Shadowing Practice: Why Smart People Struggle With Imposter Syndrome (And How to Fix It) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
261 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
If you've always been the smart one, the high achiever, the go-to person, the one that people turn to for the answers, you would think that confidence would just come easily, naturally, but it doesn't.
2
In fact, I found that some of the most brilliant people I've supported or mentored, the Fortune 500 execs, the PhDs, the founders, they are often the ones most consumed by self-doubt.
3
So if you've ever doubted yourself, if you've ever felt like you don't deserve to be where you are, or felt like your confidence hasn't quite caught up to your competence or experience, this is for you.
4
In this episode, I'll walk you through three surprising ways
5
that your intelligence might actually be sabotaging your self-belief and three practical strategies to build self-trust,
6
to own your success, and finally feel like you belong in the room.
7
The first thing we need to do is get clear on what we're dealing with.
8
Imposter syndrome.
9
How many people do you think have actually experienced imposter syndrome?
10
A study from the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that up to 82% of people, Yes, that's 8 out of 10 experienced it at some point in their lives.
11
So let's look at the real reason confidence drops when competence rises.
12
The more you know, the more aware you become of what you don't know.
13
This was the core finding of researchers David Dunning and Justin Kruger.
14
They discovered that people with low ability tend to overestimate themselves because they don't yet know enough to realize what they're missing.
15
But as your skills grow, so does your awareness you start spotting nuance, you see the complexity, you recognize the gaps.
16
And ironically, that's the moment your confidence dips, even as your competence is rising.
17
At the start of anything new, maybe a job, a new business, a skill, your confidence is weirdly high.
18
It's being on what researchers call the peak of Mount Stupid.
19
You don't know enough to feel intimidated.
20
But then it hits you.
21
You suddenly realize how much there is to learn and your confidence takes a nosedive into the valley of despair.
22
Now that's the rough part and that's the part where most people question themselves.
23
It's also the part where most people give up or quit.
24
If you stay the course, if you keep practicing, learning, applying, you start climbing again.
25
And that's called being on the slope of enlightenment.
26
And then eventually you will reach the plateau of sustainability.
27
And that's where real confidence lives.
28
That's the kind that's built on earned experience.
29
So for most, confidence rises with competence once you get past the peak of Mount Stupid, of course.
30
But here is where imposter syndrome actually flips the script.
31
If you feel like a fraud, it's not because you're incompetent.
32
It's usually because your confidence is stuck in the valley of despair while your objective competence is soaring.
33
So you are getting more experience, you're learning, you're growing, but your confidence is not growing with it.
34
So you've become almost so good that you can see what others miss.
35
But instead of feeling accomplished, it feels like luck.
36
It feels like you've tricked people, like it could all fall apart at any second.
37
And that was me.
38
And honestly, sometimes it still is.
39
There was a point in my career when I thought maybe another degree will finally shut down the doubt.
40
So I did an MBA to prove that I was capable.
41
I started my PhD to feel like I was of value and still the voice came back.
42
When I was a PhD candidate, I would sit in rooms full of brilliant minds
43
and immediately felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be there.
44
Even though I had co-founded a global company, I'd worked with Fortune 500s, I'd built an audience of millions, but the moment I was around academics and professors,
45
I felt like I absolutely didn't belong.
46
But what opened my eyes wasn't so much my experience, it was watching the other PhD candidates in the room.
47
These were some of the most accomplished people that I'd ever met because getting into a top doctoral program isn't exactly easy.
48
And yet I could see it.
49
I could see in how they were hesitating to speak up, how they were over explaining to sound smart.
50
They were all trying to feel like they belonged to.
51
And part of it is because the more competent and intelligent someone is, the higher their internal standard for what counts as good enough.
52
They're also usually acutely aware of what they don't know and what they haven't mastered yet, and that's called metacognitive awareness.
53
It's actually a form of intellectual humility.
54
So if you have ever felt like a fraud, despite your track record of high performance, you are not broken.
55
You are not lacking.
56
Your brain is just doing exactly what a smart brain does.
57
It sees the gaps and it's aiming high.
58
This episode is brought to you by Big Trust.
59
Lewis Howes shared, the moments that matter most are usually the ones when doubt gets the loudest.
60
Big Trust is the playbook for rising above it and making the most of those moments.
61
I'll tell you more at the end.
62
Now, back to the episode.
63
So now that we understand why it happens, let's talk about how this shows up and what to do instead.
