Shadowing Practice: Your Step by Step French Study Plan for 2024 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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This is it, I'm learning French this year.
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Perhaps this is your resolution for this January 2024, but that seems a bit vague as a target.
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How can you really learn French?
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So to kick off the new year, I've come up with a clear, well-defined plan of attack, whatever your level may be.
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Hi! Hi! Hi!
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Welcome to another episode of French Mornings.
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If you're learning French, you're in the right place.
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I'm Elisa and she's Chloé and I'm here to help you improve your French and speak more naturally.
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Today, we're back for a video that will be very useful for you this new year, drawing up your plan of attack for speaking French in 2024.
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And we're going to place particular emphasis on the passage from the beginner level A1 / A2 to the intermediate level B1 / B2 and see what makes the difference at these two levels.
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And you can find all of this in the special PDF of this video, where you'll find a summary of the video and even some short exercises.
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So make yourself comfortable, activate the subtitles if you need them and let's start!
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But before we start this video, can I have a drum roll please?
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I am delighted to announce that enrolments for my Objectif Français B2 course are now open.
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This is the course that will take you from : "I can have basic conversations in French" to "Speaking French has become second nature." In this course, you'll find authentic conversations between me and those closest to me.
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These conversations are interactive and you'll see expressions, vocabulary and pronunciation tips appear on the screen.
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As well as that, the course also includes my famous role plays.
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These are videos in which I talk to you as I would a friend.
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But that's not all there is to this course, there are also interactive exercises, lessons with lots of content, an online community and much more.
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As this is a new course, there is a special introductory offer of -$130.
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To register, click on the link in the description, but hurry, registrations close on the 31st January.
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Imagine learning French as an epic video game.
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There are levels to unlock and big bosses to face, the subjunctive.
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Ah shit, here we go again.
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And rewards to boot.
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So what exactly do we learn at the A1 / A2 level?
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First of all, don't try to do too much too quickly.
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We'll look at essential vocabulary, grammar and conjugation at this level.
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In vocabulary, you'll need to master greetings: hello, thank you, goodbye, etc.
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Moods : I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I'm tired, I'm scared, for example Numbers up to 100, days of the week and months.
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You'll also need to know your everyday vocabulary.
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For example: wake up, have breakfast, brush my teeth, etc.
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When it comes to conjugation, you need to master the basics.
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The basic tenses are : The present "je suis (I am)" The past tense "j'ai été (I was/have been)" The near future "je vais être (I'm going to be)" The future "je serai (I will be)" and the imperfect "j'étais (I was/I was doing..)" and finally, grammar, You'll need to, at the very least, master the definite articles: le, la, les.
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Indefinite articles: un, une, des.
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Possessive adjectives: mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, etc.
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And prepositions of place : dans (in), sur (on), à côté (next to), etc.
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In fact, you'll find all of these basics in my French Foundation guide, which you can download in description.
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There's even a list of the 150 most frequently used words in French.
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And how do we learn at the A1 / A2 level?
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The beginner level is ideal for learning through fun resources such as games.
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There really are lots of free applications to get you started, and that's great.
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You can test several and choose to continue with the ones that work best for you.
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The aim here is not to achieve a conversational level straight away, but to familiarise yourself with the language and learn your first vocabulary words.
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It's really important to take the time to master the basics because it will give you a good foundation for the future.
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But it's still time to set yourself some goals.
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These objectives must be clear and achievable.
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We could say that we need to give ourselves SMART goals.
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This means, it has to be specific, very precise, measurable and therefore easy to assess.
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It has to be achievable in relation to your starting level, and it has to be possible to achieve it.
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It has to be realistic and it has to be time-bound.
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So we're going to give ourselves a deadline.
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An example might be: "I want to know how to present myself in French in a week's time" or "at the end of the month, I want to know the vocabulary that will allow me to travel in France" and you can set yourself targets for a defined period in three months, in six months, why not in a year?
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In conclusion, who is the 'big boss' to beat for the A1 / A2 level?
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For me, the 'big boss' at the beginner level is pronunciation.
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This is the part that will perhaps be the least easy at first, which will require the most concentration, but it's very important to give yourself a solid foundation for the future.
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On top of that, if you pick up bad pronunciation habits from the beginning, it's going to be very difficult to correct and we won't be able to understand you as well.
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Finally, at the end of level A2, you are expected to be able to understand fairly simple sentences and have a fairly basic conversation.
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Now that you've achieved A1 / A2 level, we're on our way to the B1 / B2 level.
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Aim for level B2, which is the upper intermediate level.
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This is often a stage where many students get discouraged.
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Sometimes it feels like you're never going to reach that moment when you are completely yourself, and can express yourself very fluently in conversation.
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And that's absolutely the goal of my Objectif Français B2 course ; to give you the keys to success.
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Another reminder that if you'd like to register, the link is in the description and registrations close on the 31st of January.
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In the meantime, we're going to see how you can reach this level.
