Ear training
Chorusing
Chorusing is a language learning technique where you imitate a native speaker’s audio as closely as possible, ideally in real-time or just after hearing the sentence. Think of it as singing along to a song, but instead of lyrics, you’re mimicking the rhythm, intonation, pronunciation, and flow of real spoken language.
It’s not about understanding or translating—it’s about training your ear and voice to match native speech exactly.
What Are the Benefits?
Improved pronunciation – You’ll develop a more native-like accent.
Better listening skills – Your brain becomes tuned to the natural sound patterns of the language.
Muscle memory – Your mouth learns to physically produce the correct sounds.
Automaticity – You’ll eventually speak more fluently, without pausing to “think.”
Reduced interference – It helps avoid fossilizing bad habits from early mispronunciation.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Do Chorusing
Use open-back headphones or play the audio on speakers—just make sure you can hear your own voice clearly. The playback should be slightly quieter than your voice.
Experiment with the volume so that sometimes the track is a bit more prominent, and other times your own voice stands out more. Pause frequently to make sure your pronunciation is accurate.
Begin with half a sentence at a time, and later progress to practicing full sentences or even two at once.
Pick a short audio clip
Choose a short audio clip of clear, natural native speech (not overly slow or artificial).
Listen multiple times
Don’t repeat yet. Just listen and absorb the rhythm, melody, and sounds.
Chorus along
Play the sentence at lower volume and try to speak along with it in sync. At first, you’ll be behind—this is normal. Eventually, you’ll match it more closely.
Go backwards (optional trick)
Start from the end: “moon” → “the moon” → “over the moon” → “jumps over the moon” → full sentence. This keeps stress patterns intact and helps retain the rhythm.
Repeat multiple times
Repeat the same sentence 10–30 times over a couple of days until it feels automatic.
Add new sentences daily
Each day, add 1 new sentence and review old ones. After a few weeks, you’ll have a strong sound base.
Tips for Effective Chorusing
Don’t worry about understanding the meaning – Focus only on sound reproduction.
Use your body – Nod or tap to the rhythm to internalize speech like music.
Practice daily (5–10 minutes) – This small habit compounds massively over time.
Start with 1–2 minutes a day – Start with a few minutes a day to establish the habit and gradually work your way up.
Choose voices similar to your own pitch – This prevents vocal strain and lets you chorus longer.
Aim for quality over quantity – Better to do 3 sentences very accurately than 10 sloppily.
Ignore spelling – Don’t read the text. Reading changes how you hear the sounds.
Eventually, you’ll install the entire sound system of the language into your brain. Once it’s there, you’ll hear better, pronounce better, and learn faster—without even trying.