Shadowing for TOEIC Listening

Shadowing trains your ear by forcing your mouth to keep up. It is the single most effective listening drill for the TOEIC.

How to shadow correctly

Play the audio and speak along about half a second behind, copying rhythm and intonation rather than reading the script. Use the script only after several passes.

Use short clips

Thirty to sixty seconds, repeated ten times, beats a five-minute clip once. Part 3 and Part 4 audio is ideal material.

Fifteen minutes a day

Shadowing is tiring. Fifteen focused minutes daily produces noticeable results within a month.

FAQ

Should I look at the script while shadowing?

Not at first. Shadow blind, then check the script, then shadow again.

Which parts benefit most?

Parts 3 and 4, where natural speed and connected speech cause most mistakes.

Practise listening