64
First, perfectionism.
65
Most high achievers that I've trained or worked with sit in what I call the perfectionism prison.
66
If it's not flawless, it doesn't count.
67
If there's any room for criticism, they'd rather not try.
68
It wasn't that they had excessively high standards, I mean that was part of it, but what I was seeing is that the standards that they set and their behavior was mostly driven by one thing,
69
and that one thing was fear.
70
There was fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of not being enough.
71
And the problem with this kind of perfectionism is that it leads to burnout, to procrastination, and a constant sense that nothing you do is ever good enough.
72
So you end up more anxious, you criticize yourself more, and you have lower self-esteem.
73
So this brings us to strategy number one, the good enough protocol.
74
This is something I've implemented into my own life and it's completely changed how I make decisions, how I respond when things don't go to plan and the kinds of standards that I set for myself.
75
To understand what makes this strategy so effective, you first need to understand that there are two types of decision makers.
76
We've got satisficers and maximizers.
77
I used to be a maximizer.
78
I used to need to explore every option, to weigh every possibility, to optimize every outcome.
79
I used to chase the best.
80
I was constantly getting stuck in overthinking, over-analysis, self-doubt, and it was utterly exhausting.
81
This is what it feels like to be a maximizer because you are never satisfied.
82
But then I learned about the power of aiming for good enough.
83
And this is a satisficer's mindset.
84
Far from being lazy or that they can't be bothered to have high standards, this mindset really values progress over perfection.
85
So satisfizers make a decision once it meets the need, and then they move forward, they don't get stuck, they're not aiming for the best.
86
They're aiming for whatever satisfies the objective, and the objective is progress or growth.
87
Research shows that satisfizers tend to be less anxious, they can make decisions faster and they stick to them, and importantly, they're more content with their choices.
88
And when it comes to imposter syndrome, that really matters because imposter thoughts
89
and perfectionism often go hand in hand they are like best buddies you feel like you're not really qualified
90
so you try to overcompensate by making everything flawless so
91
that you're never found out
92
and this is where the close enough protocol becomes an absolute
93
lifeline it is a mindset it's an approach it's something
94
that i encourage you to literally say out loud
95
but just make sure people aren't around you so you say it out loud if you're by yourself.
96
Let's say a presentation didn't go exactly as you wanted.
97
Close enough to land the message.
98
Your workout wasn't as intense as you'd planned.
99
Close enough to build consistency.
100
Did the email feel a little awkward?
101
Close enough to show you care.
102
These two words, close enough, are a pattern interrupt for the perfectionist.
103
They challenge the lie that if something isn't perfect, it's worthless.
104
And I repeat these words in my head constantly.
105
Because perfectionism is often driven by what's called loss aversion, which is this fear that small imperfections will lead to big gigantic consequences.
106
Like if you don't nail how you facilitate your team meeting, all of your teammates are going to think that you're incompetent, your manager will stop trusting that you're capable,
107
and then you will be taken off your top client's account.
108
None of that is true.
109
It's just a story that you've made up in your head.
110
But when you shift to close enough, you're guiding yourself into satisficing mode.
111
It frees up mental bandwidth and gives you permission to move forward.
112
It keeps you showing up.
113
So for non-critical tasks, intentionally lower your standards.
114
Think of it as strategic imperfection.
115
Now, of course, high standards do have a time and place, like if you're making a life or death decision, if you are a pilot mid-flight or defusing a bomb.
116
But in most areas of life and work, it just slows you down.
117
As I always say to our students, done is better than perfect.
118
Execution beats obsession.
119
You can always improve next time, but only if you give yourself permission to actually start.
120
The second way imposter syndrome shows up is the comparison complex.
121
Ever walked into a room full of high performers and instantly felt like you're the least impressive one there?
122
It's because when you're surrounded by other high achievers, it is easy to feel like you're falling behind.
123
No matter how well you're actually doing, you start measuring your worth by what others are achieving.
124
As humans, we're wired to compare.
125
It's one of the primary ways that we figure out where we stand in a group.
126
You scan the room for cues.
127
Who's ahead?
128
Who's behind?
129
Am I doing enough?
130
Festinger's social comparison theory goes into a lot more detail about how and why we do this.
131
But the thing is, when you're surrounded by high performers, and let's be honest, if you're watching this, you probably are, your brain doesn't go, wow, what an inspiring environment.
132
It goes, everyone here is so much smarter, more accomplished, and more confident than I am.
