Shadowing Practice: The English Habit That Helps You Speak Better - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Make sure you stay strong with the basics.
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Make sure you stay strong with the basics.
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Hi, Vicki Kelty here with another episode of the Language Learning Report Card Podcast.
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My study hits were I decided to see if I could come up with a basic present symbol
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description of the characters in a TV show I was watching.
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And I just, I don't know,
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I just randomly decided to do it.
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I was on a walk and I said,
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can I describe the, where these characters are from,
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what they look like, what they typically wear in the episodes,
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their family and just anything in that kind of ballpark and
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and I did I did I was really happy with all the things
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that I was able to describe and some things
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that I had to look up
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because I was like oh I'm not quite sure how to say this oh did I say this correctly
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and yeah it was just a really fun little experiment.
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And so I say that
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because I think it's really good practice for us to make sure that we have these basics down pat.
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And I have another episode that is a guided practice for you so that you can,
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along with me accompanying you,
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do your own little guided practice to review these nice little basic things.
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Obviously, when you're a beginner in a language,
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it makes complete sense that you want to have these basics,
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like you want to be able to maneuver your way through present simple conjugations,
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for example, really smoothly, and it's easy for you to do.
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But something that we may forget to do is to go back to those basics when we get to a higher level,
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because we're so focused on advancing in the language and keeping
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that base strong is just as important as what are the cool new things we can do in the language
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and i mean that's true for the beginner as well with the language
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because you're also trying to advance so having that base
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which is the basic things that you can do that are common to do in the language,
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which with English, if you can maneuver your way through present simple and past simple,
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then you are good to go for so many situations.
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I just want you to remember that having a strong base is going to help you feel confident in the language,
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going to help you communicate really smoothly and comfortably in English with other people.
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And I highly recommend, highly recommend that you keep your base strong.
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So definitely check out the other episode where I give you the guided practice
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so that you can come back to that for the days when you're like,
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oh wait, can I just give a general description of somebody from a TV show that I watched recently?
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could I give a general description of Vicky right now as she is
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or like what what other information do I know about Vicky do I know where she's from
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and do I know where she lives do I know um
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how old she is probably not you can guess in my 20s no just kidding
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um uh obviously she's funny so you can use
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that as a descriptive
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and yeah like just I mean you can also describe yourself you don't have to just describe other people
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but I think sometimes practicing the description of other people is a good test for you to do for yourself so
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give it a try.
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That's your piece of homework.
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Just kidding.
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I am such a joker today.
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But yeah, another thing you can do is to take my fluency checklist
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and go through all the points on it and see how you feel for that grammar section,
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because that's where your present simple and path symbol are going to be located on the checklist and see where you're at.
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If that is something that you are giving yourself a check for, then awesome.
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And you can take a look at the other points on the checklist.
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There are some activities to strengthen any areas that you want to spend more time with,
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including the grammar section, if that's one of them.
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But you can get that for free.
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That is my English gift for you,
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which is why you can find it at vickiekelte.com slash English dash gift.
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Or just head to vickiekelte.com and you will find it there where you can pick up your own free fluency checklist.
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I hope that you have a wonderful day practicing all of your basics in the language and keeping your base strong.
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This is something that I mention in a lot of episodes.
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So I know that if you've listened to more episodes of this podcast,
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you have definitely heard me talk about this before.
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and it will not be the last time that I talk about it
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because we sometimes need to be reminded to go back
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and practice the basics because we move on to other things and we forget,
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oh right, I need to keep reviewing those basics and not forget about them either,
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even as I'm progressing in the language that I'm learning.
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So that's why I share it for you and I hope that you also find it useful and a good reminder.
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Happy learning and have a fabulous day.
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Bye.

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Context & Background

In the latest episode of the Language Learning Report Card Podcast, Vicki Kelty emphasizes the importance of mastering basic English language skills to enhance fluency and communication. While focusing on advanced language techniques is crucial, she reminds learners not to neglect the foundational elements, such as present simple and past simple tenses. By maintaining a solid base in these essentials, learners can express themselves more confidently and comfortably in everyday situations. Vicki shares a practical activity she engaged in, describing characters from a TV show, highlighting that even at advanced levels, revisiting the fundamentals can be both enjoyable and beneficial for language growth.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Can I describe the characters? - This phrase encourages learners to practice using descriptive language when speaking about people or situations.
  • Where are they from? - A key question for gathering personal details and fostering discussions.
  • What do they typically wear? - This phrase aids in discussing appearances and contributes to enriching vocabulary.
  • Do I know where she lives? - A phrase useful for asking about someone's background or life.
  • Let's try describing ourselves. - This invitation promotes self-reflection and personal expression in English.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique through Vicki's podcast episode, follow the steps outlined below for optimal english speaking practice:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by listening to the entire podcast episode. Pay attention to the tone, intonation, and pronunciation of Vicki's words. This will provide a solid foundation for shadowing.
  2. Select Key Phrases: Identify phrases or sentences that resonate with you or that you find challenging. Focus on those to improve your pronunciation and fluency as you practice.
  3. Practice Shadowing: Choose a short segment of the audio. Play it, pause after each phrase, and repeat what you hear. Ensure you're mimicking Vicki's intonation and rhythm. This is a great way to engage with the shadowspeak technique.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowing attempts. This allows you to hear your progress and areas for improvement.
  5. Reflect and Repeat: After completing the shadowing practice, reflect on what you've learned. Repeat the process with different segments or phrases, gradually advancing to more complex descriptions as your confidence grows.

By regularly practicing with the shadowing technique and immersing yourself in content like this from YouTube, you can significantly enhance your English speaking abilities. Remember, reinforcing the basics is just as vital as expanding your vocabulary and grammar knowledge.

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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