Should I read the transcript while shadowing?

Check the transcript before you start, then put it away. Hamada advises shadowing without it, because reading changes the task by splitting your attention between sounds, letters, and meaning. After you finish, you can check what you missed.

A transcript is still useful before and after, to confirm the meaning and to see which words you missed. Hamada also describes IPA shadowing, where learners follow a phonetic transcript, but that is a separate practice and is usually taught with guidance.

English Shadowing Practice for Beginners: Choose a Clip, Shadow It, and Check Your Recording →