133
And it doesn't inspire you, it makes you feel like you're completely behind, like you're inferior.
134
That's the comparison complex.
135
But what makes this even more damaging is how we compare.
136
We don't just measure credentials or output, we start comparing internal feelings to external appearances.
137
What does that mean?
138
Well, we assume everyone else feels confident, composed, and capable, while we're the only ones second guessing ourselves.
139
The assumption is what psychologists call pluralistic ignorance.
140
You believe that you're the only one who feels uncertain because no one else is saying they are.
141
There was a 2020 systematic review and it found that this is one of the defining features of imposter syndrome.
142
People feel isolated in their self-doubt, even when everyone else around them feels the same.
143
So instead of seeing your strengths, you fixate on your perceived gaps.
144
And then here is what else happens.
145
If you're genuinely competent, you often undervalue your strengths.
146
Because what is easy for you feels obvious.
147
You assume it must be easy for everyone else too.
148
So what do we do about this?
149
And this brings us to strategy number two, the evidence collection method.
150
If your inner critic is fueled by feelings, then you need to fight back with facts.
151
You need to start collecting evidence, not just once, but systematically.
152
So here's how we encourage our students to do it.
153
Create a folder on your phone or your computer called Confidence Bank, or you can call it whatever you like.
154
Screenshot any praise, kind emails, a project that you're proud of.
155
Save it to this folder.
156
Every time that imposter voice pipes up, Open the folder.
157
Let reality speak louder than your insecurity.
158
Imposter thoughts thrive on subjective self-assessment, so how you felt you performed, rather than objective outcomes, what actually happened.
159
Evidence is what helps close that gap.
160
And over time, this practice trains your brain to see yourself more clearly, more accurately, like you're holding up a mirror that actually reflects the truth,
161
rather than one that's distorted by fear or self-doubt.
162
I've personally found this hugely valuable.
163
I keep a folder in my phone's photo app, and it's filled with screenshots of emails and comments and messages from people who have been impacted by our work.
164
On tough days, I'll go back to it, and I'll have a look at the real impact that we're having.
165
And that is my evidence that my work makes a difference.
166
So find your version of that.
167
And here is something most people don't actually expect.
168
Research from MIT's Basima Tufik found that imposter thoughts, while they're uncomfortable, we all know they are, they can actually enhance your interpersonal effectiveness.
169
They can make you better with people.
170
And that's a key ingredient in career success.
171
In one of her studies, medical trainees who had more frequent imposter thoughts were rated by patients as having better bedside manner and higher interpersonal skills.
172
Why?
173
Because they were more attentive, more thoughtful, and more attuned to others' emotions.
174
Now, in another study, job candidates who were primed to feel imposter thoughts actually asked more thoughtful questions during informal interviews,
175
and were seen as having stronger people skills.
176
So while these imposter thoughts can feel really heavy, and they might feel like a weakness, they can actually make you more other-oriented,
177
more empathetic, more likable, more connected.
178
And that's why gathering evidence matters so much, because it not only reminds you of what you've achieved, it also reconnects you to the impact that you've had on others.
179
It's proof that your doubts don't define you, your actions do.
180
Now to the third way that imposter syndrome often shows up in high potential people.
181
It's through the intelligence anxiety loop.
182
This is a vicious cycle that I see constantly.
183
So high intelligence often leads to greater awareness of complexity.
184
You're aware of what you don't know and how hard something might be.
185
Because of that awareness, you see more ways that things could go wrong.
186
That recognition leads to more anxiety.
187
that anxiety leads to lower confidence and lower confidence leads to more overthinking
188
and then boom you're back at square one smart people often overthink
189
because they can't see the full picture
190
but over analysis can trick you into paralysis so if you find
191
that you're highly anxious here's what i recommend you do this is strategy number three the spiral interrupt technique
192
when your brain starts spiraling say out loud this is my brain doing its job i'm safe to act anyway.
193
This phrase does two powerful things.
194
One, it creates separation between you and your thoughts.
195
This is what cognitive researchers call diffusion.
196
You stop fusing with the thought as if it's absolute truth, and you see it as just a mental event.
197
Two, it re-engages your agency.
198
You remind yourself that safety and action can coexist, that fear doesn't have to leave for you to actually move forward.
199
Then, don't try to fix the whole thing.
200
Don't aim to make the anxiety vanish, just take one small step.
201
Because action is what signals to your nervous system, I'm okay, we're not in danger, we can handle this.
