Shadowing Practice: Scientifically Proven Best Ways to Study - Learn English Speaking with Video

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For those of us in school who are trying to figure out the most effective way to study, science is here on hand to help.

While it has been traditionally thought by many of us over the years

that long hours in front of the computer or in the library, before an important exam, are required to maximize study time,

this is actually not the case.

So forget about long nights, with eyelids drooping over pages and pages of text,

scientific research has expressed quite clearly that that isn't the way to study smart.

And it turns out smart studying is a lot more fun than we might have thought.

So just what cool techniques work best to maximize those precious days before the big exam?

That's what we'll find out in this episode of the Infographics Show, scientifically proven best ways to study.

First of all, an unlikely helper is exercise.

Blood chemistry has been proven to change the way the brain works, as the brain, the happy recipient of vital nutrients through exercise,

repays the favor by increasing brain performance in the shape of a better and longer attention span, smoother information processing, and more fluid problem -solving skills.

How does this work?

Well, exercise releases an important blend of mood -altering hormones including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

This neural cocktail greatly enhances brain performance required for study and information retention, so in between study sessions we should seriously consider hitting the gym,

swimming some laps, kicking a ball around, or even dancing a few steps, because any kind of exercise exercise greatly improves brain power.

These exercise sessions also help to break up the study sessions, which is crucial to avoiding cramming, a scientifically disproven method.

The problem with cramming is that overloaded information does not have a chance to enter the long -term memory.

Short -term memory is the free, crazy space within your brain.

Information rattles around inside there, but what we need to do is turn that information into knowledge, and that doesn't happen by cramming.

The transformation from short -term information into long -term knowledge occurs through repeated needed exposure to that information,

retelling of that information, and reflection of that information.

So if you learn about a topic, put down the book, and then hit the gym and reflect up on it,

or talk to somebody else who has knowledge on the subject,

and then you are far more likely to retain that short -term information and turn it into long -term knowledge.

You must also vary your study program.

Smart study isn't about just reading the material over and over and over again ad nauseum.

Although this may seem like the easiest way, it is totally counterproductive.

A 2010 study from Washington University compared the effectiveness of repeated testing over repeated studying

and found that testing is far more effective than simply re -reading.

So in between short exercise and study sessions, why not test yourself now and again?

Or better still, find a study partner who is tackling the same subject and test one another, compare your results, talk about them,

and continue your study program in between exercising.

There is no reason you should study completely alone, and without adequate testing, you will fail to see where the real information gaps are.

Finally, get as much sleep as you can, because sleep is crucial to brain development.

When awake for the first few hours in the day, our alpha brainwaves are most active,

which is the brain state most suited to the acquisition of information and knowledge.

A good study program should not only include exercise, short intense study sessions, and social learning, it should also include a good night's sleep and perhaps,

if your day allows it, a cheeky power nap in the afternoon.

A nap in the daytime will give you two bursts of alpha brainwaves for one day's study, and the benefit of sleep doesn't end there.

When you acquire information, brain cells grow new connections that reach out and connect with one another.

Sleep helps these cells grow and connect, so if we think of our brain as a tree, sleep is like the miracle grow,

and while we sleep, all the tiny branches will grow and flourish.

Conversely, all night study sessions do not work, as our ability to process information is hindered by our restlessness,

and the information overload is simply overbearing.

Scientific research has shown

that it can take up to four days for our brains to return back to normal after

we've been awake for an entire night.

We should also take breaks every hour and not work straight through.

Study for an hour, do some exercise, speak to a study friend, and then return to the source material.

While some experts might argue, researchers at Stanford School of Medicine agree that playing certain types of music,

such as classical, may help students engage in the source material.

While some of us prefer complete silence, an uplifting piece of non -distracting music, without lyrics, may improve mood and increase the chances of information retention.

In active learning studies, some scholars have suggested that dopamine is the brain's save button, so some light, uplifting music,

a favorite warm drink, and a box of cookies could also help us retain knowledge, as the brain, while in its reward mode,

is more receptive to whatever stimuli is present, including that study material.

Also, science has shown us that, as ridiculous as it may seem, striking a power pose before entering the exam room may be to our benefit.

So think Superman or Wonder Woman.

Put your hands on your hips, move your legs apart, chest expanded, deep breath, and say something awe -inspiring.

You may want to do this in private, like in the bathroom before a test, but this is completely your own choice.

Although you may feel stupid, and will probably look a bit odd, this posturing will reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase testosterone,

making you scientifically stronger and better prepared for that test.

So, remember to take breaks, sleep, exercise, talk about your material with study pals,

strike a pose, and you'll be as good as ready for that test.

Are there other tried and true methods that we failed to mention?

Let us know in the comments.

Also, be sure to check out our other video called Private Schools vs Public Schools.

And as always, don't forget to like, share and subscribe.

See you next time!

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “Scientifically Proven Best Ways to Study”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: study, brain, exercise, sleep, sessions. This video has 48 sentences and 1086 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:38. The speaker talks fast, about 193 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 84% 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

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
examination noun	/ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/	The act of examining.
compare verb	/kəmˈpɛɚ/	To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things [“to compare X with Y”]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it…
mood noun	/muːd/	A mental or emotional state, composure.
connect verb	/kəˈnɛkt/	To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
greatly adverb	/ˈɡɹeɪ̯t.li/	To a great extent or degree.
crucial adjective	/ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/	Essential or decisive for determining the outcome or future of something; extremely important; vital.
alpha noun	/ˈæl.fə/	The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.
retain verb	/ɹəˈteɪn/	Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop.
awake verb	/əˈweɪk/	To become conscious after having slept.
pose verb	/poʊz/	To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.
hormone noun	/ˈhoɹmoʊn/	Any substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity.
retention noun	/ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/	The act of retaining or something retained.
maximize verb	/ˈmæksəmaɪz/	To make as large as possible.
topic noun	/ˈtɑpɪk/	A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
gap noun	/ɡæp/	An opening in anything, made by breaking or parting.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
break up verb	To break or separate into pieces.
check out verb	To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.).
figure out verb	To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
put down verb	To insult, belittle, or demean.
reach out verb	To extend one's hand(s) forward; to reach for something.
turn out verb	To end up; to result.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	has been · has expressed · has been proven
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	are required · has been proven · is hindered

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, isn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: smooth /smuːð/, breathe /bɹiːð/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/, retention /ɹɪˈtɛnʃən/, exposure /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒə(ɹ)/, acquisition /ˌæk.wɪˈzɪʃ.ən/
Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, ridiculous /ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/, acquisition /ˌæk.wɪˈzɪʃ.ən/, transformation /ˌtɹæns.fɔɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, traditionally /tɹəˈdɪʃ.ə.nə.li/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like examination, compare, mood.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Scientifically Proven Best Ways to Study - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?