Fantastic Foreign Language Learning Technique - Shadowing

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Fantastic Language Learning Tip Shadowing A
Foreign Language
Have you ever tried shadowing a foreign language?
Shadowing is a language learning technique
developed by the American Professor and language
specialist, Alexander Arguelles. Its a great
technique for anyone learning a foreign language
to try.
http//www.qlanguage.com.hk/fantastic-language-lea
rning-tip-shadowing-foreign-language
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All you need is some sort of portable listening
device like an iPod or a decent mobile phone, a
set of headphones and a good (and preferably
interesting) recording of your target
language. You simply go outside and walk around
briskly whilst listening to the recording of a
native-speaker dialogue and repeat in a loud,
clear voice, exactly what you hear.
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vVdheWK7u11w
To make it easier, you could try holding and
reading a transcription of what you are listening
to at the same time. It is advised to be walking
briskly, in a good, upright posture, as you
listen and repeat the dialogue, as this boosts
oxygenation and alertness of the brain, which in
turn maximizes the overall learning process.
http//www.qlanguage.com.hk/fantastic-language-lea
rning-tip-shadowing-foreign-language
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Watch the Shadowing A Foreign Language Chinese
video here (screenshot of video below) to get an
idea of this unorthodox language learning
technique in action and note how useful one
language learner (asterexcel) found the
technique, by commenting on You Tube
Prof Arguelles is spot on with this approach. I
thought it was crazy at first, but then used it
and it makes a HUGE difference to the way you
absorb language. Slouch around and your body
relaxes, feeling no need to learn or adapt. Get
moving, and your body is more alert, ready, and
capable of taking in information. Thanks, Mr
Arguelles, for making a big difference to my
learning!

http//www.qlanguage.com.hk/fantastic-language-lea
rning-tip-shadowing-foreign-language
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• The technique of shadowing may seem a little
  odd to you and you may think others may find you
  strange, but here are some added benefits
  according to author and language writer Michael
  Erard (as written here)
• It gets you used to people looking at you when
  youre doing something new, so it reduces the
  embarrassment factor.
• It also hooks up kinetics to the language, so it
  engages those gross motor skills and makes you
  less focused on whats going on with your mouth
  and tongue.
• It exercises your working memory, which is key
  to learning a foreign language.
• Another key is making the experience enjoyable.
  To acquire any language, you need to repeat words
  and phrases often, so repeat things you like.
  When we do something pleasurable, dopamine is
  released in the brain and that makes us want to
  do it again.

http//www.qlanguage.com.hk/fantastic-language-lea
rning-tip-shadowing-foreign-language
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What To Do If You Dont Like the Idea Of
Shadowing In Public
If you dont feel bold enough to walk around
shadowing outside, as Alexander Arguelles does
in the video mentioned previously, you could
perhaps try it indoors in the privacy of your own
home, although you wont get all the benefits as
described above. Another variation on the
theme of shadowing is to try and find online
videos with captions and repeat word for word
what you hear the native speaker say.
Click here to see examples of this type of video
and further information.