202
And that's how you interrupt that loop.
203
You're not fighting your fear, but you're gently moving through it.
204
And that is a powerful way to build your own momentum.
205
If you take away one thing from this episode, let it be this.
206
You don't have to already know everything to feel confident.
207
Something that I've observed since the beginning of my career, when I worked in corporate law, when I moved into banking, when I started training leaders all over the world.
208
It's that the most successful and happy people don't have all the answers all the time.
209
And they also didn't pretend to.
210
They had something called intellectual humility, and it's powerful.
211
It's a very pragmatic awareness of your current experience level, of your existing skill set, and importantly, of your gaps.
212
It's a metacognitive virtue where you acknowledge your limits and you embrace your fallibility.
213
And I love this because it's all about honoring that you're human and with that comes learning.
214
When you admit, I don't know everything and I don't know how to do everything, what you're doing is freeing yourself from the pressure of needing to get everything right first go.
215
There's a story I love of the actor Jason Siegel.
216
You've probably heard of him or know him for his role in How I Met Your Mother.
217
He's an experienced actor, but when he was directing his first show, Dispatches from elsewhere, he was overwhelmed with the feeling that he was there by mistake.
218
And instead of hiding his anxiety, he owned it.
219
And he shared it with the crew and the cast.
220
He said to them, this is my first time directing.
221
If I do anything that bugs you, let me know.
222
It's not intentional.
223
I'm doing this for the first time.
224
And in an interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, he said, it was freeing.
225
You say it out loud and it breaks the ice.
226
So we can see that imposter syndrome and intellectual humility are almost like being at opposite ends of a spectrum.
227
Where your imposter thoughts would say, I don't know this, so I must be a fraud, intellectual humility says, I don't know this, and that's an opportunity to grow.
228
Where imposter feelings are driven by a fear of being exposed, see gaps in knowledge as proof of inadequacy, are obsessed with proving worth,
229
and avoid mistakes at all costs, intellectual humility is grounded in curiosity and self-respect.
230
It sees gaps as natural and expected.
231
It's focused on learning and evolving.
232
And it accepts mistakes as part of the process.
233
Because I will tell you this much, if you're in a position where you know everything and how to do everything all the time, you are not growing.
234
You're stagnating.
235
Every single person who has ever started a new role, founded a new business, tried a new challenge, or stepped outside of their comfort zone has felt uncertainty.
236
That's not a sign that something's wrong with you.
237
It's a signal that growth is happening.
238
Self-doubt doesn't shout.
239
It whispers and it keeps smart people playing small.
240
You can't positive think your way past it.
241
You have to rewire it.
242
Big trust is the result of five years of PhD research
243
and over 100 studies and they all point to one powerful truth.
244
Your career satisfaction, your earning potential, even your happiness are shaped by four core attributes.
245
When one of them is weak, self-doubt gets louder.
246
Strengthen them and everything changes.
247
Go to bigtrustbook.com to order and grab the exclusive bonuses while they're still available.
248
So here is your challenge.
249
Pick one of these three strategies and apply it this week.
250
Maybe it's using close enough or starting your confidence bank or breaking the anxiety spiral just with one small action.
251
And then at the end of the week, ask yourself, did I feel even 1% more confident?
252
If yes, fantastic.
253
Layer on the next one.
254
And if not, keep at it.
255
And if you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe because I share practical science-backed tools to help you build real confidence, not just the kind that looks good on paper.
256
And tell me in the comments, what is the biggest confidence challenge that you're facing right now?
257
If you're wanting to go deeper on confidence, I have this episode right here, which is from a few years back.
258
So yes, I will look a little younger, but it's one of our highest viewed because it focuses on how to look more confident.
259
So of course, feeling confident is one thing, but then making sure you're conveying that to others is a whole different ball game
260
and it's also a very important piece of the puzzle.
261
Thanks for joining me and I look forward to seeing you in the next one.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
📺 Same Channel
B277
Struggling to speak up in meetings? Try this next time. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B16
Professional Communication 101: Drop “I think…” @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B24
Which type of charisma do you have? @Dr.ShadeZahrai on The @melrobbins Podcast
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B25
What comes first: Confidence or action?
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B116
Do this for 1 minute and you’ll have better articulation. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C13
The Easier Way to A Better Life – 4 Shifts that Change Everything
Working Adults
B23
You are not your thoughts.
