Shadowing Practice: TOO SHY TO SPEAK: How to practice speaking skills when you’re introverted - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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So you're introverted, but you just need to speak out to practice your English skills or any other languages that are learning.
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So you're introverted, but you just need to speak out to practice your English skills or any other languages that are learning.
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How do you go about that?
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In this video Let's just assume that you have found a place where you can start speaking your target language it could be a class it could be a discussion group.
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It could be a group of friends that you made just to practice this target language, whatever it is.
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Let's just assume that you have a place to speak but despite already finding a place where you can already speak, you just find it very hard to speak out because you're just so shy, maybe your introverted.
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Maybe you were just too nervous or whatever.
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So, in this video, I want to give you some tips on how you can overcome this one shift the focus.
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So one of the reasons why you're probably nervous and you're too shy to speak out is probably because you are thinking out of fear, you're thinking that people are going to judge you.
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People are going to make fun of you.
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People are going to think you're accent is weird.
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People are going to think you're stupid etc The truth is, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to actually think about you and the hard truth, which is actually a good thing for you.
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Is that you're not special, everyone else is going through the same process.
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Everyone else is also afraid to look bad and most of the time people are probably also afraid that you might judge them for their language skills etc. so just shift the focus from thinking that people will think you're stupid to actually focusing on the content of your message.
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So, the only thing that you need to focus on when you speak out is how do I deliver my message clearly, so that other people can understand it.
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number two prepare beforehand.
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so if you know you're going to be in a situation where you're going to speak out, prepare, especially if you know that you're a shy person, that you're going to feel anxious when you speak out, I really recommend you to take some time to prepare mentally or even physically before the session starts.
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So let's say you found this conversation class and it starts everyday at 3 p.m.
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so for at least a whole day or even like a couple of hours before Prepare!
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and how do you prepare exactly?
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So for every person is different for me in order to prepare myself to actually speak out.
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I'm going to get as much input as possible.
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So let's say a couple of hours before or maybe the night before, I will be watching a movie in the target language or I would even try to come up with dialogues in my head.
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When I go about my day may be I can just read a book in the language.
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It's up to you.
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And the reason why I need enough input to prepare is to warm up the mode of the target language in my head.
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For example, if I always go through my day in English and then I know that I'm going to have to speak French at 3 p.m. everyday.
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So this means that the English mode and the French mode are fighting against each other.
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So giving myself enough input in French is going to strengthen the French mode and when the French mode is strengthen in my head, it's just a lot easier for me to get it out as output, to speak out.
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So that is how I prepare normally, and it always works.
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whenever I know I'm going to speak French, and then I watch a series or a video beforehand The French mode just comes out a lot more naturally.
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However, this is just my way.
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People usually prepare in different ways, maybe you can give yourself a pep talk before your session.
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Maybe you can take a deep breath.
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You can meditate you can practice.
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You can dance to music to feel more energized.
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You can exercise to make yourself feel confident.
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Whatever it is, you know best how you can prepare yourself to get better.
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Number three lower your expectations of yourself.
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So one of the reasons why you're probably nervous and you get anxious before you speak is probably because you have too high of an expectation about yourself.
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I need to have the perfect accent.
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I need to use difficult vocabulary to sound smart.
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I shouldn't made this kind of grammatical mistake when I speak out.
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So forget all of that.
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Giving yourself too much expectation is going to be counterproductive.
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I can say this with confidence because I go through this problem every single week whenever I want to record a video, whenever I have too much expectation with myself.
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Like I need to get it perfect on the first take, I need to be able to do this video within a 20 minute period.
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I should remember all of my points and then I'm just going to have to look at the camera all the time so that I don't have to do jump cuts in my video.
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So actually, giving all of these expectations on myself, high expectations on myself, is actually going to make me a lot more nervous.
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And I will end up messing up the script strumbling on my words.
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And yeah, so, don't expect too much of yourself again, like I said in point number one.
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Focus on the message.
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What do you need to deliver in your message?
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And how can you make this as clear as possible to your target audience to your conversational partner, this is the only expectation.
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You need to have for yourself whenever you speak out other stuff?
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They're going to think I'm stupid.
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I need to have a perfect accent.
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I shouldn't make grammatical mistakes that doesn't work.
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That's going to make you even more nervous.
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And hence you're going to paralyze when you speak out when you put too much pressure on yourself.
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So those are the three tips that I think can help you feel a lot less nervous when you speak out.
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So I hope you guys like this video and I hope they help you a little bit.
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If you like this video and make sure to give it a thumbs up, and subscribe if you haven't already.
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As usual, I will see you next week in another video until then take care.
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And babai~

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Context & Background

In today's increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively in English is essential. However, many individuals face challenges when it comes to speaking, especially if they are introverted. In the video "TOO SHY TO SPEAK: How to practice speaking skills when you’re introverted," the speaker addresses this common struggle. The speaker provides practical tips for overcoming shyness and engaging in language practice, emphasizing the significance of preparation and shifting one's focus away from fear and judgment.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Can you help me with this?” - A polite way to seek assistance in conversation.
  • “I’m still learning, so please be patient with me.” - An honest acknowledgment of your language journey that encourages understanding.
  • “What do you think about…?” - This phrase invites others to share their opinions, fostering dialogue.
  • “I’d love to hear more!” - Expressing enthusiasm about a speaker's topic can enhance engagement.
  • “Can you repeat that, please?” - A useful phrase to clarify understanding and keep the conversation flowing smoothly.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively apply the insights from this video and enhance your English speaking skills, consider using the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to spoken English and then repeating what you hear, which is a powerful way to improve English pronunciation and fluency.

Here's a simple, step-by-step guide on how to practice:

  1. Select a video: Choose a relevant video on YouTube that focuses on everyday English conversations or topics of interest. When looking to learn English with YouTube, ensure the content resonates with your needs.
  2. Listen and absorb: Begin by listening to a short segment of the video. Pay attention to the intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation of the words.
  3. Repeat after the speaker: Use the shadowing technique by mimicking the speaker. Concentrate on how they pronounce each word, making sure to follow their pace.
  4. Record yourself: After a few repetitions, record your voice. This can help you identify areas for improvement in your speech.
  5. Self-assess: Compare your recording with the original video, focusing on aspects like your pronunciation, rhythm, and clarity. This will provide insights into your speaking abilities and how to blend it into your IELTS speaking practice.

Applying this shadow speech method not only builds confidence but also equips you with practical speaking skills to communicate effectively in various settings. Remember, your journey in mastering English will be enriched by overcoming the challenges you face while speaking.

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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