Speaking is the most difficult part of learning any language, and with how different Japanese is from English, that makes it even harder. If you want to speak Japanese fluently with a good accent, shadowing is the best way to get there. Shadowing will get you used to the sounds and patterns of Japanese, making your speech much more fluid and natural. All you need to get started is a device to record your pronunciation so you can compare it to a native’s. You can use any recording software, but I included some recording programs below if you’re unsure what to use.
Recording Programs
PC
Audacity is the best free audio recording software for computers. Start by downloading it from the Audacity website and installing it.
Once the program is open, you can start recording by pressing the red record button on the toolbar at the top of the screen. You can pause, continue, or stop your recording from the toolbar as well. To export the file, go to “File” and the “Export” from the top left corner of your screen. Do note that you need a microphone to be able to use this program. If you are on a laptop, you will have a built-in microphone, but if you are on a desktop, you need to connect an external microphone. To listen to your recording, go to the location of your exported file and click on it to open it in your computer’s music player.
Mobile
If your phone already has recording software that you like, then use that. Otherwise, download an audio recording app from the App Store. I like AudioLab, but there are many other similar apps.
When you start recording audio, there should be no need to mess around with the settings, just name the file with what you are shadowing, so you can keep track of it later.
After you have finished recording your audio and saved it, go to your audio player of choice to listen to it, here I’m using Pi Music Player.
Getting Started
The process of shadowing is pretty straightforward. Listen to a native speaker and copy what they say exactly. However, when you try to do this, you may find it’s harder than you thought. They may speak too quickly for you to catch everything, or you might get lost part way through and forget what you were supposed to say. This is why you should always use material you can easily understand for shadowing. Easy material will allow you to focus on your speaking and pronunciation. When you pick a source to shadow, start by listening to it all the way through while paying attention to the rhythm and sound of the language. This is called silent shadowing. Next, listen to it again but whisper it out loud to yourself, you’re still mostly focusing on the flow and intonation here. Finally, you’ll record yourself repeating what the native speaker says to the best of your ability. Listen back to your recording and take note of where your pronunciation or intonation is off. If you missed several things, go back and record yourself one more time. Shadowing is a draining activity, so I recommend doing it for not more than 20 minutes at a time. As you progress, you will create your own shadowing schedule and workflow that works best for you.
When you first start shadowing, using resources with accompanying text can make it easier to follow along. However, I recommend not looking at the text while recording yourself. If you rely on the text while shadowing, you’ll end up reading instead of actively listening to and repeating what is being said.
If you want to develop a consistent native-like accent, consider finding what’s called a “language parent.” A language parent is someone whose speech you shadow exclusively to maintain consistent pronunciation and tone. To be an effective language parent, they should have plenty of content where they speak naturally. YouTubers, streamers, podcast hosts, and celebrities can all make excellent language parents. Ideally, your language parent should be the same gender as you and have the accent you want to emulate. For instance, Narumi Shikiya from シノブとナルミの毒舌アメリカンライフ is an excellent language parent for women learning Japanese because her Japanese is clear and easy to follow, and there are hundreds of hours of her speaking on her podcast and YouTube channel. For men, Nishimura Hiroyuki is often recommended, as there is extensive content of him discussing a wide range of topics.
Shadowing Resources
JSL Japanese Language Course is a YouTube channel with lots of shadowing content for every level. The videos include natural, native pronunciation, and pitch accent guidance. The content can be a little dry sometimes, but it will also improve your pronunciation dramatically. I recommend starting with their beginner course, even if it seems too easy. The easy material will allow you to focus on your pronunciation. View the guide below to understand how they mark pitch accent and pronunciation in their videos.
Speak Japanese Naturally also has some great videos for shadowing and listening, however, she does not provide pitch accent pronunciation in her videos. You may still like them nonetheless since she has a very nice, clear voice.
Podcasts and reading material with audio are also great sources for shadowing. I like the Real Japanese Podcasts, but you can use any podcast you can easily understand. When I shadow a podcast, I will follow the transcript, if available, and pause the podcast after every sentence to give myself time to repeat what the host said. In my audio recording, the host will say a sentence, and then I will repeat the same sentence. This allows for easy comparison. It is best not to do an entire podcast in one sitting, but rather just 15 or 20 minutes of shadowing at a time. As you get more advanced, you can use audio with no transcript for shadowing to practice your listening skills while you practice your speaking skills.
There are also a number of Japanese learning websites that provide text with audio, Hirogaru is one of my favorites because you can go through the text paragraph by paragraph.
That’s everything you need to know to get started shadowing. You should practice shadowing a few times a week until you are at an advanced level and can comfortably speak Japanese with proper intonation and pronunciation. You’re now already on your way to having a great accent and fluent Japanese!
