Shadowing Practice: Australia Has A Tradie Shortage - BTN High - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creando lección...
1
How has your apprenticeship been so far?
2
Oh heaps good.
3
I love my job.
4
How are you going today?
5
We're building Australia and we're building the world.
6
If you don't have a plumber, you don't have a toilet.
7
If you don't have a sparky, you don't have lights.
8
If you don't have a tradie, you don't have anything, you don't have a house to live in, you don't have none of that.
9
Without enough people, construction work takes longer, it's more expensive and the quality can suffer as well, so we really desperately need more tradies.
10
Australia's population is growing.
11
It's jumped from 23.8 million to more than 27 million over the past 10 years.
12
And with more people comes greater demands for, well, everything.
13
But the number of people starting apprenticeships and joining the trade sector hasn't kept up.
14
In fact, it's barely changed.
15
And with a housing crisis on our hands, it has a lot of people asking, where are all the tradies?
16
So I'm Will Frogley, I'm the Chief Executive Officer of Masters Builds SA.
17
There's a massive shortage of tradies running around Australia.
18
I think we're seeing this shortage because for
19
so many years kids were told they had to go to university and you have to go to uni, you have to go to uni, you have to go to uni, otherwise it's, you know, your second rate almost.
20
Nothing could be further from the truth.
21
According to Monash University's 2024 Australian Youth Barometer report,
22
70% of young people aged 15 to 19 say they plan to go to university after school.
23
But for apprenticeships, the numbers are a lot lower, with only 15.2% of males planning to do an apprenticeship.
24
And it's even lower for women and gender-diverse young people.
25
The stigma that parents put on kids and schools put on kids, that they have to go to uni to be successful.
26
It's just, like, it's so not true.
27
Isabella is a third-year electrical apprentice, and while she was always a hands-on kid, trades weren't really offered to her as an option at school.
28
Loved Lego growing up, loved helping in the garden, and I was just really inspired by my dad.
29
He was a tradie and I just always wanted to help him out as much as I could, so, yeah, it's definitely a big part.
30
I went to a private all-girls school and trade really wasn't even an option for me.
31
I had to do all the research myself.
32
I was told I had to apply for uni.
33
Literally, they would make sure we applied.
34
Otherwise, they were like, we can't let you graduate.
35
So I ended up applying for uni, but I knew I wasn't going to go.
36
There are apprenticeships for all kinds of things.
37
They combine on-the-job training with formal study.
38
You get paid for it, there's no HECS debt, and at the end, you'll be qualified to do a specific trade.
39
So, basically, you work a full-time job.
40
It's a good way to get paid to learn, pretty much.
41
So you work and you get paid and you learn.
42
That was terrible.
43
An apprenticeship is earning while learning.
44
Joseph is in his third year of his plumbing apprenticeship.
45
I wasn't too keen at school.
46
It wasn't my forte.
47
I liked working more and I knew I liked working hands-on instead of being in a classroom, you know, reading a book and typing on a computer.
48
So I always knew trade was an option for me.
49
Being paid to learn is great for getting people into the industry.
50
But the wages aren't very high because, well, apprentices are still learning and the businesses
51
that hire them often take on the costs and risks that come with training someone who's not yet qualified.
52
I guess the wages are a bit challenging sometimes when you got, you know, in car insurance to pay for and rego or, you know, your car's broken down and that can be hard if you're not a good saver.
53
And wages is something the government is targeting to try and entice more people to learn a trade.
54
Master Builders Australia estimates
55
that the industry needs an extra 130,000 workers to reach the government's national target of 1.2 million homes by mid-2029.
56
So, earlier this year, the federal government announced an incentive
57
that would pay housing and construction apprentices $10,000 in five instalments over the duration of their training,
58
with more given to those who live away from home.
59
Right now, a first year carpentry apprentice earns about two thirds of the minimum wage.
60
Some apprentices earn even less.
61
Many apprentices have said they could earn more stacking shelves at the supermarket.
62
And too many leave training because they simply can't afford to stay.
63
They absolutely do make a difference.
64
We need to make it as attractive as possible to be an apprentice.
65
You can earn more money today doing something else, but my message is if you stick with it, once you've finished your apprenticeship,
66
within a few years you can be earning really good money and that's why it's really rewarding to stay the course.
67
The wage goes up every year and the award rates always go up
68
and once you're qualified as well the money's just pretty insane for what it is and what you can do.
69
But it doesn't start and end with money.
