Shadowing Practice: Swift Shadowing Practice! - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Hey there!
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Hey there!
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Thanks for clicking on this video.
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I assume you want to improve your English speaking and or work on your American English pronunciation.
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So this shadowing practice is going to be a swift one.
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I am going to have you repeat after me and then you're going to shadow this story with me.
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So you're going to say it at the same time as me matching my intonation,
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rhythm, pronunciation of the words and the overall flow of the language.
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Usually in my shadowing videos I stop and give you some tips or point out the specific pronunciation of some words,
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but for this one we're just going to dive right in.
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I'm not going to make any comments or stop.
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I came up with a story that used a lot of common expressions we use in English,
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but also some really descriptive language so that you guys can expand your vocabulary through this practice.
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If there's a word you don't know,
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try before looking it up in your native language to use context clues,
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so that is using the story as a whole,
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to try and guess what the word means.
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And this is really good for building fluency as well.
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You can repeat this practice as many times as it feels comfortable.
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And if you want more in-depth shadowing practices,
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check out the other shadowing practices I have over on my channel in my shadowing practice playlist.
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But if you've been doing shadowing practices with me for a while,
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or you really just want to get rid of all the noise and focus in and practice your English speaking without stopping,
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then let's go.
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English made easy with Claire.
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So first you're going to listen and then repeat after me and then I'll let you know when to shadow.
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Last weekend I decided to go on a long walk even though the weather looked a little questionable.
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The sky was gray and it felt like it might rain at any moment,
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but I told myself I needed some fresh air.
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So I grabbed my headphones,
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put on some music, and headed out anyway.
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At first, everything was great,
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and I remember thinking how glad I was I got out of the house.
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Okay, we're going to shadow that whole section together.
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Say it with me.
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Last weekend, I decided to go on a long walk,
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even though the weather looked a little questionable.
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The sky was gray, and it felt like it might rain at any moment,
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but I told myself I needed some fresh air.
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So I grabbed my headphones,
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put on some music, and headed out anyway.
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At first, everything was great,
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and I remember thinking how glad I was I got out of the house.
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All right, listen and repeat.
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About 20 minutes in, I realized I wasn't sure where I was.
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I had taken a different route than usual,
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just to explore a bit,
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but now nothing looked familiar.
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The streets were empty, my phone battery was low,
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and of course that's when it started raining.
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Not just a little rain either.
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It was pouring.
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Within seconds, I was completely drenched.
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Okay, let's shadow that section.
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Say it with me.
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About 20 minutes in, I realized I wasn't sure where I was.
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I had taken a different route than usual,
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just to explore a bit,
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but now nothing looked familiar.
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The streets were empty, my phone battery was low,
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and of course, that's when it started raining.
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not just a little rain either it was pouring within seconds
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I was completely drenched all right let's move on to the next section
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but before we do just take a quick moment to click
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that like button if you're enjoying the practice
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so far subscribe to my channel
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if you haven't already every little bit of support really helps
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and click the join button if you're interested in becoming a member of my channel.
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Okay, back to the shadowing practice.
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Repeat after me.
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I tried to find somewhere to wait it out, but everything was closed.
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So I just kept walking, hoping I'd recognize something.
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At this point I wasn't even listening to my music anymore.
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I was just focused on getting back.
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My shoes were wet and I was starting to regret every decision I had made that morning.
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Okay, let's shadow that section, say it with me.
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I tried to find somewhere to wait it out, but everything was closed.
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So I just kept walking, hoping I'd recognize something.
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At this point, I wasn't even listening to my music anymore.
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I was just focused on getting back.
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My shoes were wet and I was starting to regret every decision I had made that morning.
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Listen first, then repeat.
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Finally, after what felt like forever,
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I saw a street I recognized.
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I was so relieved.
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I walked faster, almost running,
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and when I got home,
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I just stood there for a second,
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dripping water all over the floor.
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Thinking next time I'll bring an umbrella if I think it's going to rain.
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Okay, let's shadow this section.
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Finally, after what felt like forever,
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I saw a street I recognized.
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I was so relieved.
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I walked faster, almost running,
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and when I got home,
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I just stood there for a second,
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dripping water all over the floor,
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thinking next time I'll bring an umbrella if I think it's going to rain.
