シャドーイング練習: Why is sitting bad for your health? |🎙️ 8 Minute English | Beginner - 動画で英語スピーキングを学ぶ
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Hi, everyone.
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Welcome back to 8 Minute English on the Learn English Podcast channel.
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I'm Nathan, your host, and I'm thrilled to have you here with me today.
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Lately, I've noticed a common problem among my friends.
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Many of them have been complaining about back pain, stiff necks, and even feeling really tired during the day.
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But it got me thinking, could sitting too much be the reason behind all of this?
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That's exactly what we're going to explore today.
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Why is sitting bad for your health?
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We'll also share a fun conversation between some characters who will dive into this topic in more detail.
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And don't forget, we have a free PDF for this episode with key tips and vocabulary to help you practice your English.
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So grab your seat, but not for too long, and let's get started.
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Hey Alex, you've been stretching your neck a lot today.
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Are you okay?
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Uh, not really, Jamie.
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My neck and back are killing me lately.
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I think it's from sitting too much.
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That could definitely be it.
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I saw a video recently where a doctor explained how sitting for long hours can mess with your body.
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Really?
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What did they say?
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Well, for one, sitting puts a lot of pressure on your lower back, which can cause pain over time.
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Plus, bad posture while sitting makes it even worse.
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That makes sense.
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I always end up slouching by the end of the day.
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Exactly.
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And it's not just about your back.
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Prolonged sitting can reduce blood circulation.
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Reduce circulation?
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What does that do?
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It can make you feel tired, and it might even increase your risk of varicose veins.
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Hi, sorry to interrupt.
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I couldn't help but overhear your conversation.
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Oh, hey, Chris, join us.
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We were just talking about how sitting too much affects your health.
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Perfect timing.
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I actually had to see a physiotherapist last month because of severe back pain.
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Really?
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What caused it?
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Sitting for 8-10 hours every day at my desk.
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I didn't realize how much damage it was doing until the pain became unbearable.
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That sounds awful.
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What did the physiotherapist say?
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They explained that my muscles had weakened from lack of movement, and my posture had made things worse.
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If left untreated, they said, prolonged sitting can lead to more serious conditions like herniated discs.
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Herniated discs?
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That sounds scary.
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It is.
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It's when the cushion-like discs between your spine bones move out of place, causing severe pain and sometimes even nerve damage.
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Yikes.
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Can sitting really cause nerve damage?
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Yes, especially if poor posture is involved.
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It can pinch nerves in your back, leading to pain that radiates down your legs or arms.
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That sounds unbearable.
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It really is.
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And the physiotherapist said prolonged sitting also increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.
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Osteoporosis?
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That's the condition where your bones become weak and brittle, right?
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Exactly.
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Sitting too much reduces bone density because there's no weight-bearing activity to keep your bones strong.
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Wow, I didn't realize sitting could have such long-term effects.
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That's why the physiotherapist emphasized the importance of early intervention.
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Acting quickly?
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Yes, things like improving posture, stretching regularly, and strengthening your core muscles can prevent these problems from getting worse.
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I guess it's never too late to start making changes.
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So, what did they recommend?
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A mix of stretching, core strengthening exercises, and standing breaks every 30 minutes.
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That makes sense.
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I've been meaning to try yoga for better posture.
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Yoga's great.
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My physiotherapist recommended it too.
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What about standing desks?
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Are they worth it?
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Absolutely.
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I switch to a standing desk and it's made a huge difference.
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I feel more active throughout the day.
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That's encouraging.
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Do you have any other tips?
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Keep moving.
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Even a five-minute walk during your lunch break can do wonders.
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Thanks, Chris.
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I'll definitely start making some changes.
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Same here.
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Time to take those breaks seriously.
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Let's go over some helpful phrases from today's conversation.
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1. Poor posture, sitting in a way that is not healthy for your body.
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Example, poor posture can cause back pain and neck stiffness.
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2. Sedentary lifestyle, a way of life that involves little or no physical activity.
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Example, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to health problems like obesity.
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3. Circulation, the movement of blood around your body.
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Example, sitting too long can reduce circulation and cause your legs to feel numb.
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4. Core muscles, the muscles in your stomach, back, and hips that support your body.
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Example, strengthening your core muscles can improve your posture and reduce back pain.
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5. Break the habit to stop doing something that is bad for you.
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Example, it's hard to break the habit of sitting for long hours, but it's worth it.
