You are like the shadow that is following another speaker in the language. Using audio, you repeat after the speaker a fraction of a second after they do, trying to maintain the same rhythm, tone and everything they say for as long as possible. Shadowing is very difficult, so it's best to start with Chorusing!
Parent Skills:
You are like the shadow that is following another speaker in the language. Using audio, you repeat after the speaker a fraction of a second after they do, trying to maintain the same rhythm, tone and everything they say for as long as possible. Shadowing is very difficult, so it's best to start with Chorusing!
Train listening
pronunciation
prosody and tone all at once
Great for training your focus in the language
Learn to speak the way a native does
Shadowing is a useful but difficult skill for improving your speech naturalness and awareness.
It isn't a super important skill to work into your routine, but can replace chorusing or reading aloud at higher levels if you're looking for a good way to get pronunciation and speaking practice in. It's especially useful if you decide to adopt a "language parent" and want to practice speaking like they do.
Certain equipment makes shadowing easier to do, but most people don't have a professional microphone at home. The other common issue is that chorusing is hard to do, even in your native language! Don't feel bad if it's really hard for you.
Now it's time to shadow! Your goal is to follow along with the audio as closely as possible.
1. Start the audio and listen for a few seconds to get into the groove2. Start speaking along with the audio, matching the pace and tone of voice
3. When you lose your place, take a breath and start again
If you have a microphone with direct monitor, being able to listen to yourself and the audio is very helpful for hearing how you sound.
To start shadowing, you're going to need a few things (plus some that are optional).
Audio (from a single speaker) that you're able to follow along with, headphones, and a quiet space. Optionally, a microphone with a direct monitor is very useful (that's a microphone where you can hear your own voice in the headphones in real time).
Shadowing is a difficult skill, which takes practice to get good at, so don't be upset if it's really hard at the beginning. Keep at it and you'll improve quickly. If you want to build up to shadowing, try Chorusing! It's a little easier to do (but harder to set up), and just as useful.