70
Some in the industry say there are cultural challenges
71
that contribute to the fact that almost half of apprentices don't actually finish their training.
72
I reckon there should be a bit more support for apprentices.
73
Some companies and some trades people very hard on the apprentices.
74
It's sink or swim.
75
Maybe some bullying as well, like some people face that.
76
I've had a lot of mates do apprenticeships and then not follow through, which were very challenging times for them.
77
There's a mindset from some of the old guard in the industry
78
that kids lack resilience these days they don't know how to work, you know, they're much more high maintenance than they used to be.
79
But at the end of the day, it is a different generation and they want more support.
80
So you give it to them to help them succeed.
81
That's what it's all about.
82
And we haven't even mentioned the fact that fewer than 3% of people on the tools in Australia are women.
83
And how honest am I being here?
84
One of my friends got told that she shouldn't be doing her job, so.. because she's not strong enough.
85
Probably the worst thing I've experienced is actually female toilets on sites and the lack of them.
86
I've been on a couple job sites where I've been told to drive to the closest servo for a toilet, where there's been a block of men's toilets with, like, urinals in it.
87
So obviously I don't want to go in there.
88
And then they won't have a female toilet at all.
89
There's also a lack of sanitary facilities in women's toilets when they're on site.
90
We do push for a toilet, that sometimes they just don't respond.
91
We need way more female tradies, but you've got to get the basics right if you want to attract more women into the industry.
92
I might not be as tall and strong as a guy on site, but I've got different problem solving skills to him.
93
You need different skills on the job site.
94
I've seen it firsthand and yeah, we work really well together.
95
Have a good one.
96
Good years.
97
Good years.
98
Will, Joseph and Isabella say that while there are challenges that come with the trade industry, it's also really rewarding.
99
And in Australia, there's never been a more important time to become a tradie.
100
As everyone knows, there's a real shortage of housing in Australia at the moment, and there's a lot of plans to build more homes, but without enough skilled trades,
101
it takes a lot longer and people need a roof over their heads now.
102
So that's why if you're wanting to get into the building construction industry, there's never been a better time to get your foot in the door because employers are absolutely crying out for people.
103
It's heaps satisfying fixing problems especially when you're you know getting better at your job
104
and you start doing things by yourself and figuring things out.
105
I've been learning a lot not just plumbing but also as myself
106
and becoming you know an adult and a tradesman so it's been very good in that aspect as well.
107
Every time we speak about women in trade it's always at trade events
108
and I just think we need to go broader so get out to the schools get out to society in general.
109
If it doesn't even seem like an option people aren't going to consider it.
110
You can't be what you can't see.
📺 Mismo canal
B21
Sexist Design - Living in a World Designed for the Reference Man - BTN High
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
How Young Farmers are Dealing with Bird Flu - BTN High
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B1What We Know About Taylor Swift's Wedding
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B22
Could AI Become Too Powerful to Control?
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B1Do you care about the news? - BTN High
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B2Will Your Dream Job Survive AI? - BTN High
Business EnglishHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B2Tuvalu’s Battle with Climate Change - BTN High
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1Book Week - BTN Episode 24, 2026 - Behind the News
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
✨ Recomendar Video
B21
49 oraciones
BTN Teen Financial Anxiety
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
72 oraciones
A Day in the Life of an Electrician | Indeed
Business EnglishInterview EnglishHigh School Students
B22
144 oraciones
If Companies Are Desperate For Workers... Why Can Nobody Find A Job?
Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B21
546 oraciones
Do Elite Degrees Still Matter In The AI Era? | Jamie Beaton from Crimson Education | EP 410
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B23
69 oraciones
Bằng đại học đang “mất giá”, sao Việt Nam vẫn tăng đào tạo?
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B2134 oraciones
Horror Reality Of Australian Public Housing Exposed | 10 News +
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B23
240 oraciones
Shark Tank Australia | 21-Year-Old Entrepreneur Stuns The Sharks With Her Huge Monthly Sales
Business EnglishInterview EnglishTeens
B24
97 oraciones
The Truth About Australia PR in 2026 (What Nobody Tells You)
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
201 oraciones
Every Level of Engineering in 15 Minutes
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B26
46 oraciones
Teaching in the US vs. the rest of the world
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
96 oraciones
Where are China’s youth headed in a crowded job market?
