[Complete Guide] How to do English shadowing? We also explain how to create free study materials!

I want to know how to shadow!

Shadowing is a very effective practice method when learning English or any other language.

Shadowing is a very effective learning technique for those who want to improve their English listening skills and pronunciation .

In this article, we will explain in detail how to practice English shadowing, from the basics to advanced techniques, even for beginners !

Of course, it can also be used in languages other than English, such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean .

By acquiring a correct understanding and practical knowledge of shadowing, you can improve your English skills efficiently.

[Free] Ondoku, an AI reading service recommended for shadowing materials

The most important thing when shadowing is to prepare the audio material .

In such cases we recommend "Ondoku" .

"Ondoku" is an AI service that can read text aloud with native pronunciation.

It can read out English and other languages with native pronunciation , so you can create audio that's perfect for your teaching materials!

Since you can use texts that suit your needs as teaching materials, it is also ideal for increasing motivation to study.

What's more, Ondoku can read out 5,000 characters for free , so you can start creating shadowing materials right away.

Why not try using "Ondoku" to study foreign languages such as English?

What is shadowing? Basic knowledge and why it's so effective for English learning!

First, let me give a brief explanation of shadowing.

What are the features of shadowing? Recommended for studying English and foreign languages

Shadowing is a learning method in which you listen to audio and simultaneously imitate it as you speak .

This is a very effective method for studying listening, speaking, and pronunciation of foreign languages , including English.

It is also known as a training method for interpreters, and is named after the fact that the voice that is heard is followed like a "shadow."

The big difference from regular reading aloud is that you speak without looking at the text, relying solely on the audio coming into your ears .

It may seem like just pronunciation practice, but it actually has the effect of comprehensively training your listening, speaking, pronunciation, sense of rhythm, and more !

This can be said to be a learning method that makes language acquisition more efficient by simultaneously carrying out "input" and "output" during the English learning process.

Why is shadowing effective? English learning and the brain's language processing mechanism

The reason why English shadowing is effective is deeply related to the brain's language processing mechanism .

Our brains process language through multiple processes: listening, understanding, and speaking.

In normal conversation, these processes take place sequentially, but in shadowing, they take place simultaneously , making the brain more active.

Shadowing is also said to strengthen short-term memory, also known as "working memory," helping you memorize English sentences and expressions more efficiently.

In this way, shadowing is a learning method whose effectiveness is backed up by neuroscience.

4 English skills you can improve through shadowing

By consistently practicing English shadowing, you can effectively improve four important skills:

First , listening ability.

You will develop the ability to instantly understand and process English audio, so you will be able to respond to natural native speaker speech.

Next is pronunciation.

By repeatedly imitating native speakers' pronunciation, you will acquire natural pronunciation and intonation.

It also improves speaking fluency .

By getting used to speaking English, you will be able to improve your reaction speed and fluency in real conversations.

You will also learn the unique rhythm of English .

English has its own unique rhythm and patterns, and you can master these through shadowing.

These skills are interrelated.

Shadowing allows you to improve four skills at once .

You can study foreign languages such as English in a comprehensive and well-balanced manner.

That's why shadowing is so effective.

The effects of shadowing on English language learners at different levels

English shadowing is effective regardless of the learner's level, but the effects will vary depending on the level.

For beginners, it is very effective in getting used to the sounds of English and improving basic pronunciation .

By learning the sounds and rhythm of English with your body, you will be able to naturally acquire the unique sound flow of English.

At the intermediate level, you will be able to use the words and expressions you already know more naturally and improve your speaking speed and fluency .

Your listening skills will also improve dramatically, allowing you to keep up with natural English speed.

For advanced learners, it is effective in acquiring pronunciation, intonation, and subtle nuances that are close to those of a native speaker .

You will be able to instantly understand and use complex grammatical structures and expressions, further refining your advanced English skills.

In this way, English shadowing has different effects depending on the learner's level.

Shadowing is also a great study method for continued improvement .

[Explained using English learning as an example] What is the process of shadowing?

How can I study English using shadowing?

Now, let's explain how to do shadowing using English study as an example !

1. Prepare audio materials for shadowing

The first thing you need to do when starting English shadowing is to prepare audio materials .

There are three points to keep in mind when preparing audio teaching materials.

• Content that is slightly above your level (not too easy or too difficult)
• Easy to understand pronunciation
• Moderate speed

in particular,

• Beginners: Radio language programs, CDs that come with introductory books
• Intermediate and above: TED Talks, podcasts, and snippets from movies and TV shows

is a standard teaching material.

