
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Over time, these tools can improve one's mental health.
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So the next time you find yourself chatting with yourself, remember to be kind.
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That inner voice is a partner you’ll be talking to for many years to come.
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About This Lesson

Unlock the power of your inner voice with this insightful lesson! This video delves into the fascinating world of self-talk, exploring why this common human behavior is completely normal and even beneficial. You'll learn about the psychological research behind internal monologues, how self-talk impacts your attitude and performance, and the distinction between helpful instructional or motivational self-talk versus harmful negative self-talk. It also touches upon strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to improve your inner dialogue.

Through this video, you'll gain valuable English speaking practice by immersing yourself in discussions about psychology, emotional regulation, and daily habits. It's an excellent opportunity to expand your vocabulary related to mental processes and improve your ability to discuss complex, abstract ideas, contributing significantly to your overall English fluency.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • mutter to yourself: To speak in a low, unclear voice, often when alone or expressing annoyance. (e.g., "Why did I set it so early?" you might mutter to yourself.)
  • stigmatize this behavior: To label something as socially unacceptable or shameful, often unfairly. (Some people stigmatize this behavior as a sign of mental instability.)
  • engage in some form of self-talk: To participate in or perform self-talk. (Most, if not all, of us engage in some form of self-talk every single day.)
  • inner speech: The silent narration or thoughts inside your head, another term for self-talk. (Self-talk refers to the narration inside your head, sometimes called inner speech.)
  • morphing into a private inner dialogue: Gradually changing or developing into a personal, internal conversation. (Outward self-talk tends to become internalized, morphing into a private inner dialogue.)
  • ruminate on those situations: To think deeply and repeatedly about something, often in a worried or obsessive way. (Those who constantly blame themselves and ruminate on those situations typically experience more intense feelings of depression.)
  • regulate the tone: To control or adjust the emotional quality or attitude of your speech or thoughts. (CBT is partially focused on regulating the tone of self-talk.)

Practice Tips for This Video

To maximize your English speaking practice with this video, we recommend utilizing the shadowing technique. Follow these specific tips to enhance your learning:

  • Match the Pacing: The speaker maintains a clear, moderate pace, which is ideal for shadowing technique practice. Focus on matching their speed and rhythm precisely. This helps you internalize natural English speech patterns and improve your overall English fluency.
  • Focus on Intonation and Stress: Pay close attention to the speaker's intonation, especially when they are explaining complex ideas or emphasizing key findings. Mimic their rising and falling tones, which is crucial for natural-sounding pronunciation practice.
  • Pronunciation of Psychological Terms: This video introduces several multi-syllabic psychological terms (e.g., "stigmatize," "hypothesized," "internalized," "ruminate," "cognitive behavioral therapy"). Practice pronouncing these words clearly and accurately, paying attention to syllable stress.
  • Practice Explaining Concepts: The video explains abstract concepts like "self-talk" and "distanced self-talk." After shadowing, try to explain these concepts in your own words. This is excellent preparation for the IELTS speaking exam, where you might be asked to describe or explain abstract topics.
  • Expand on Daily Scenarios: The video starts with relatable daily scenarios. After practicing, try describing your own daily experiences using the vocabulary and sentence structures learned. This makes the content personal and helps solidify your understanding and usage of new language.
  • Engage with the Content: As you practice, think about your own self-talk habits. This personal connection will make the language more memorable and relevant to your own life, boosting retention and aiding English fluency.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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