Free English shadowing with any YouTube video
Paste any YouTube link and practice speaking, line by line — with instant pronunciation scores. Plus a dictation mode to train your listening.
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How it works
Drop any YouTube URL or pick a ready lesson. We fetch the captions and split them into short, speakable sentences.
Play each line, then shadow it out loud — matching the speaker's rhythm, stress and intonation.
Record your voice and get an instant pronunciation score, so you know exactly what to improve.
Not just speaking — try Dictation
Listen to a sentence, type what you hear, get scored word by word. Train your listening & spelling by topic and CEFR level (A1–C2).
Frequently asked questions
What is shadowing?
Shadowing is a language-learning technique where you listen to a native speaker and repeat immediately, copying their pronunciation, rhythm and intonation. It's one of the fastest ways to sound natural.
Is TryShadowing free?
Yes — TryShadowing is completely free. Turn any YouTube video into an English speaking lesson at no cost.
Does it work with any YouTube video?
Any YouTube video that has captions or subtitles works. Paste the link and we build the shadowing lesson automatically.
Do I need an account?
No account is required to practice. Signing in is optional and only syncs your streak, XP and progress across devices.
Which English accent can I practice?
Any accent — because you learn from real YouTube videos, you can shadow American, British, Australian or any English accent you like.
What is dictation practice?
Dictation is a listening exercise: you hear a sentence, type exactly what you heard, and get scored word by word. It sharpens your listening, spelling and grammar — a perfect complement to shadowing. TryShadowing has a built-in dictation mode with lessons by topic and level.
Shadowing or dictation — which should I use?
Use both. Shadowing trains your speaking, rhythm and pronunciation; dictation trains your listening, spelling and attention to detail. Many learners shadow a video, then do a quick dictation set to lock in what they heard.
Reach the TryShadowing team — we usually reply within a couple of business days.
Get in touchWhy shadowing works
Shadowing means listening to a native speaker and repeating right away, copying their pronunciation, rhythm, stress and intonation. Because you imitate real speech instead of reading word lists, your mouth learns the natural flow of English — and your listening gets sharper at the same time.
It works best with content you actually enjoy. TryShadowing turns any YouTube video — talks, vlogs, lessons, interviews — into a speaking exercise, so daily practice feels less like studying and more like watching.
Free English speaking practice with any YouTube video
Paste a link or pick a ready lesson, and we split the captions into short, speakable sentences. Play each line, shadow it out loud, record your voice, and get an instant pronunciation score so you know exactly what to improve.
Practice American, British, Australian or any English accent — you learn from real videos, at your level (A1–C2) and on topics you care about, from everyday conversation to business, science and interviews. It's completely free and no account is required to start.
Also train your ear with dictation
Beyond speaking, TryShadowing includes a built-in dictation mode: listen to a sentence, type what you hear, and get scored word by word — with instant feedback on the exact words you missed. It's one of the most effective ways to improve listening comprehension and spelling.
Dictation lessons are organised by topic and CEFR level (A1–C2), from greetings and small talk to numbers, travel and business. Practise a few sentences a day, review the words you mishear with spaced repetition, and watch your listening get sharper — a natural companion to shadowing.