Synchronized Speaking
Start speaking along with the sound.
Don't rush to practice just yet
If you understand this stage as repeating after the audio (shadowing), the subsequent training can easily go off track.
Because:
These are two completely different types of training.
What is Shadowing?
The process of shadowing is:
It trains imitation skills.
You are always chasing the sound.
The sound is in front, and you are behind.
So most people who shadow are always half a beat slow.
What is Synchronized Speaking?
The process of synchronized speaking is:
The moment the sound starts, you start too.
The moment the sound ends, you end too.
As if there is only one voice.
It's not imitation.
But true output.
Why is synchronized speaking true output?
Because before synchronized speaking, the brain must complete preparation in advance.
If you wait until the sound comes out to prepare, it's already too late.
So you will slowly discover:
- You are already prepared before the sound appears
- Your mouth starts getting ready in advance
- You don't need to hear the whole sentence before speaking
- Your reaction gets faster and faster
At this point, what you are training is no longer imitation.
But reflex.
When do I speak?
When many people first practice this, they try to speak along from beginning to end.
This is incorrect.
The first T: Only listen.
N: Only listen.
The second T: Start synchronized speaking.
Only start synchronized speaking at the beginning of the second T.
What are you really training in this stage?
Many people think they are practicing pronunciation.
Actually, it's not just pronunciation.
Synchronized speaking allows the brain to gradually become familiar with:
- Language rhythm
- Speaking speed
- Pause locations
- Intonation fluctuations
- Liaisons (connected speech)
- Weak forms
- Stress
- The sense of breathing in real speech
These things are hard to learn by memorizing rules.
But they can be acquired naturally through synchronized speaking.
When is it considered a success?
One day you will find:
- You are less and less half a beat behind
- You don't need to chase the audio
- You are ready before the sound appears
- Speaking becomes more and more natural
- You can start and end together with the audio
The most obvious feeling is:
You are no longer imitating.
You are synchronizing.
Most common mistakes
- Turning synchronized speaking into shadowing
- Waiting for the audio to end before speaking
- Speaking from the first T
- Speaking along during the N stage
- Pursuing perfect pronunciation
- Constantly correcting yourself
- Always feeling you can't keep up
The most important thing in this stage is not perfection.
But synchronization.
If you don't know if you are practicing correctly, ask yourself one question:
If the answer is getting closer to the latter, you are establishing a true language reflex.