How Shadowing Can Help English Learners
Having excellent speaking skills is essential for a learner. One of the techniques used in improving their speaking skills is shadowing. Shadowing is a technique that can be really great in helping learners improve their speaking skills especially when it comes to foreign languages.
Learners with great foundations when it comes to speaking gain a lot of chances to succeed in the future. They will become confident in their respective crafts particularly public relations, mass communications, leadership, and the like.
How does it help?
It usually takes place when listening to a native speaker or a recording and imitating the way they talk particularly their pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and pacing. By carefully copying the speaker, learners can develop better control over their speech and acquire superb fluency and accuracy in the target language.
Here’s how shadowing can help learners improve their speaking skills:
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Shadowing Helps Pronunciation and Intonation
Shadowing gives learners the ability to focus on the correct pronunciation and intonation patterns of the target language. By copying native speakers, learners can understand the specifics of the language’s sounds, stress patterns, and intonation.
As a result, the learners improve their own pronunciation and it reduces the sounds associated to their native language. It will help the learners to ensure that people can understand what they are saying at all times. There is nothing wrong with a little accent but having too much of it might become a problem. It can stop you becoming an great speaker.
Rhythm and Pacing
Shadowing helps learners develop a natural rhythm and pacing in their speech. By copying the timing and cadence of native speakers, learners can understand the flow of the language and avoid sounding robotic or unnatural. This rhythmic practice enhances the overall fluency and coherence of their chosen language.
There are videos all over the internet where native speakers speak continuously which learners can benefit from. Just by watching those videos, learners can get used to the rhythm and pacing of native speakers when it comes to speaking the language.
Shadowing Helps Listening Skills
Shadowing requires active listening skills. By closely listening to native speakers, learners can improve their understanding of the language’s spoken form. This can be especially beneficial for learners who struggle with understanding spoken language due to differences in accents, speed, or vocabulary.
Regular shadowing exercises can enhance listening skills and help learners become more familiar with the basics of the language. There are lots of shadowing exercises that mentors could give to the learners to further improve learning.
Also, learners could take part in the learning process by using the shadowing technique even in the comfort of their homes.
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Vocabulary
Shadowing exposes learners to a wide range of vocabulary used in natural conversations. By copying native speakers, learners can absorb new words, phrases, and expressions in context. This exposure helps with the acquisition of vocabulary and the development of natural, conversational speech.
It will also be beneficial if the learners will have a dictionary with pronunciation handy with them and read it in their free time to deepen their vocabulary more.
Shadowing Helps Confidence and Speaking Fluency
Shadowing provides learners with a safe and structured environment to practice speaking. It helps build confidence by allowing learners to mimic native speakers without the pressure of producing original content. Through regular shadowing practice, learners become more comfortable with speaking. In time, their fluency and consistency improve over time.
Problems regarding confidence will be resolved further through practice. Additionally, it must be the norm for those learners to speak the language combined with shadowing to achieve the fullness of their potential.
To make the most of shadowing, learners should aim for regular practice sessions. They should start with materials appropriate to their language level, and gradually increase the difficulty as they progress. It is also helpful to record and review their own shadowing sessions to identify areas for improvement and track their progress.
Also, a good mentor is definitely the best thing that a learner could have because proven information is always the best teacher. A good mentor in speaking is trained well in the field and must be ready to share the information that they know.
Furthermore, learners must be exposed to speaking so they can easily understand new pieces of information. The earlier you are exposed to speaking, the better.
Our own shadowing course can help you with this. You can find it here.
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