In addition, there are some recommended methods that can be used by beginners and advanced users alike !

This involves using an AI reading service to create audio learning materials from English text .

It can be hard to find audio for shadowing that is perfectly suited to your needs, whether that be for travel, business, or hobby activities.

In such cases, you can use an AI text-to-speech service like Ondoku to create English audio specifically for the subject you are interested in .

"Ondoku" is free to use, so you can get the study materials immediately if you want to study.

This article also introduces example sentences that are perfect for shadowing, so be sure to check it out!

[Saved Edition] Improve your English skills! 100 recommended sentences for reading aloud - A carefully selected collection of sentences that can be used by beginners to advanced learners | Text-to-speech software Ondoku

Introducing 100 carefully selected example sentences for effective reading aloud in English learning. Includes sentences that are useful for getting your mouth used to it, practicing pronunciation, business, TOEIC, and university entrance exams. This is a must-read article for anyone aiming to improve their English skills through reading aloud, from beginners to advanced learners. With a variety of example sentences that are perfect for daily practice, it is recommended for improving speaking ability and overall English ability!

[Free] How to create English audio for shadowing with "Ondoku"

"Ondoku" is an AI service that allows anyone to easily create English audio.

For example, anyone can generate high-quality audio like this in no time!

Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it...
(From the beginning of "Alice in Wonderland")

Now let's take a closer look at how to create audio for shadowing using "Ondoku" !

First, open the Ondoku homepage .

Paste the English text into the text box.

Under "Language", select English.

In "Ondoku,"

• English(USA)
• English(United Kingdom)
• English(Australia)
• English(India)

You can choose from four types:

You can choose the pronunciation you want to study, such as American English or British English.

Next, select the voice you want to use for reading, such as female or male.

You can listen to audio samples that can be used for English reading on this page.

For English learning listening! Native pronunciation, listen to 67 speakers (test listening) Female, male, girl, boy voices too! | Text to Speech Software Ondoku

Ondoku is a text-to-speech service that allows you to have words pronounced from all over the world. You can preview 67 types of Ondoku English voices.

Adjust the reading rate and pitch as needed.

You're all set.

Press "Read Aloud" to generate English audio.

The processing will be completed quickly and the audio will play automatically.

You can play it using the on-screen audio player or save it in MP3 format .

If it's too fast, try generating it again at a slower speed.

In this way, Ondoku allows you to freely change the playback speed.

Amazingly, Ondoku can slow down the reading speed to 0.3 times faster , making it perfect for shadowing!

You can practice your pronunciation thoroughly.

In this way, with Ondoku, anyone can easily create native-pronunciation English audio for free.

Why not try shadowing with Ondoku ?

2. Practice slowly while looking at the text

Now you have prepared the audio for shadowing.

When you start shadowing, start with some basic training.

First, play the audio you created.

Once the audio starts playing, pronounce it in the same way after a delay of about 0.5 to 1 second .

Even if there are parts where the pronunciation is difficult or you can't follow along, don't worry about it and just keep reading without stopping.

At this stage, it's okay to read the text while looking at it at first.

Once you get used to it, try to read little by little without looking at the text.

By repeatedly practicing the same materials for about 10 to 15 minutes every day, you can gradually get your body used to English sound patterns.

At first you will be likely to follow it word by word, but gradually you will be able to grasp it as phrases (meaningful chunks).

3. Once you get used to it, try some serious shadowing!

Once you get used to the basic training, you will try more serious shadowing.

First, try shadowing at a normal speed, such as 1.0x, without looking at the original text .

At this stage, your goal is to follow the audio while understanding the meaning .

Once you become fluent in shadowing, try recording your own voice and comparing it with the original audio.

Particular attention should be paid to intonation, rhythm, and accuracy of individual sounds .

If you have created learning materials using Ondoku , it is also effective to broaden the scope of your practice by using the same text and changing the voice, speed, and accent (such as from American English to British English) .

By gradually increasing the difficulty level , you can effectively improve your English skills .

As such, when shadowing English, we recommend creating teaching materials using "Ondoku."

English shadowing is a learning method that is sure to be effective if you continue doing it correctly.

Why not use this method as a reference, prepare your teaching materials with "Ondoku" and start practicing English shadowing?

How to shadow more effectively? English learning tips

There are a few points to keep in mind to increase the effectiveness of shadowing.

I will introduce some specific important points.

How to create the best learning environment for shadowing

To practice English shadowing effectively, it is important to have an appropriate learning environment .