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
The Science of Self-Doubt, Explained in Under a Minute. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B221
A dance class changed my life. But it wasn’t about the dance class… From my chat on VirginRadioUK
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B215
4 Powerful Reframes for Overthinkers | @Dr.ShadeZahrai #shorts
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B233
Get them to say yes more often… by giving them an out. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B254
Here’s why you’re feeling so stuck. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
Luck isn’t random; it’s earned.
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B223
You are not your doubts. @[email protected]@Cod@CodieSanchezCTdca@PodcastBigDeal
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
You rub off on people. @Dr.ShadeZahrai
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
Complaining can keep you stuck. @Dr.ShadeZahrai @melrobbins
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
How you Speak to Yourself MATTERS | @shadezahrai #shorts
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
The Top 1% Don’t Leave This to Chance (3 Habits to Adopt Now)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
5 Ways to Use Charisma for Standout First Impressions
Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students
C15
4 Hacks to Appear ‘Smarter’ at Work and Elevate your Credibility - Business Communication 101
Business EnglishWorking Adults
✨ Recommend Video
C12
63 sentences
Lean Into Imposter Syndrome, Don't Give In to It
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
307 sentences
4 Things That Are Keeping You From Being a High Performer
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B27
73 sentences
How to Never Run Out of Things to Say
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
323 sentences
12 Signs You’re Way More Intelligent Than You Realize
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B211 sentences
The Insecurity Trap (And How to Beat It)
American AccentBusiness EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2122
5 sentences
Impostor Syndrome #englishfluentstories #stopthinking
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
140 sentences
How to Fight Perfectionism - Study Tips
Business EnglishHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B22
12 sentences
Why do some people SUCCEED?
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B256
44 sentences
3 tips to boost your confidence-TED-Ed
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B23
245 sentences
How To Become Dangerously Self-Educated (with AI)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Why Smart People Struggle With Imposter Syndrome”. This video has 261 sentences and 3494 words to shadow. The speech runs for 18:50. The speaker talks fast, about 186 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 83% 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
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| impostor noun | /ɪmˈpɑstɚ/ | Someone who attempts to deceive by using an assumed name or identity. |
| perfectionism noun | /pɚˈfɛk.ʃə.nɪ.zm̩/ | An unwillingness to settle for anything less than perfection. |
| competence noun | /ˈkɑm.pə.təns/ | The quality or state of being competent, i.e. able or suitable for a general role. |
| humility noun | /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/ | The characteristic of being humble; humbleness in character and behavior. |
| folder noun | /ˈfoʊldɚ/ | An organizer that papers are kept in, usually with an index tab, to be stored as a single unit in a filing cabinet. |
| interrupt verb | /ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/ | To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking. |
| mindset noun | /ˈmaɪn(d)ˌsɛt/ | A way of thinking; an attitude or opinion, especially a habitual one. |
| researcher noun | /ˈɹiˌsɝ.t͡ʃɚ/ | One who researches. |
| accomplish verb | /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/ | To finish successfully. |
| anxious adjective | /ˈæŋkʃəs/ | Nervous and worried. |
| achiever noun | /əˈt͡ʃiːvɚ/ | One who achieves something. |
| interpersonal adjective | Between two or more people. | |
| maximizer noun | A person who or thing that maximizes. | |
| metacognitive adjective | Pertaining to metacognition. | |
| overthink verb | To think or analyze too much. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| move forward verb | To cause to make progress. |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
| fall behind verb | To be late (for a regular event) |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. |
| get past verb | To continue around a blockage; to get around (something); to surpass something that is in the way. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How many people do you think have actually experienced imposter syndrome?
- You don't know enough to feel intimidated.
- I felt like I absolutely didn't belong.
- I'll tell you more at the end.
- We've got satisficers and maximizers.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to be · used to need · used to chase |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've always been · I've supported · you've ever doubted |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is stuck · are not broken · is brought |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | aversion, which is · one who feels · people who have |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 113 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/, strengthen /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: perfectionism /pɚˈfɛk.ʃə.nɪ.zm̩/, accomplish /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/, anxious /ˈæŋkʃəs/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/, vicious /ˈvɪʃəs/
- Long words — get the stress right: perfectionism /pɚˈfɛk.ʃə.nɪ.zm̩/, humility /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/, incompetent /ɪnˈkɒmpətənt/, complexity /kəmˈplɛk.sɪ.ti/, importantly /ɪmˈpɔɹ.tənt.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 impostor, perfectionism, competence.
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.