Shadowing Practice: Mất bao lâu để nói tiếng Anh trôi chảy? || A.J Hoge giải đáp - Effortless English| - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Here's a question, a time question from Ivo.
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Is it true that most of us need six years to become fluent after working hard each day?
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No, I don't think so.
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Um, I did a whole...
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I just recently did a...
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show about this thing, this question of time. So...
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It's fairly long because I talk about this in quite a lot of detail, because we have a few problems when people ask questions like this.
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Number one, what is fluent or fluency?
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people have very different ideas about this word, right?
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Some people think it's almost perfect, like a native speaker, and then others will say fluent basically just means,
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You can speak well about basic topics.
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I say it's you can speak well, communicate well, fairly easily about normal conversational topics.
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No special topics with special vocab, but sort of the normal everyday topics.
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And the other question is time.
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When we say, we often talk about years and months, but really we should talk about hours.
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Because if you listen to English 10 hours per day,
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That's a big difference compared to another person who listens only one hour per day.
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Okay, so the first person will improve 10 times faster.
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So will they both...
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be the same after one year?
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No, they'll be very, very, very different.
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So it's really number of hours that's important rather than number of months or years.
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So, With all that in mind, You're saying working very hard each day.
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So, working very hard each day, I would say, is something, let's say, Very hard would be three to four hours a day of English, let's say.
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Three to four hours would be very hard.
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Hard, you know, good, solid every day.
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What I recommend is two hours a day, at least.
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Let's say you're doing four hours a day of English.
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Will you need six years to become fluent?
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No. It should be much faster than that.
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Much faster than that.
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Four hours a day?
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I don't know.
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I mean, it depends on...
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Everyone's a little different, depends on what your first language is, how much English do you have already.
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But I would say since you're listening to me now, you understand.
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me now already, So you're already intermediate level, at least.
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I would say just a year, maybe a year.
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We should be fine.
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Maybe two, one or two years, maybe less. than that.
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You know, so I would.
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Say, yeah, don't six, six years.
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No, I don't think so.
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Now, to become native speaker level, you know, like to speak almost exactly like an American or a British person, yeah, then maybe, maybe you're looking at...
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six years or something like that.
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But again, maybe less.
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It just depends on how much you're practicing every day.
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But I'd say my general answer would be, much less than six years.
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This is one of the great things about independent learning, is it's much faster than school.
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People, we sort of get confused because in school, people will study English for 10 years.
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and then they still can't communicate well.
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They can hardly speak at all after 10 years.
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And we think, well, this is crazy.
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Why?
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We think that's normal, but that's just because the school methods are so terrible.
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There's so much time wasted.

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video presents a valuable opportunity for English learners seeking fluency through engaging methods. By focusing on the topic of language learning and the time it generally takes to become fluent, it offers a relatable context for practicing speaking. Engaging with this material allows you to not only absorb information but also shadow speech—repeating what you hear in real-time, which enhances your fluency. This approach can also boost your confidence, as it encourages you to communicate effectively on everyday topics without the pressure of academic or specialized vocabulary. Utilizing platforms like YouTube for IELTS speaking practice can be an excellent way to integrate these methods into your daily routine. Remember, the more you practice speaking, the better you’ll become.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, A.J. Hoge shares insights that highlight several important grammar structures and expressions useful for English learners:

  • What is fluent or fluency? – Here, the speaker introduces a question that emphasizes the subjective nature of fluency. Understanding this can help learners articulate their own language goals.
  • Working very hard each day – This phrase illustrates the concept of dedication in language learning. Using adverbs like "very" or "hard" can help convey intensity, a useful tool in many contexts.
  • It depends on how much you’re practicing – This contingency structure highlights an essential aspect of learning; the amount of practice directly affects progress. Learners should note how to frame their sentences around such dependent clauses.
  • Much faster than that – This expression demonstrates comparative structures, which are vital for making comparisons in conversations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking along with this video, be mindful of these common pronunciation traps:

  • Fluent – The 'fl' sound can be tricky for non-native speakers. Make sure to practice the initial sound gently to maintain clarity.
  • Practicing – The blending of sounds can lead to mispronunciations. Focus on articulating each syllable distinctly.
  • Hard – Depending on your accent, this could sound like ‘hod’ or ‘herd’. It’s important to clarify this word, particularly in conversations where its intensity affects meaning.

By incorporating shadow speech into your routine, especially through resources like learn English with YouTube, you'll enhance your speaking abilities swiftly. Remember, the key is consistency and making the most of every opportunity to communicate.

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.