First, find a quiet place where you can concentrate .

If there is noise around you, you will not be able to concentrate on the English audio, and the effectiveness of shadowing will be halved.

It is also important that teaching materials can be played back with good sound quality .

Prepare a device such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet, as well as earphones or headphones.

Using earphones or headphones will help you avoid recording the sounds of the study materials when you record and check your own voice.

If you can't record while playing music, we recommend playing it on your computer while recording on your smartphone.

Since shadowing requires you to speak out loud, you should choose an environment and time that won't disturb your family or those around you .

Important points to remember when recording and checking your shadowing

When recording and checking your shadowing, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, in terms of pronunciation, we check whether you can accurately pronounce sounds such as /r/ and /l/, /th/, /v/ and /b/, which are particularly difficult for Japanese people.

Pay attention to the stress on words, the intonation and rhythm of the sentences .

English has a clear rhythm of stress , so check that words that should be emphasized are emphasized correctly.

In terms of speed, how well you are keeping up with the example is also an important indicator.

Check that you are pronouncing all the words without any omissions or omissions.

By checking these points and making a note of them, you will be able to clearly see what you need to improve on the next time you practice.

You can also see your own improvement by recording yourself shadowing with the same teaching materials about once a week and comparing the recordings.

When recording and checking your own voice, keeping these points in mind will help you improve the effectiveness of your English shadowing.

Recommended daily shadowing practice time and frequency

To practice English shadowing effectively, it is important to set an appropriate practice time and frequency .

If you're a beginner, it's best to start with 10 to 15 minutes per session .

Shadowing is a practice that requires concentration, so if you continue it for a long time, you will become fatigued and the effectiveness will decrease.

In terms of frequency, a short period each day is most effective .

Even 5 to 15 minutes each day will be much more effective than a longer session once a week.

Practice makes perfect, and regular stimulation is necessary to form English circuits in the brain.

Once you become an intermediate or more advanced player, you can increase your practice time to 20-30 minutes, but keep it within your concentration limits .

In addition, repeating the same teaching materials at least five times will increase retention rates.

If you practice multiple times a day, it is effective to practice at different times, such as in the morning and evening .

It is recommended that you approach English shadowing with a long-term perspective of three months or more, rather than trying to see results in a short period of time.

Don't give up just because you don't see immediate results, but take your time to study.

The key to studying English through shadowing is to make a plan that you can continue without overdoing it.

Practical techniques to improve your English through shadowing

To improve your English through shadowing, it is recommended that you focus on practical techniques.

From here, I will introduce some more practical tips for shadowing.

Tips for paying attention to prosody (intonation, rhythm, stress)

What's important in English shadowing is not just to pronounce words, but to pay attention to English intonation, rhythm, and stress, known as prosody .

Unlike Japanese, English is a language that has stress accents that emphasize certain words and syllables.

When shadowing, pay attention to which words are emphasized and where the tone of your voice rises and falls .

For example, content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) tend to be pronounced strongly, while function words (articles, prepositions, conjunctions, etc.) tend to be pronounced weakly.

In addition, English has a rhythmic pattern called "strong-weak strong-weak," and it is effective to practice so that you can feel this rhythm with your body.

As a practical tip, when you first listen to the model audio, it's a good idea to mark the parts that are pronounced strongly or keep the rhythm with your hands while listening.

When it comes to intonation, be aware of patterns such as a rising tone at the end of a question and a falling tone at the end of a declarative sentence.

By shadowing while paying attention to prosody, you will be able to acquire a more natural, English-like pronunciation, which will greatly change the impression you give to your listeners.

The technique of capturing chunks (meaningful chunks)

Equally important are units of meaning called "chunks" .

When shadowing English, aim to grasp the English in "chunks" rather than word by word.

A chunk is a group of words or phrases that are typically used together , and the brain of someone who has learned English processes language in chunks.

Examples of chunks are:

• "I'd like to"
• "as soon as possible"
• "in the morning"

And more.

By being aware of these chunks when shadowing, you will be able to grasp the natural flow of English and speak more fluently.

As a concrete way to become aware of chunks, before you start shadowing, try placing a slash (/) between each meaningful chunk as you read the text.

For example, "I'd like to / have dinner / at that restaurant / if possible."

Also, when listening to the model audio, pay attention to where the speaker takes subtle breaths and how they put phrases together.

By shadowing chunks, you can not only imitate pronunciation, but also learn natural English expression patterns at the same time.

It will also help you understand and remember longer sentences, enabling you to speak fluently in real English conversations.

