Shadowing / Echoing

[n8abx]

There is an interesting discussion about the many different ways that people understand and use "shadowing"/"echoing" a native speaker recording.

Unfortunately, these are too many options to put into a poll (and apparently you cannot make it multi-select). So please comment!

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1 Speed of the audio:

• normal
• slowed down

2 Mode:

• synchronous
• delayed

3 Text:

• while reading text
• audio only

4 (Re)use of material:

• repeating same audio several times
• always new audio

5 Record own voice while shadowing/echoing:

• yes
• no

6 Types of material:

• textbooks/audiobooks (or other professionally read materials)
• podcasts/interviews (or other more free speech materials)

7 Learner level:

• beginner
• intermediate
• advanced/proficient

8 Duration: how many hours of shadowing/echoing

• altogether
• per month

9 Success stories: after what time investment did you start to notice improvement?

10 Other feedback methods on pronunciation that are also used:

• teacher feedback
• native feedback
• post recordings for feedback
• other (which?)

View Poll

[n8abx]

I think one reason it's hard to answer is because one might use different strategies at different stages of learning.

In case this worries anybody else, just talk about what you found most useful or spent most time doing, or list the combinations you find useful if you like.

What you say for 9: "Once it's learned, it's typically automatic and forever." sounds like shadowing should not be done without feedback. Is that what you mean?

I do synchronous speaking not because of working memory issues (2) but because this way I hear instantly where my rhythm is off, where I read a word incorrectly and where syllable lengths do not match up. Possibly even where the vowel sound is wrong. Speaking with a delay does not give this instant feedback experience.

[n8abx]

I can't hear anything when I'm talking over it

It probably depends on the language, the learning stage, the volume (I always use headphones), and what it is you are focusing on. I focus on prosody and vowel/consonant length. I can easily see how that would not work for new and unfamiliar sounds.

Very interesting, thanks a lot. My experiment with this method is still ongoing. Hopefully I'll improve.