Language Shadowing| 7 Day Challenge Results

When I first decided to do a 7-day shadowing challenge for Thai, I knew that it would be beneficial. How? I am not new to shadowing and have used this same method to improve my pronunciation in both Korean and Spanish. The difference this go around was the intensity. If you are new to shadowing and its benefits, keep reading.

What is Shadowing?

Shadowing, if you’re new to the term, is the practice of listening to a native speaker and repeating what they say in real time. Sounds simple enough, right? Well…simple doesn’t always mean easy.

For seven days straight, I committed to one hour a day of shadowing practice. It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t always fun, but by the end of the week, I had completely transformed my Thai pronunciation. It is important to note that shadowing is effective for all languages.

Day 1–2: The Struggle is Real

The first couple of days were rough. I felt cringy, tired, and way too aware of how “off” my pronunciation sounded. It’s humbling to hear yourself stumble through sounds that should feel natural but don’t. My confidence was low, and my motivation wavered. But the key? I kept showing up.

Day 3: A Breakthrough Moment

By day three, something clicked. My pronunciation started to smooth out, and I noticed myself catching rhythms and tones I had completely missed before. Was it perfect? Not even close. (Still isn’t). But the improvement was undeniable. That little boost in progress was all I needed to keep going.

Day 6: Comfort, Confidence & Natural Flow

Fast forward to day six, and I was shocked at how much more natural I sounded. My tone, my rhythm, even the way words flowed together felt more comfortable. I even started using more vocabulary in my shadowing. For the first time, I felt less like I was “acting” Thai and more like I was actually speaking Thai.

Click the image to watch my full YT video on shadowing!

Final Results: Shadowing Works

At the end of the challenge, my pronunciation and confidence skyrocketed. I felt more willing to open my mouth and try—even if I wasn’t perfect. That said, I noticed something important: while shadowing dramatically helped my speaking, it didn’t do much for my ability to structure my own sentences. It’s a reminder that shadowing works best when paired with other practices, like writing.

Tips if You Want to Try Shadowing Yourself

If you’re curious about trying shadowing, here’s what I learned:

• 🎯 Start small: Don’t jump into an hour a day like I did—try 5–10 minutes to build consistency.

• 🎧 Stick to one voice per session: Hopping between multiple speakers can get confusing fast.

• ⏳ Choose short clips: Under 10 minutes is manageable and less overwhelming.

• 🎙️ Record yourself: The cringe is worth it—listening back is the best way to measure progress.

• 🕊️ Focus on rhythm, not perfection: The goal is flow, not flawless accuracy.

• 🗣 Shadowwho you want to sound like: For example, don’t shadow a man unless you want to sound like a man.

Who Should Try Shadowing?

Honestly—anyone. Whether you’re learning Thai, Spanish, or Japanese, shadowing can build confidence and help you sound more natural. It’s especially great if you’re shy about speaking in front of others, since it allows you to practice privately.

My Takeaway

Shadowing taught me that showing up every day matters more than sounding perfect. Even when I didn’t feel like practicing, my progress stacked up into something real by the end of the week.

So if you’ve been looking for a push to try shadowing—or any new language technique—consider this your sign. Start today, even if it’s just five minutes. Who knows what your “day three breakthrough” might look like?

✨ And if you do try it, let me know—I might just turn this into a series of challenges we can tackle together.