The shadowing method
Shadow native speakers using real YouTube videos. Fill in blanks, look up words, save vocabulary — and come back to review exactly when you need to.
Works with any YouTube video that has English captions
Compatible with YouTube
Features
Shadow any YouTube video
Paste a URL and get a word-perfect, time-synced transcript. Click any sentence to jump straight to that moment. The content is always yours to choose.
Dictation mode
Key words are hidden behind blanks. Type what you heard. Choose Easy, Normal, or Hard. You'll discover just how much you were guessing before.
Instant word lookup
Tap any word to see its pronunciation, definition, and examples — right where you're working. Save it to your vocabulary list in one click.
Spaced repetition review
Words you save come back as flashcards at exactly the right interval — when you're about to forget them. Efficient, evidence-based, automatic.
Record and play back
Record your attempt at each sentence, then play it back. Hearing the gap between your voice and a native speaker's is one of the fastest ways to close it.
Curated podcast library
Not sure where to start? Browse hand-picked episodes from English podcasts — naturally paced, clear speakers, interesting topics.
How it works
Find a video you actually enjoy
Open any YouTube video with English captions — a podcast, a documentary, a TED talk. Paste the URL into ShadowingAI and you're ready in seconds.
Listen, shadow, and fill the blanks
Follow the synchronized transcript. Switch to Dictation mode to test yourself: hear the sentence, then type the hidden words from memory.
Build vocabulary that actually sticks
Click unfamiliar words to look them up in context. Save the ones you want to keep. They'll appear in your review queue at the right moment, automatically.
What learners say
“The dictation mode completely broke my confidence — in the best way. I realized I was guessing half the words from context. Now I actually hear them. It's humbling and addictive at the same time.”
Using ShadowingAI for 4 months
“I went from needing subtitles for everything to following a 30-minute podcast without looking at the transcript at all. Took about three months of regular practice. Nothing else came close.”
University student, Hanoi
“I've tried Duolingo, Anki, YouTube on its own. ShadowingAI is the only tool that actually forced me to produce the language, not just consume it. My speaking improved noticeably after two months.”
English teacher candidate
Paste a YouTube URL. Shadow the sentence. Look up the word.
That's the whole loop — and it works.
No credit card required · Works with any YouTube video with English captions