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulario y notas de pronunciación para esta lección
Esta lección de conversación de nivel B2 se basa en el vídeo “Australia Has A Tradie Shortage - BTN High”. Las palabras que más se repiten: trade, apprentice, apprenticeship, tradie, toilet. Este vídeo tiene 110 frases y 1482 palabras para practicar shadowing. La parte hablada dura 7:58. El hablante habla rápido, unas 186 palabras por minuto, así que espera sonidos enlazados y reducidos. El 84 % de las palabras está entre las 3.000 más comunes del inglés; conviene repasar el resto antes de empezar.
Vocabulario clave de este vídeo
Las 15 palabras más avanzadas del vídeo, con su pronunciación y significado:
| Palabra | Pronunciación | Significado |
|---|---|---|
| apprentice sustantivo | /əˈpɹɛntɪs/ | aprendiz |
| apprenticeship sustantivo | /əˈpɹɛn.tɪs.ʃɪp/ | aprendizaje, tiempo como aprendiz |
| shortage sustantivo | /ˈʃɔː(ɹ)tɪd͡ʒ/ | falta, carestía |
| qualify verbo | /ˈkwɑ.lɪ.faɪ/ | calificar |
| plumbing sustantivo | /ˈplʌmɪŋ/ | cañería |
| carpentry sustantivo | /ˈkɑː.pɪn.tri/ | carpintería |
| entice verbo | /ɪnˈtaɪs/ | incitar, tentar |
| firsthand adjetivo | /ˈfɜːstˌhænd/ | de primera mano |
| plumber sustantivo | /ˈplʌm.əɹ/ | fontanero, gásfiter |
| sanitary adjetivo | /ˈsænɪt(ə)ɹi/ | sanitario |
| tradesman sustantivo | menestral, maistro | |
| resilience sustantivo | /ɹɪˈzɪl.ɪ.əns/ | resiliencia |
| stigma sustantivo | /ˈstɪɡmə/ | estigma, sambenito |
| reckon verbo | /ˈɹɛkən/ | censar |
| supermarket sustantivo | /ˌsupɚˈmɑɹkət/ | supermercado |
Phrasal verbs que vas a escuchar
| Palabra | Significado |
|---|---|
| go up verbo | subir |
| break down verbo | descomponerse, averiarse |
| end up verbo | terminar, ir a parar |
| follow through verbo | cumplir |
| grow up verbo | crecer |
| keep up verbo | continuar con, continuar así |
Frases que vale la pena repetir
Frases cortas y completas del vídeo que puedes reutilizar en la conversación diaria:
- How has your apprenticeship been so far?
- How are you going today?
- Otherwise, they were like, we can't let you graduate.
- I wasn't too keen at school.
- You can't be what you can't see.
Gramática en este vídeo
Las estructuras que más usa el hablante, con las palabras exactas del vídeo:
| Estructura | En el vídeo |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + participio pasado — una acción pasada que sigue importando ahora | hasn't kept · have said · you've finished |
| Voz pasiva be + participio pasado — importa lo que ocurre, no quién lo hace | were told · weren't really offered · was just really inspired |
| Oraciones de relativo who / which + oración — información extra sobre una persona o cosa | those who live · through, which were |
Pronunciación a tener en cuenta
El hablante usa 50 contracciones y formas reducidas, como don't, I've, can't. Dilas en su forma corta, tal como las oyes.
- Los sonidos de “sh” y “zh”: apprenticeship /əˈpɹɛn.tɪs.ʃɪp/, shortage /ˈʃɔː(ɹ)tɪd͡ʒ/, shelf /ʃɛlf/, duration /dʒʊˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
- Palabras largas — cuida el acento: apprenticeship /əˈpɹɛn.tɪs.ʃɪp/, sanitary /ˈsænɪt(ə)ɹi/, resilience /ɹɪˈzɪl.ɪ.əns/, supermarket /ˌsupɚˈmɑɹkət/, desperately /ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹət.li/
Sonidos difíciles para hispanohablantes:
- s + consonante al inicio — sin añadir una “e” delante: stigma /ˈstɪɡmə/, stack /stæk/
- /dʒ/ — no es la “y” ni la “ch”: shortage /ˈʃɔː(ɹ)tɪd͡ʒ/, duration /dʒʊˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
Cómo practicar con este vídeo
- Escucha el vídeo entero una vez sin hablar y anota las palabras que no conoces.
- Empieza a velocidad 0,75×, haz shadowing frase por frase y vuelve a la velocidad normal cuando te resulte fácil.
- Grábate y compara con el original, prestando atención a palabras como apprentice, apprenticeship, shortage.
¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?
Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.