Activity 1- SHADOWING ACTIVITY

Hello! My little Friends!!!, Hope you are doing just fine, Do you remember the story I told
you about, how did I use to practice pronunciation when I first started learning English?,
Remember about “Friends”, my favorite show?.. So that is what you are going to do, which
is called English Shadowing... but first, a little explanation...

What Is English Shadowing and How Does It Help?

English shadowing (sometimes called “echoing”) involves repeating a piece of
English audio word-for-word as you listen. You have done this in class when you repeat a
new phrase along with ME, your teacher. You may also shadow when you sing along to
your favorite English songs.

Shadowing is a great method for learners to improve English speaking. That’s

because it gets you in the habit of speaking English out loud right from the start. While you
may not understand everything you’re saying, you’ll be mimicking correct English
pronunciation, which will set you up for success in spoken English. It’ll also get you more
comfortable and confident so you improve English speaking in general.

How to Shadow English Audio Correctly

Before you start shadowing in English, make sure you’re in a quiet space where you
won’t be distracted. You need your full concentration on the English audio to be successful.
 You may want to listen to the clip a few times before you start shadowing. When
you’re ready, press “play” again and repeat what you hear while you listen. The idea is to
speak along with the audio, so you learn the natural pace, rhythm and intonation of English.

Some shadowing experts recommend adding your own expressions once you’re

comfortable. Varying one or two words allows you to test what you’ve learned and practice
participating in an English dialogue.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed, you’ll only want to shadow with short audio
clips. Start with only a few lines of dialogue at a time. This will allow you to listen more
carefully and shadow more precisely. The more you practice, the longer you’ll be able to
shadow.

Why Short Films Are Great English Shadowing Practice Material?

Short films allow you to listen to real-world English that isn’t too long and
overwhelming. Many short films are no more than 20 minutes and some are less than 10.
You can view them on your work break and practice the dialogue all day. It helps to have a
written transcript if one is available.

Since short films are brief, the dialogue is typically limited and simple to follow.
And since films rely on visual communication, it’ll be easy for you to determine what’s
going on, so you can make the connection between the spoken English and the situation.

Now LET´S START….

Instructions. Listen and watch the following Short Film first and try to understand the
main idea of the film. Choose one of the characters and repeat every single line that
carácter is saying, imitate the pronunciation and the body language if you can, press stop
and re-play that part if necessary. Finally, practice shadowing the character by saying the
lines at the same time. YOU CAN ACTIVATE ENGLISH SUBTITLES IF NECESSARY..
Good Luck!!

“Post-It”
This is a charming short film. It’s focused on a woman who’s curious about a man
she meets and a large box he’s carrying. It’s a great example of a casual, informal
conversation in English.

What to listen for:

 Introductions in English
 Descriptions of people
 This film contains automatically generated subtitles from YouTube. You can choose
one of the characters to shadow, ri f you’re feeling confident, try shadowing both.

You can always slow down the audio on YouTube (click the gear icon, then
“Speed”), just be aware it may warp the intonation a bit. Practice shadowing on a slow
speed and gradually get faster and faster to regular speed.

YOUTUBE LINK- https://www.youtube.com/watch?

time_continue=126&v=aVgeJ5eqlSM&feature=emb_logo

The following links are more short films that you can watch and practice shadowing with..

Kobe Bryant Short Animated Film -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q1LSZc4hDg

The translator--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA8HTX6CXBs

Friends ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96DDkJMZd-Q