You can start shadowing right away — just do it at the level you're currently at.
If you’re in Phase 1 and only know individual characters, try saying those characters out loud like a native speaker would. Once you start learning full words, focus on making those sound as accurate as possible.
Around Phase 4, you’ll be ready to shadow longer form content like full sentences and stories.
So the key is to shadow at your level, then build up over time. The more you do it, the better your pronunciation and rhythm will get.
If you have any questions or need more details, feel free to message us here or send an email to contact@mandarinblueprint.com. We’re always happy to help!