Pratique du Shadowing: How the Sun affects the Earth | Science videos for kids | Kids Academy - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

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Since the living things on Earth get all the light and warmth from the Sun, we can say that our whole life is shaped by it.
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Changing seasons, day and night, warm and cold climates, all depend on the Sun.
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Let's try to make sense of it.
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So what are day and night?
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The day lasts from the moment the Sun rises until the moment it goes down, and nighttime, on the opposite, is from sunset until sunrise.
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The way the sun appears in the sky
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and disappears from it is connected to the revolution of the Earth around the sun
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and to the Earth's rotation around its own axis.
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The Earth spins as it moves in space.
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It somewhat reminds us of a children's game called a spinning top.
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Because of its rotation, the Earth turns one half or the other towards the sun.
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On the side that faces the sun, it's daytime.
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And on the opposite side, that's not lit by the sun, it's nighttime.
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The change of seasons also depends on the Earth's position relative to the sun.
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In the part of the Earth where the air and surface are well lit and warmed by the sun, it's summer.
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And in the part where the sun's rays just skim the surface, it's winter.
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There are two regions on the Earth that can never be properly warmed by the sun.
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They are the North and South Poles.
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They are always covered in ice.
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Very few plants and animals live there.
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Not many living things can survive in such cold climates.
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At the same time, on the equator, which goes around the middle of our planet, it's always summer.
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This part of the Earth is well warmed by the sun, and the times of year only differ in the amount of rainfall and the direction of winds.
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Even the calendar we use is related to the sun.
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What we call a year is the time in which the Earth makes one revolution around our star.
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The beautiful star called the Sun.
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Our daily life and our holidays depend on it, as well as all life on the planet Earth.
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Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking with the video "How the Sun affects the Earth" is an engaging way to enhance your English language skills. This video provides a clear explanation of important scientific concepts while using simple and accessible language. By watching and imitating the speaker, you can apply the shadowing technique, where you repeat what you hear in real-time, thus improving your fluency and comprehension.

Speaking along with the video allows you to immerse yourself in the language, helping you to internalize new vocabulary and expressions. It’s particularly beneficial for understanding how to articulate complex ideas in English, such as the daily cycle of day and night, the changing seasons, and the Earth’s relationship with the Sun. Overall, using educational content in this way not only enhances your speaking ability but also boosts your confidence when discussing scientific topics.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The transcript of the video contains several key grammatical structures and expressions that are useful for English learners:

  • The present tense to describe ongoing actions: For example, “The Earth spins as it moves in space.” This structure is commonly used to explain general truths.
  • Comparative phrases: Such as, “the side that faces the sun” vs. “the opposite side.” Understanding how to compare and contrast different concepts enhances your speaking clarity.
  • Time expressions: Phrases like “from the moment the Sun rises until the moment it goes down” teach you how to express duration and time effectively.
  • Conditional sentences: Using phrases like “if it’s well lit and warmed by the sun, it’s summer” helps learners understand cause-and-effect relationships.

By practicing these structures, you can improve your English pronunciation, particularly through the method of shadow speech, where you mimic the intonation and rhythm of the speaker.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While engaging with this video, pay attention to certain words and phrases that may present pronunciation challenges:

  • “Revolution” – The ‘r’ sound can be tricky; practice emphasizing the ‘rev’ sound without rushing through it.
  • “Polar” – This word contains a diphthong which may be difficult to pronounce for non-native speakers. Focus on ensuring a clear distinction between the sounds.
  • “Equator” – Emphasize the middle syllable correctly: e-‘quate’-or, to separate it from related terms.

Utilizing the shadowspeaks method, practicing challenging words in context allows you to refine your pronunciation and make your speech more natural. Recording your attempts and listening back can also help pinpoint specific areas for improvement in your shadow speak practices.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.