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6. Take a stretch break to stop for a moment to stretch your body and relax your muscles.
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Example, remember to take a stretch break every 30 minutes to stay active.
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Now let's dive into two questions about today's topic.
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Question 1.
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What are some health risks of sitting for too long?
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Sitting for long hours can lead to back pain, reduced blood circulation, and even increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
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Question 2.
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What's one small change you can make to reduce the harm of sitting?
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For me, I set an alarm to remind myself to stand up and stretch every hour.
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What about you?
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Let us know your tips in the comments below.
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Let's talk about some surprising facts and studies about sitting for long periods.
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Did you know that sitting for more than six hours a day increases your risk of early death by up to 20%?
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This was found in a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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And it's not just physical health.
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Sitting too much also affects your brain.
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Research from UCLA shows that excessive sitting can reduce the thickness of the part of your brain responsible for memory and learning.
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That's pretty scary, right?
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But here's the good news.
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small changes can make a big difference.
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For example, a study by the Mayo Clinic found that standing for just 30 minutes can boost your blood circulation significantly.
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And if you combine standing with light activity like walking, the benefits are even greater.
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One fun fact, standing desks are becoming increasingly popular in offices worldwide.
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Some companies even provide treadmill desks.
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Can you imagine walking while typing an email?
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Another fascinating study found that fidgeting, like tapping your foot or bouncing your leg, might help counteract some of the effects of sitting.
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So even small movements matter.
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Remember, the goal isn't to avoid sitting completely, but to find balance.
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If you can, try setting a timer to remind yourself to stand or stretch every 30 minutes.
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And of course, check out the PDF for more tips and exercises you can try right now.
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Let us know in the comments, what small change will you try today to sit less and move more?
この動画でスピーキングを練習する理由
この動画は、健康における座りすぎの影響を議論する内容です。英語スピーキング練習を通じて、具体的なトピックについての議論を練習することで、言語能力を高めることができます。視聴者は、友人同士の会話形式で話される内容を聞きながら、実際の生活で使えるフレーズや語彙を学ぶことができます。このような相互作用的な形式は、shadowspeaksやshadow speechの練習に最適で、自信を持って英語を話すスキルを向上させます。
文法と表現の文脈での分析
この動画では、いくつかの重要な文法構造と表現が使用されています。以下にその例を挙げます：
- 構文の確認：could be - 疑問を持ったり可能性を示す際に使われる表現で、例えば「座りすぎが原因かもしれない」といった文脈です。
- 時間の表現：for long hours - 長時間にわたる状況を説明するためのフレーズで、日常会話やビジネスで役立ちます。
- 原因と結果：can cause - 特定の行動がどのように影響するかを述べる際に重要な表現です。「座ることは痛みを引き起こすことがある」といった使い方が確立されています。
これらの表現は、YouTubeで英語学習をする際に特に価値があります。実際に使われる文脈で学ぶことで、より自然な英会話ができるようになります。
よくある発音の落とし穴
この動画には、いくつかの発音に関して難しさを感じる可能性のある単語が含まれています。以下に注意が必要なポイントを挙げます：
- Pressure - 発音が難しい単語の一つで、特に「p」と「r」の音を区別するのが挑戦かもしれません。
- Sitting - 母音の音に注意が必要で、不正確に発音すると意味が変わる場合があります。
- Circulation - 滞りの音に気をつけ、スムーズに話すことが求められます。
これらの発音を練習することは、英語スピーキング練習において重要です。特にshadow speakの手法を使って反復することで、より正確な会話が可能になります。
シャドーイングとは？英語上達に効果的な理由
シャドーイング（Shadowing）は、もともとプロの通訳者養成プログラムで開発された言語学習法で、多言語習得者として知られるDr. Alexander Arguelles によって広く普及されました。方法はシンプルですが非常に効果的：ネイティブスピーカーの英語を聞きながら、1〜2秒の遅延で声に出してすぐに繰り返す——まるで「影（shadow）」のように話者を追いかけます。文法ドリルや受動的なリスニングと異なり、シャドーイングは脳と口の筋肉が同時にリアルタイムで英語を処理・再現することを強制します。研究により、発音精度、抑揚、リズム、連音、リスニング力、そして会話の流暢さが大幅に向上することが確認されています。IELTSスピーキング対策や自然な英語コミュニケーションを目指す方に特におすすめです。