Shadowing means speaking at the same time as a recording, a fraction of a second behind, like a shadow. It trains rhythm, stress and linking, the things that are hardest to learn from a table. It is also the one exercise on this page that works for any level, because you choose the material.
How to shadow
- Choose a short recording (30 to 60 seconds) that you understand about 80% of. Slow, clear speech is best at the start.
- Listen twice while reading the transcript. Mark the stressed words.
- Play it again and speak with it, half a second behind. Copy the rhythm and the tune, not only the words.
- Repeat five times. Each time, try to be closer to the speaker.
- Record yourself once and listen to your voice next to the original. Write down one thing to improve.
Practice script
No recording at hand? Say these lines out loud. The stressed words are in capitals: make them longer and louder, and say the small words quickly and softly.
Could you SAY that aGAIN, a bit more SLOWly?
Is there a BANK near HERE?
I'd LIKE a cup of COFfee, please.
What TIME does the TRAIN to LONdon LEAVE?
I've been LEARNing English for TWO years.
That's a REALly good IDea!
Keep it short. Five minutes a day with one recording beats one hour a week. Change the recording when you can shadow it smoothly.