Shadowing Practice: A320 Energy Management - VVTS, correct descent and approach example - Learn English Speaking with Video

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So in this video we are flying into Tansenath airport and everything went correctly so let's have a look.
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So at the moment we are at 20 miles, passing 5000 feet at greenhouse speed.
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So let's do a profile calculation.
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20 times 3 is 6000 feet, minus 1000 to slow down, which makes 5000 feet.
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And we're on profile.
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Slightly below, so vertical speed is selected to reduce the vertical speed just a little bit to go back on profile.
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Next profile calculation will be at 15 miles, so knowing by heart this is 4500 feet.
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When we're doing green knot speed we should fly 1000 feet lower, so at 15 miles we should fly at 3500 feet.
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And it looks like we'll be able to make that just fine.
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So skipping ahead a little bit.
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Next, we want to start to slow down at 15 nautical miles, so selecting flap 1 and slowing down to S -speed.
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Um, Okay, so here is 15 NM and shortly after flap 1 is selected. About there.
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Okay, so it takes a little bit longer, that is fine.
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Okay, 13 miles a bit on the late side, but it still works okay.
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So vertical speed selected 800 feet a minute, and it should be reduced now so that the speed can reduce to S speed.
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Now we want to check where we can select flap to.
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So we either fly one dot below the glide slope like this and select the flap at 3000 feet, passing 3000 feet, or if we fly level at 3000 feet
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when the glide slope comes in and then one dot we select flap.
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So we are keeping descending here, so passing 3000 feet, one not below the glideslope at S speed, we can select flap 2.
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There's lab 2 selected.
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Yeah. And then you can...
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Okay, I see the approach wasn't armed yet.
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Okay, just armed in time, good.
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So now we can intercept the glide slope.
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And once it's on the glide slope, the aircraft will start to descend further.
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You can see that the aircraft is not yet on the localizer.
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So here you have to be a little bit careful with the vertical speed.
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Because if you set to a little vertical speed, the aircraft will end up above the glide slope because it's not yet in log star.
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So that's why now the vertical speed is increased to keep the aircraft on the glide slope.
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That's very important.
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How much do you set?
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Half the ground speed or more.
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Okay, so it will go into log star soon.
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when we're near this point here.
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and after that okay so that there's log star
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and now we can reduce the vertical speed again to force the aircraft on the glide slope.
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um So there's the vertical speed reduced, not too much.
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Okay, so a little bit more.
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So soon the aircraft will go into, yeah, this is better, a little bit small amount of vertical speed to force the aircraft on the glide slope.
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There we go, glide slope star.
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And next we have to look when to lower the gear.
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So if the speed is a bit on the high side, on the middle side upwards, we can lower the gear at 2 ,500 feet.
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And if the speed is on the low side from the middle downwards, we can lower the gear at 2 ,000 feet.
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take the ground or the wind into account.
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If there's any tailwind you might want to lower the gear a bit earlier.
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Okay, so gear is lowered.
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Next we want to select the flaps.
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Once we have three greens, we can select flap three and then flap full, not later than 1800 feet.
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So there's Flap tree will be selected right there.
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Next will be flap full.
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Now we want to be stable at 1500 feet to give us a little bit of margin. And...
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Let me skip ahead a little bit more.
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So we have full selected, we're at 1500 feet, we're almost on speed target, and flying a stable approach.
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So that was it.
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I hope you enjoyed, and thank you for watching.
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If you like this video, please consider buying my book Practical Descent Energy Management.
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It contains loads of examples of how to manage a descent and approach, and it is the only book available on this subject.
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There is a paperback and an e -book version available.
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You can find a link in the description below.

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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

This video on A320 energy management provides a unique context for English learners, especially those interested in aviation. As you engage with the content, you immerse yourself in the specialized vocabulary and technical expressions related to flight management. By practicing your speaking skills with this material, you not only enhance your English proficiency but also delve into an industry-specific lexicon that can be valuable for future career opportunities in aviation or engineering.

Participating in English speaking practice using this video enables you to develop your ability to articulate complex concepts clearly. It encourages you to use terms like "glide slope," "vertical speed," and "approach," fostering an understanding of both technical language and conversational structure. Additionally, employing the method of shadowing allows you to mimic the speaker's intonation, pace, and emphasis, which can significantly boost your confidence in speaking.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the transcript, the speaker uses various grammatical structures and expressions that you can emulate in your own spoken English:

  • Conditional Structures: The speaker mentions, "If we fly level at 3000 feet when the glide slope comes in..." This conditional form is useful for discussing potential outcomes and scenarios, a common conversational framework.
  • Impersonal Passive Voice: Phrases like "the approach wasn't armed yet" highlight the passive voice in action. This construction is often used in technical contexts to focus on actions rather than the doer.
  • Direct Commands: Commands such as "select flap 1" demonstrate concise instructions, which are essential in both aviation terms and general speaking scenarios. Learning to give direct commands can improve instructional speech, especially in professional settings.
  • Time Indicators: Expressions like “at 15 miles” or “shortly after” help establish clear timelines, which are vital for effective communication. These phrases guide listeners through processes and sequences.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with this video, be attentive to specific words and phrases that may pose pronunciation challenges:

  • Vertical speed: The term may be unfamiliar; focus on the stress pattern as "VER-tical speed." This word can easily be mispronounced if the learner is not careful.
  • Glide slope: This aviation term should be pronounced as "GLIDE slope," emphasizing the first syllable. Mispronunciation can lead to confusion in technical discussions.
  • Approach: A common term in aviation, ensure that you articulate it clearly as "a-PROACH," noting the 'ch’ sound at the end.
  • Localizer: This word can be particularly tricky; make sure to pronounce it as "LO-cal-izer," stressing the first syllable correctly to convey the term's importance accurately.

By focusing on these pronunciation points and practicing through a shadowing site, you can significantly improve your English pronunciation and fluency. Use websites like shadowspeaks to enhance your training sessions, ensuring that you can navigate both general and technical discussions with ease.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →