First used by speech pathologists to treat stutter, shadowing is a technique that can help you develop natural rhythm, word and syllable stress, and intonation in a second language, as well as refine all aspects of your pronunciation over time. What's more, shadowing has been shown as effective in improving learners' listening-comprehension skills, grammar, and even vocabulary retention.
Essentially, a shadowing practice consists of repeating chunks of speech in a second language (we call them thought groups: several words strung together by a uniform idea), alongside a recording of the speaker or immediately after the thought group has been said. While shadowing, you are encouraged to try to match the way the speaker has pronounced the words in terms of speed, volume, rhythm, syllable stress, and intonation.
With consistent, daily practice, shadowing will lead you to developing an intutition for the spoken language: an instinctive ability to pronounce elements of speech correctly, with a natural, easy-to-understand flow that is reminiscent of the way native-speakers talk.
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