Tips and breathing techniques for speaking English without interruption

When shadowing in English, it is also important to speak smoothly and without interruption .

To do this, you need to develop proper breathing and speaking techniques.

First of all, as a basic rule, take a deep breath and relax your body before shadowing.

When you are nervous, your throat tightens, making it difficult to speak smoothly.

When actually shadowing, be conscious of breathing naturally between chunks (groups of meaning) .

It is best to take breaths at points where native English speakers would naturally pause (usually at commas, periods, or between chunks of meaning).

Also, you don't need to aim to speak at the same speed as a native speaker right from the start.

Start at a speed that you can comfortably maintain and gradually increase your speed.

Even if you get stuck halfway through, don't dwell on that part, but prioritize catching up with the audio you're hearing.

It's more important to stay in flow than to strive for perfection.

Also, doing voice exercises to loosen the muscles in your mouth and stretching your tongue and lips beforehand will help you speak more smoothly.

By consciously practicing these techniques, you will be able to shadow English seamlessly and have more fluent real-life conversations.

Common stumbling points in English shadowing and how to deal with them

When it comes to English shadowing, there are a few common stumbling points that many learners encounter.

First of all, I can't keep up with the speed .

In this case, it is effective to use a tool like Ondoku that can slow down the audio playback speed .

It's also a good idea to start with short phrases and gradually increase their length.

Secondly, there are sounds that I cannot hear or pronounce .

In this case, pronunciation practice focusing on specific sounds can be effective.

For example, when practicing sounds that Japanese people have difficulty with, such as "th" and "r," try paying attention to the shape of your mouth and the position of your tongue.

Additionally, many people have trouble with long sentences and complex grammar .

In this case, breaking down sentences into meaningful chunks and reducing the amount of information you process at one time can help you read more smoothly.

To stay motivated, it's important to develop a habit of doing something every day, even if it's just for a short time.

Shadowing is a gradual improvement method of study.

Take your time and practice with the mindset of building up small successes.

Knowing these methods will help you practice English shadowing more effectively and continue without giving up.

What is the advanced technique "parashadowing"?

Once you get used to English shadowing, try parashadowing , a more advanced practice method.

Parashadowing is not just about imitating the audio, but also about shadowing what you hear by restating it in different words.

This method can further improve language processing ability and is also used in training interpreters.

For example, if the original sentence says, "I'm really excited about the upcoming concert." in parashadowing you can express the same meaning in different words , such as, "I'm very happy about the concert that will happen soon."

If this is your first time trying parashadowing, it is a good idea to start with simple rephrasing.

For example, changing a positive sentence to a negative one （"It's hot." → "It's not cold."） , changing active voice to passive voice, replacing words with synonyms, etc.

As you become more accustomed to it, you will be able to try changing the sentence structure itself and even more complex paraphrases.

A big advantage of parashadowing is that it goes beyond simple imitation and develops your ability to think in English.

This practice will enable you to express yourself more flexibly in real conversations and improve your vocabulary at the same time.

However, parashadowing is an advanced technique, so we recommend that you first become familiar with basic shadowing before attempting it .

At first, you can improve your English skills by incorporating this into your regular shadowing practice for short periods of time, once or twice a week.

Why don't you try studying English with shadowing?

English shadowing is an effective study method for students at all levels, from beginner to advanced .

If you continue with the right method, you can quickly improve your listening ability, pronunciation, speaking fluency, and even your overall English ability.

Why not start shadowing by using the various techniques and resources introduced in this article?

Of course, shadowing can be used in the same way to learn languages other than English.

It is also recommended to incorporate shadowing when trying to learn a language that you are interested in, such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, or Korean.

Why not create audio for your study materials using an AI reading tool and start shadowing today?

■ AI voice synthesis software "Ondoku"

"Ondoku" is an online text-to-speech tool that can be used with no initial costs.

• Supports approximately 50 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German
• Available from both PC and smartphone
• Suitable for business, education, entertainment, etc.
• No installation required, can be used immediately from your browser
• Supports reading from images

To use it, simply enter text or upload a file on the site. A natural-sounding audio file will be generated within seconds. You can use voice synthesis up to 5,000 characters for free, so please give it a try.

Text-to-speech software "Ondoku" can read out 5000 characters every month with AI voice for free. You can easily download MP3s and commercial use is also possible. If you sign up for free, you can convert up to 5,000 characters per month for free from text to speech. Try Ondoku now.

HP: ondoku3.com
Email: ondoku3.com@gmail.com