Pratique du Shadowing: READING EXPLORER 1 UNIT 1: Monkey College - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
1
The coconuts
2
from very tall trees.
3
Trainer Somporn Saekwo says it takes months for the young monkeys to learn the strategy for picking coconuts.
4
For the first month, he just lets the monkey play.
5
He shows him how to spin a coconut in a box.
6
Then he holds the monkey's hand and encourages him to twist the coconut himself.
7
Later he brings the monkey to a tree
8
and lets him learn how to pick the coconuts that and the water ready to eat.
9
Step by step, the monkey goes higher and higher.
10
The trainer uses a rope to control and direct the monkey's work.
11
The monkey goes left, right, up and down.
12
When Somporn pulls the rope, the monkey goes faster.
13
Monkeys have been helping Thai farmers to pick coconuts for more than 100 years.
14
The monkeys climb trees and twist coconuts with their hands until the fruit falls to the ground.
15
Sompon Saekwo explains the advantages of using monkeys for this job.
16
Nowadays there are about 12,000 monkeys in Suratani that are working to pick coconuts helping humans.
17
If we climb up those trees, we can fall and die.
18
The coconut is an important fruit for farmers here.
19
Farmers can earn about $2 for every 100 coconuts that they bring to market.
20
People buy the fruit on Thai beaches, and it is also used in the country's popular coconut curry.
21
A huge number of coconuts, about 2 million, are produced each month in Thailand.
22
And many farmers say they couldn't pick the fruit without help from their monkeys.
23
Park D's three-year-old monkey assists with his work.
24
The monkey picks fruit from Park's own trees.
25
Park also lends the monkey to other farmers to earn extra money.
26
The animal is so valuable that Park never leaves it home alone.
27
The monkey could run away or somebody could take it.
28
Park D describes the system he uses.
29
I tie the monkey to a coconut tree near the house.
30
I give him rice to eat, sometimes with curry.
31
The monkey can live to be 13 years old, so he has 10 more years that he can work.
32
I don't need any more monkeys than I have now.
33
I just want to carry on with this monkey for his lifetime.
34
Farmers say that because the monkeys are so important to them, most are well cared for and don't have a hard life.
35
But some people make the animals work too hard and treat them badly.
36
In the past, everyone was training monkeys in a different way, and some people were hurting the monkeys.
37
Trainer Somporn Saekwo created a different, more gentle method of teaching monkeys, which is now used by others at the Monkey Training College.
38
Because a lot of Thailand's forests have disappeared, more and more monkeys now need man's help to be able to live.
39
All the monkeys that come to stay with us have a better living than in the jungle.
40
One side does not have an advantage over the other.
41
As long as Thailand continues to produce coconuts, these farmers will probably continue to use monkeys.
42
You see, the monkey and the coconut will be together always.
43
As long as you have the coconut, you will also have the monkey.

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video on "Monkey College" presents a unique context for practicing English speaking, making it an excellent resource for learners who wish to enhance their speaking skills. The narrative about the interaction between trainers and monkeys introduces engaging themes related to animal training, agriculture, and traditional practices in Thailand. By utilizing the shadowing technique, learners can imitate the speaker's intonation and rhythm, allowing for a more immersive experience in English. This method promotes better fluency and helps in improving overall communication skills, which is essential for tasks like IELTS speaking practice. Moreover, discussing the video content can open doors for rich conversations about cultural practices and environmental issues, thereby enhancing vocabulary and expression in English.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, various grammatical structures and expressions are employed that can serve as useful examples for English learners:

  • Present Simple Tense: "Farmers can earn about $2 for every 100 coconuts." This tense is used to express facts and habitual actions.
  • Modal Verbs: "Monkeys have been helping Thai farmers to pick coconuts for more than 100 years." The modal verb "have been" indicates an ongoing action, providing context for the relationship between farmers and monkeys.
  • Active Voice: "The trainer uses a rope to control and direct the monkey's work." Using the active voice makes sentences direct and clear, enhancing comprehension.
  • Comparative Structures: "One side does not have an advantage over the other." This comparison helps illustrate equivalent situations, useful in discussions.

By focusing on these structures, learners can not only improve their grammar but also their ability to articulate complex thoughts in English.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking, pay close attention to the following pronunciation challenges that may arise from the vocabulary used in the video:

  • Coconut: This word often trips up learners with its combination of syllables. Practice saying it slowly: "co-co-nut."
  • Trainer Somporn Saekwo: The name may be difficult to pronounce due to the unfamiliar sounds. Break it down into smaller parts to practice, ensuring correct stress on the syllables.
  • Assists: The ending sound can be tricky; ensure clarity in the "s" sound to avoid blending with the preceding vowels.

Incorporating these elements into your speaking practice enhances your ability to communicate effectively. Utilizing resources that support techniques like the shadowing site is an excellent method to improve English pronunciation while gaining confidence in your speaking abilities.

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.