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Repeat.
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But honestly, looking back, it wasn't that bad.
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It was uncomfortable, sure, but also kind of funny.
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And now at least I know a new part of the city,
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even if I found it completely by accident.
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Okay, let's shadow the final section.
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Here we go.
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But honestly, looking back, it wasn't that bad.
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It was uncomfortable, sure, but also kind of funny.
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And now at least I know a new part of the city,
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even if I found it completely by accident.
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All right, now let's read the entire story all the way through together without stopping.
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So you're going to shadow me.
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You can always listen to this part of the video
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once all the way through just listening and then say it with me.
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Here we go.
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Last weekend, I decided to go on a long walk,
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even though the weather looked a little questionable.
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The sky was gray, and it felt like it might rain at any moment,
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but I told myself I needed some fresh air.
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So I grabbed my headphones,
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put on some music, and headed out anyway.
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At first, everything was great and I remember thinking how glad I was I got out of the house.
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About 20 minutes in, I realized I wasn't sure where I was.
123
I had taken a different route than usual,
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just to explore a bit,
125
but now nothing looked familiar.
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The streets were empty, my phone battery was low,
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and of course that's when it started raining.
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Not just a little rain either.
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It was pouring.
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Within seconds, I was completely drenched.
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I tried to find somewhere to wait it out, but everything was closed.
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So I just kept walking, hoping I'd recognize something.
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At this point, I wasn't even listening to my music anymore.
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I was just focused on getting back.
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My shoes were wet, and I was starting to regret every decision I had made that morning.
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Finally, after what felt like forever,
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I saw a street I recognized.
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I was so relieved.
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I walked faster, almost running,
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and when I got home,
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I just stood there for a second,
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dripping water all over the floor,
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thinking next time I'll bring an umbrella if I think it's going to rain.
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But honestly, looking back, it wasn't that bad.
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It was uncomfortable, sure, but also kind of funny.
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and now at least I know a new part of the city even if I found it completely by accident.
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All right guys so I hope you enjoyed this swift shadowing practice.
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Again if you want to check out some of my other more in-depth practices that's over on my channel.
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Let me know in the comments how it went for you and what you'd like to see next time.
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Until then, bye!
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Shann us out.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
If you're looking to improve your English pronunciation and speaking fluency, this video provides an excellent opportunity for immersive practice. The concept of shadowspeak allows you to listen carefully to the rhythm and intonation of American English as you simultaneously repeat what you hear. This technique not only enhances pronunciation but also helps to internalize common expressions and vocabulary. The swift pace of the shadowing exercise encourages quick thinking and response, which are vital skills for effective communication. By practicing in this way, you'll start to sound more natural in your conversations and build confidence in your speaking abilities.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Throughout the video, several key grammatical structures and expressions are highlighted, which are commonly used in everyday English. Here are some examples:
- Past Simple Tense: "Last weekend I decided..." This structure is crucial for narrating past events.
- Conditional Clauses: "Even though the weather looked a little questionable..." This introduces contrast and is commonly used to express uncertainty or conditions.
- Descriptive Language: Phrases like "the sky was gray" and "it felt like it might rain" show how adjectives can create vivid imagery.
- Use of Adverbs: "At first, everything was great." Adverbs like "at first" help set the scene and provide context.
- Common Expressions: "Grabbed my headphones, put on some music..." This showcases informal and conversational language.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While practicing with this video, be mindful of certain words and sounds that might pose challenges. Here are some common pronunciation traps to watch out for:
- “Questionable”: Many learners mispronounce this word. The correct pronunciation places emphasis on the first syllable: QUES-tion-able.
- “Familiar”: The second syllable should be pronounced distinctly; it can often sound like “fam-il-yer” when spoken rapidly.
- Intonation on “even though”: Pay attention to the rise and fall in your voice as you practice this phrase, ensuring you maintain a natural flow.
- “Headphones”: Some may struggle with blending sounds. It should sound like hɛd-fōnz.
- General Rhythm: Maintain the same pace as the speaker to ensure your speech flows smoothly. This is key in both shadow speak and during IELTS speaking practice.
By focusing on these aspects during your practice, you will master the finer points of American English pronunciation and enhance your overall speaking skills.
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.
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