Shadowing Practice: Learn American Accent Fast. - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hi everyone!
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I am Jan B.
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Pavar.
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Welcome back to my YouTube channel or if you guys are new over here, then welcome to my YouTube channel on how to get an American accent.
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Okay, so in this video, I'm going to be talking about three sounds that I personally think are most important in order to improve your American accents.
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Now, there are a lot of sounds out there.
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There are vowels, consonants, diphthongs, monophthongs, you know and your intonation stress just too many things out there
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but here are three most important sounds according to me
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that are going to help you improve your american accent in a significant way
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so let's get started sound number one sound one we have is your r sound i think it's a no-brainer
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because the r sound in american accent plays a huge role
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every time you're going to listen to an American person
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or a native speaker of American or somebody who's generally just talking in American accent, you're going to notice their R is way different than ours.
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For example, it's not R, R, R.
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It's like R, R.
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They kind of roll their tongue when they're pronouncing the R.
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So it's like R.
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For example, the word, word, word, not word, not word,
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word, rrr word water not water not water it's water water
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or for example the word for not for not for for are
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so to practice the sound what you what you guys are
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going to do you're going to roll your tongue upwards you
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know for example your tongue is straight right now roll it upwards
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and say are are keep doing that over and over
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and then take a look at words or you know start reading anything and whenever you find the letter r
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then pronounce it in an American accent.
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For example, the word American, not American, American, or American.
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Or for example, the word British, not British, British.
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So roll your tongue upwards and you're going to practice just like that.
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Now, obviously, it's not like the proper rule.
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Okay, they always roll their ours.
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No, it's just an exercise for you to practice the sound.
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The next sound, I think, which is super important, is your double T sound in American accent.
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So, for example, the words like better, matter, shudder.
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So, in these words, the double T sound is not actually pronounced ta-ta-ta.
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There is a little duh sound to it.
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Please listen to this carefully.
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Pretty.
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Pretty.
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I did not say pretty, not the ta.
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Pretty.
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Duh-duh-duh.
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So, it's going to be a very soft duh sound.
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So it's going to be like pretty, pretty.
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Better, better.
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Betty body bought some butter.
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So it's butter, not butter, butter.
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Shutter.
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Shutter.
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Now, there is a difference.
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First, there is a word shutter, the D sound, the D sound, but then there is the word shutter with the double T sound.
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Both are very different.
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You can literally notice the difference when I'm pronouncing.
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One is shudder.
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Another one is shudder.
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So in the first one, there is a hard D sound.
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Shudder, dur, dur.
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But in the double T, there is a very soft dur sound.
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It's going to be like shudder, shudder.
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So pronounce after me.
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Better.
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Very soft.
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Better.
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Pretty.
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Pretty.
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butter, matter.
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Now what you're gonna do, if you're gonna go on your Google, you're gonna find words that has a double T in them, and you're gonna pronounce them with a very soft day.
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And the last sound that is super important in American accent is the T plus N sound.
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Please listen to this very carefully.
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It's very, well, it gets hard a bit.
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If you're not gonna practice it well, obviously
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but in this sound for example the word curtain curtain how
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do we usually pronounce this word we pronounce this as curtain
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or curtain but in american accent what you're gonna do then your tongue it goes upwards
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and it touches the roof of your mouth you know like this is the roof of your mouth
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and this is your tongue so it's curtain curtain curtain curtain
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or for example the word mountain mountain rotten ro
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so do not bring your tongue downwards so when you're bringing your tongue downwards, bring it with the N sound.
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So it's curtain, curtain, mountain, mount, just stop your tongue at the T sound,
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do not pronounce it fully, mount, and now bring your tongue downwards with the N sound,
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mountain, rotten, rotten, rotten.
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So stop your tongue at the T sound and then bring your tongue downwards with the mm sound.
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So these three sounds are the most important.
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Now, what you guys can do for practice, obviously rolling your R's, you know, pronouncing the double T as a very soft D and the stopping your tongue and then coming down.
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For all of these, you're gonna have to practice and you're gonna have to practice hard.
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Start reading out loud.
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Basically, find an article, find a book.
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Whenever you find the R letter, whenever you find a double T or the T plus N.
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So start pronouncing just the way I've taught you.
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And after three weeks, you're going to see how it comes to you naturally.
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Because obviously, consistency is the key.
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So thank you so much, guys, for watching.
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I'm going to see you guys in the next video.
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And for now, stay safe, everyone.
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Bye.

Context & Background

In the quest to learn English with YouTube, mastering the American accent can substantially enhance the clarity of your speech and boost your confidence in conversations. In a recent video, language enthusiast Jan B. Pavar shares invaluable insights into three crucial sounds that significantly impact the American accent. Pavar emphasizes that while there are numerous sounds in American English—from vowels to intonations—focusing on specific key sounds can lead to dramatic improvements. This guide synthesizes his recommendations and serves as a practical tool for learners seeking to refine their accent through focused practice.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "word" - pronounced as "wrrd."
  • "water" - pronounced as "waw-tər."
  • "better" - pronounced as "beh-der."
  • "pretty" - pronounced as "pre-tee."
  • "shutter" - pronounced as "shuh-der."

These phrases highlight the critical sounds that distinguish American pronunciation, allowing learners to hear and practice examples that mimic native speakers. Focusing on these phrases can enhance your listening and speaking skills, vital for effective communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the challenges presented in this video and improve your American accent using the shadowing technique, follow these steps:

  1. Listen:** Play the video several times, focusing on the pronunciation of the key sounds highlighted by Pavar.
  2. Repeat:** After listening, practice echoing Pavar’s pronunciation as closely as possible. Pay particular attention to the rolling of the "r" and the soft "d" sound in double "t".
  3. Record Yourself:** Use your smartphone or computer to record your attempts. This will help you notice discrepancies in your pronunciation compared to the original.
  4. Practice with Shadow Speak:** Utilize the shadowspeak method by reading along with subtitles or transcripts while mimicking the sounds. This technique encourages proper muscle memory in your mouth, enabling you to make these sounds more naturally.
  5. Engage in IELTS Speaking Practice:** Set real-life contexts for your practice, such as simulated conversations where you use the learned phrases and sounds, enhancing both your fluency and comfort with American English.

By systematically applying the shadowing technique with focused practice on essential phrases, learners can significantly improve their American accent and overall speaking abilities. Embrace these exercises and watch your English proficiency soar!

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.