Shadowing Practice: Shadowing English Speaking Practice | Speak Naturally with Idioms | Learn British Pronunciation - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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English Learners Podcast.
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Listen, learn and improve your English effortlessly.
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Welcome to your shadowing English speaking practice.
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My name is Tara and I absolutely love helping you become confident English speakers.
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As many of you already know, I've been teaching English for over 20 years and I live in London.
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English has been my world for a long time and I'm really happy you're here with me today.
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So tell me how was your day?
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And let me ask you something else.
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Where are you joining from today?
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Are you in India, Vietnam, Poland, France, Colombia, Brazil?
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Tell me your country in the comments.
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You never know, you might find someone from your country here learning English just like you.
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Alright, one more fun question.
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How do you say hello in your language?
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Is it namaste, hola, bonjour, ciao, hola, xin ciao?
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Write it in the comments.
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I love reading them.
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Now tell me, how is your speaking practice going these days?
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How do you feel about your fluency?
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And what are your English goals for 2026?
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Did you complete the speaking test yet?
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If not, I really recommend you do it and check your score.
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It's a great way to see where you are and stay motivated.
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All right, let's talk about today's practice.
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Today's shadowing session is special because we're going to practice with some interesting idioms, idioms that native speakers use all the time.
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This is not textbook English.
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This is natural English, the kind you hear in real conversations.
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Today we'll practice 30 sentences together, so please don't leave halfway.
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Stay with me until the end.
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You'll see all the idioms with their meanings on the screen.
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Feel free to take a quick photo, screenshot or if you prefer write them down.
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That's a great way to practice too and helps you remember better.
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This shadowing session will take about 15 minutes so let me ask you,
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do you have 15 minutes for yourself?
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For your goals?
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For your English fluency practice?
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If yes, stay right here with me grab a tea or coffee get comfy let's begin today's shadowing english speaking practice
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this is your speaking gym so don't be shy listen and repeat after me sentence one
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it's time to step out of my comfort zone
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and speak english it's time to step out of my comfort zone and speak English.
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It's time to step out of my comfort zone and speak English.
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Brilliant!
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I don't want to hold myself back anymore.
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I don't want to hold myself back anymore.
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I don't want to hold myself back anymore.
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Great!
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Speak out loud.
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Don't be shy.
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Learning English is a long game, not a quick win.
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Learning English is a long game, not a quick win.
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Awesome!
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I'm ready to take things seriously this year.
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Excellent!
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Even when I feel nervous I push through it.
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Great!
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I don't want to miss out on opportunities because of English.
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I don't want to miss out on opportunities because of English.
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Good job!
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Speak out loud.
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Little practice every day really adds up.
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Little practice every day really adds up.
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Little practice every day really adds up.
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Excellent!
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I'm learning not to overthink every sentence.
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Great!
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Speaking English helps me open new doors.
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Speaking English helps me open new doors.
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Amazing!
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I know mistakes are part of the learning curve.
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Great pronunciation.
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Don't give up.
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I won't sit on the fence about my goals anymore.
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I won't sit on the fence about my goals anymore.
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I won't sit on the fence about my goals anymore.
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Great.
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It's time to take ownership of my English progress.
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It's time to take ownership of my English progress.
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It's time to take ownership of my English progress.
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Lovely.
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Speak out loud.
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I don't let one bad day throw me off track.
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I don't let one bad day throw me off track.
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Amazing!
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Confidence comes when I show up consistently.
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comes when I show up consistently.
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Excellent.
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I'm learning to trust the process.
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I'm learning to trust the process.
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I'm learning to trust the process.
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Awesome.
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Speak out loud.
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Don't be shy.
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English feels hard sometimes, but I stick with it.
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Superb.
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I don't want fear to get in my way.
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Speaking more helps me break the ice in conversations.
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Speaking more helps me break the ice in conversations.
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Lovely.
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You're doing great.
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I'm ready to put myself out there.
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I'm ready to put myself out there.
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I'm ready to put myself out there.
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Awesome!
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I don't need perfection.
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I just need to keep moving forward.
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Brilliant!
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I'm learning to think on my feet when I speak.
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Great!
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Don't give up.
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Let's continue.
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Practice helps me feel more at ease with English.
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Practice helps me feel more at ease with English.
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Practice helps me feel more at ease with English.
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Lovely!
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I won't let excuses slow me down.
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Excellent!
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I'm building confidence one step at a time.
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I'm building confidence one step at a time.
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I'm building confidence one step at a time.
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Amazing!
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English is no longer just a subject, it's a life skill.
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English is no longer just a subject, it's a life skill.
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English is no longer just a subject, it's a life skill.
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Great!
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I don't want to sell myself short anymore.
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I don't want to sell myself short anymore.
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I don't want to sell myself short anymore.
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Amazing!
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Every time I speak I get a little better.
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Every time I speak I get a little better.
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Lovely.
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I'm learning to stay focused on my goals.
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Excellent!
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Progress feels slow, but I know I'm moving in the right direction.
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Amazing!
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This is my year to make it happen.
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Wow!
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Well done everyone!
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You did an amazing job today!
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Did you enjoy the shadowing practice with idioms?
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Which idiom was your favourite?
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Comment below and let me know.
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I love reading your answers.
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For me, I really love trust the process.
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It reminds me of a time in my own life, early in my teaching career, when progress felt slow, but consistency made all the difference.
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That lesson has stayed with me.
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So, my superstars, remember this.
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Shadowing Practice is a long game.
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Real fluency doesn't come overnight.
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It comes from showing up again and again.
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So did you take screenshots or make notes today?
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If not, don't worry at all.
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I'll put the idioms back up on the screen for you again.
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Take your time.
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Write them down if you can.
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And until next time, keep coming back.
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Keep practicing with me.
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And before you know it, you'll be speaking English more confidently and more naturally.
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This is Tara, and I'll see you in the next episode.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking is crucial for fluency, and this video offers an engaging method to enhance your skills. By using the shadowing technique, you mimic a native English speaker in real-time, which helps you internalize the rhythm and pronunciation of the language. As you learn English with YouTube, you'll gain exposure to colloquial expressions and idioms—essential tools for natural conversation. This method not only builds your vocabulary but also boosts your confidence when speaking. Each session allows you to fully immerse yourself, making it an effective addition to your language learning journey.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, several key phrases and structures are highlighted, making them beneficial for your shadow speech practice:

  • “Step out of my comfort zone”: This idiom encourages personal growth and emphasizes the importance of facing challenges to improve your speaking skills.
  • “Hold myself back”: This expression is a reminder to allow yourself the freedom to express thoughts and feelings without hesitation.
  • “Learning English is a long game”: This metaphor suggests that language acquisition takes time and continuous effort, which aligns with setting realistic goals for your learning.

Incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations will help you sound more like a native speaker and express yourself more clearly.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice with this video, pay attention to some tricky words and sounds that often pose challenges for learners:

  • “Comfort zone”: This phrase can be tricky due to the blending of sounds; focus on connecting the words smoothly.
  • “Hold back”: Be mindful of the short 'o' sound in "hold"—make sure to pronounce it clearly without rushing.
  • Idiomatic expressions: Idioms often have a rhythm and intonation that are different from standard speech. Listen carefully to how they are delivered and practice repeating them in the same way.

Using a shadowing app can further enhance your pronunciation and comprehension as you practice shadow speak. Whether you're revisiting these phrases or learning new ones, a dedicated approach to shadowing will accelerate your 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.