Shadowing Practice: Advancing education and healthcare for persons with disabilities | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

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And on this occasion, we also take a look at Vietnam's progress to support this community thus far.
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Here's impressive data.
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Social allowances are provided to over 1.6 million people and inclusive education reaching 65% of children with disabilities.
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According to the National Statistics Office's latest report, by 2023, The literacy rate of people with disabilities age 15
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and over in urban areas rose from 74.4% in 2016 to 79% in 2023.
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The percentage of people with disabilities age 15 and over who received short-term vocational training or vocational secondary education
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and higher increased from 7.3% in 2016 to 8.8% in 2023 regarding health.
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The percentage of people with disabilities with health insurance rose to 14.6% in 2023, compared to 9.8% in 2016.
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These encouraging statistics certainly really shows Vietnam's strong commitment to ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities.
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However, transforming these policies into tangible benefits requires continuous effort and international collaboration.
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The UN joint program, Collaborating for an Inclusive Future, Advancing Education in Healthcare for Persons with Disabilities, is central to translating these commitments into action.
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Launched in August 2024, this 16-month joint effort by UNDP,
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UNFPA and UNICEF focuses on creating concrete advancements in inclusive education and accessible healthcare.
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Addressing resource gaps is vital.
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The program aims to provide financial and technical aid, for instance, supporting three schools in Da Nang to procure learning tools.
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It is technical and financial aid that will ensure students have equal access to necessary materials.
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In the first few years of secondary school, things were quite difficult for me, mainly because at that time I didn't have any books.
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That was the biggest challenge I faced during those school years.
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Program support is driven by local insights.
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Health staff and persons with disabilities associations led to 14 communication sessions for over 360 people in Tenthou,
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ensuring services are practical and break down access barriers.
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Everyone needs to believe that persons with disabilities are equal partners.
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They are not beneficiaries.
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They are not the recipients of PT.
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We invite them to design our projects and also they are the advisors throughout our program.
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We are proud to say that until now,
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UNDP has become a trusted friend with the community of persons with disabilities in Vietnam.
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With 10 months remaining, the program review moves from results to strategy.
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Maintaining momentum requires vision.
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The focus now is establishing a long-term roadmap for nationwide expansion.
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Vietnam has a lot of adjustment in the law for people with disabilities, the national master plan for people with disabilities.
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So disability inclusion is not an philanthropy activity anymore.
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It's a development policy.
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And we can see that very strong commitment along our collaboration with the government.
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Going forward, I think the focus for the next 10 months of the
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joint program will be on digitally accessible textbook will also continue
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the work on health education sexual reproductive health education making sure
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that that's available in the schools and that the health care
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and education facilities are inclusive after 16 months the UN joint program shines as a beacon of inclusive progress,
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transforming lives through education resource centers, disability-sensitive healthcare, and empowered voices of persons with disabilities.
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These dedicated efforts affirm Vietnam's unwavering commitment to a truly inclusive future.
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Khanh Bang reporting for Vietnam Today.
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Despite great progress, children with disabilities still face barriers.
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Next, let's hear insights from Sylvia Danelov, UNICEF representative in Vietnam, on these vital advancements for children.
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First of all, thank you so much for taking part in this discussion with Vietnam today.
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Thank you so much for having me today with you.
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The first question is,
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children are among the key groups prioritized under the United Nations joint program collaborating for an inclusive future advancing education
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and health care for persons with disabilities can you share the significance of this focus
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so children with disabilities continue to face some of the most persistent barriers to education and protection
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by placing them at the center the united nations joint program addresses these challenges early
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and strengthen the services that shape their learning, safety and long-term inclusion.
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This focus aligns with Vietnam's commitments under the International Convention on the Rights of the Child
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and the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
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ensuring that children with disabilities are fully included in both education and society, and their rights protected.
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So, throughout this program, what does UNICEF view as Vietnam's strongest advantage in policies concerning children with disabilities?
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Vietnam's greatest strength lies in its robust legal and policy framework for children with disabilities.
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The laws on children, persons with disabilities and education guarantee their rights to learn, be protected and participate equally.
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In addition, disability-inclusive sexuality education equips teachers to support adolescents with disabilities,
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helping them stay safe and build healthy relationships.
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In the future, how will UNICEF continue to protect children with disabilities
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and also children in general in this world full of digital risk?
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Children with disabilities face heightened risks online, from greater exposure and isolation to increased harm.
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To protect them and all children in the digital age, We, UNICEF and partners are building digital literacy,
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emotional resilience and safe online behavior,
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recognizing that children with disabilities are more likely to be targeted and less likely to know where to seek help.
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We support schools to teach online safety with accessible materials and ensure child protection systems provide confidential,
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disability sensitive support when harm occurs.
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Once again, thank you so much for taking part in this interview.
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Thank you so much for having me with you today.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice listening and speaking skills using a transcript that highlights Vietnam's advancements in education and healthcare for persons with disabilities. The focus will be on improving English pronunciation and conversational fluency through a structured shadow speaking exercise. Attendees will engage with words and phrases relevant to social support, education, and inclusion, fostering both comprehension and articulation. By the end of this session, learners will not only understand the context of the discussion but also enhance their ability to communicate effectively in English regarding similar social issues.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Inclusive education - A form of education that aims to include all students, regardless of their physical or intellectual abilities.
  • Social allowances - Financial support provided to individuals with disabilities to help meet their basic needs.
  • Vocational training - Specialized training designed to teach skills for specific jobs or professions.
  • Health insurance - Coverage that pays for medical expenses, including care for individuals with disabilities.
  • Access barriers - Obstacles that prevent individuals from obtaining necessary services or support.
  • Technical and financial aid - Support provided in terms of expertise and funding to enhance educational resources.
  • Empowered voices - The idea of giving individuals, particularly those with disabilities, the platform to express their thoughts and needs.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience while engaging with this transcript, it is recommended to employ a technique known as shadowspeak. Here are some specific tips:

  • Play the video or audio segment at a normalized speed to capture the essence of the speaker's tone and pacing.
  • Pause frequently after short phrases or sentences to repeat what you hear, focusing on mimicking the pronunciation and intonation as closely as possible.
  • Record your own speech as you engage in shadow speaking, then listen to it to identify areas for improvement in English pronunciation.
  • Practice in a quiet space where you can clearly hear the audio and concentrate on the nuances of speech.
  • Use this shadowing site for structured practice sessions, allowing for repetitive engagement with the material until you feel comfortable speaking about similar topics.

Remember, consistent practice through shadow speaking not only helps improve your English speaking practice but also builds confidence in discussing important global issues regarding inclusivity and educational advancement.

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.