The shadowing technique for developing english language students’ listening and speaking skills

Abstract

This research aims to determine the impact of the shadowing technique on aiding English language learners (ELLs) in developing their listening and speaking skills, which are key elements in English language learning. Shadowing is studied as a technique that fosters language acquisition from a ludic, engaging, dynamic, and didactic perspective. Theoretically, this study analyzes shadowing as a pedagogical technique, including listening and speaking skills, as primary study variables. This work is a research synthesis of twenty empirical scientific articles written in English and focused on using the shadowing technique to improve participants’ listening and speaking skills. The most notable conclusions highlight that the shadowing technique positively impacts ELLs’ listening and speaking skills by promoting vocabulary acquisition, providing cognitive benefits, and improving understanding of phonetic and phonological aspects. Additionally, the shadowing technique increases students’ motivation to learn English.