A Shadowing Toolkit in Adult ESL Classrooms:

A path for Improving Listening and Speaking

What is shadowing?

Shadowing is a language technique where learners listen to spoken language and repeated it as clearly and quickly as possible while continuing to listen (Tamai, 1997).

Origin of shadowing

The technique was introduced in interpreting training and later adapted for language learning. Hamada (2019) studied its effectiveness in improving listening comprehension and speaking , particularly in English and Japanese language learning.

Benefits of shadowing

Improves speaking fluency

Echoing native speakers helps to develop natural intonation, rhythm, and fluency (You, 2022).

Boosts listening skills

Listening and repeating helps improve learners' ability to recognize and process English sounds (You, 2022).

Reduce language anxiety

Speaking aloud repeatedly builds confidence and lower anxiety in real conversations (Sumiyoshi & Seventant, 2017, as cited in Arthurson, 2019)

Improves real-word communication

Native speech practices help learners to interact in daily life, work and academic setting (Efeoğlu, 2023)

Flexible and adaptable

Shadowing can be used in classrooms, small groups, pairs, or self-study (Shiota, 2012).

Supports independent learning

Shadowing includes online resources that are easy to access anytime (Arthurson, 2019).

References

Arthurson, D. (2019). Shadowing approaches inside and outside of the classroom. Rikkyo University Language Center Bulletin, 42, 3–13.

Efeoğlu, E. M. (2023). The effects of shadowing technique on L2 learners’ pronunciation skills (Undergraduate thesis, Necmettin Erbakan University) Necmettin Erbakan University Institutional Repository. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12452/18389

Hamada, Y. (2019). Shadowing: What is it? How to use it? Where will it go? RELC Journal, 50(3), 386-393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688218771380

Shiota, K. (2012). The effectiveness of shadowing on students’ psychology in language learning. In Accents Asia 5(1), pp. 71-83.

Tamai, K. (1997). Shadowing no koka to chokai process ni okeru ichizuke [The effectiveness of shadowing and its position in the listening process]. Current English Studies, 36, 105–116.

You, Y. (2022). Exploring the effects of shadowing on Chinese college students’ English listening and speaking skills. In Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Science Education and Art Appreciation (SEAA 2022), 1174–1181. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-05-3_141

Page updated

Report abuse