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Even if the aim is to become more at ease in conversation, it's important not to abandon conjugation and grammar. In conjugation, we'll start to tackle more complex tenses such as : The conditional "je serais (I would be)" the dreaded present subjunctive "que je sois" the past perfect "j'avais été (I had been)" and the past conditional "j'aurais été (I would have been)" In terms of grammar, there are a few points that you need to master, such as negation and the COD and COI pronouns.
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The pronouns "en" and "y. The relative pronouns: qui, que, quoi, dont, où.
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There's obviously more to it than that, but it's very important.
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We're continuing to expand our vocabulary.
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At B1 and especially B2 level we're trying to have richer, more detailed conversations.
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This is also the time when you can start concentrating on slang and colloquial expressions.
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You don't have to use them, but you should at least understand them.
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to have conversations with French speakers.
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And obviously, at that level, we're continuing to work on our pronunciation.
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For example, you can do shadowing exercises in which you listen to a conversation in French and then repeat the sentences a bit like a parrot.
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So how do we learn at the intermediate level?
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Now we're going to move from the virtual to reality.
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If you've been learning online and on your own, move into real life, it's going to make a big difference.
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For example, you could join a French conversation club in your city or even on the internet and meet real people.
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You can also start writing in French on topics that interest you or why not keep a diary in French.
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But above all, as I also mentioned in last year's Study Plan video, it's very important to make French a part of your daily life.
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For example, you can change the language of your phone to French, start listening to French radio, watching films and series in French, listening to songs and learning them by heart.
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In short, the idea is really to integrate French as much as possible into all aspects of your daily life.
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So who is the 'big boss' of the intermediate level?
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What's the most difficult thing at this level?
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For me, it's all about practice.
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Honestly, it's pretty easy to get to an A2 level when you're learning a language.
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At the beginning, you progress very quickly and you acquire a small base fairly quickly.
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To achieve an intermediate B1 level, you really have to spend a lot more time studying and to get to an upper-intermediate B2 level, even more time.
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And sometimes that's simply the hardest part: staying on track, without giving up, to keep making progress.
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So that's it, for me, the "big boss" of the intermediate level is really about showing up and practicing. If you manage to be consistent you'll make enormous progress in your learning.
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So don't give up, because now is the time where you can really start to have fun and show who you are in another language.
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And as in any good video game, it's important to get the rewards.
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So, what will your rewards be this year?
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What are the little things that will keep you motivated?
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Why not have a daily reward?
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One reward per day, or one reward per week.
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For example, if you've taken a course or studied for at least ten minutes on an application for example, it could be : "I won't eat breakfast until I've studied for at least ten minutes" or "If I study for at least ten minutes a day this week, I'm treating myself to a restaurant meal" You can also reward yourself when you achieve your goals.
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For example "If I pass the A2 exam, I'm going on a weekend holiday or treating myself to a French cooking workshop." Why not?
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It's really up to you.
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In any case, choose realistic rewards based on what you can do.
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The aim is quite simply to strengthen your passion for French.
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And that's it, your plan for 2024 is ready.
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You can download the PDF of this video in the description.
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And above all, don't forget that learning is a marathon, not a sprint.
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It takes an enormous amount of time.
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So don't compare yourself to the progress of others.
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Go at your own pace, take your time and, above all, enjoy yourself.
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Thank you all for watching this video.
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Another reminder that registrations for Objectif Français B2 end on the 31st of January.
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There are still a few days left to register.
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If you don't yet have the level for the course, in the description I'll leave you a link to my other courses Objectif Français A2 and Objectif Français B1.
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And I'll see you again soon.
About This Lesson
In this lesson, learners will focus on enhancing their speaking skills through the technique of shadow speech, inspired by the strategies discussed in a French language learning video. The emphasis will be on transitioning from casual understanding to conversational fluency in English. In particular, learners will practice vital vocabulary, key grammatical structures, and effective pronunciation techniques necessary for successful communication. The goal is to apply these skills in real-life situations, enabling smoother interactions in English.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Greetings: hello, thank you, goodbye
- Moods: I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I'm tired
- Everyday Actions: wake up, have breakfast, brush my teeth
- Basic Tenses: I am, I was, I'm going to be, I will be, I was doing
- Articles: the, a, my, your
- Prepositions of Place: in, on, next to
Practice Tips
When practicing shadow speech, it’s beneficial to choose a video or audio clip that matches your current English proficiency level, ideally one that includes clear pronunciation and engaging conversation. Start with short phrases or sentences that contain the newly learned vocabulary and practice repeating them along with the speaker. Pay close attention to their pace and intonation, mimicking their rhythm to improve your own pronunciation. This technique, known as shadowspeak, not only enhances your ability to articulate words but also builds your confidence in speaking by allowing you to engage in English speaking practice without the pressure of forgetting vocabulary.
To deepen your learning further, consider setting achievable goals for each practice session. For instance, focus on mastering five new vocabulary items or phrases each week, integrating them into your daily life. This method aligns with established learning techniques, like those used in IELTS speaking practice, where the effectiveness of clear and structured vocabulary use can significantly impact your conversational abilities.
Remember, consistency is key. Regular practice through shadow speech will gradually improve your English pronunciation and fluency, making your conversations in English feel more natural and spontaneous.
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.