Shadowing Practice: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Impact | Geography | ClickView - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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- [Narrator] The Asia-Pacific area is a diverse, complex region made up of 2.9 billion inhabitants across dozens of countries.
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- [Narrator] The Asia-Pacific area is a diverse, complex region made up of 2.9 billion inhabitants across dozens of countries.
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For the past three decades, APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, has brought together 21 countries to pursue free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Since its creation, APEC has supported economic integration and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Agreements and policy initiatives facilitated through APEC have resulted in enormous economic growth in the region.
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Its gross domestic product, or GDP, more than doubled from 19 trillion to 46.9 trillion US dollars between 1989 and 2018.
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At the same time, the average per capita income in the Asia-Pacific area rose by 74%, lifting millions out of poverty and creating a growing middle class in less than three decades.
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- If you judge an organization or an entity by results, I'd have to say APEC is a very effective organization.
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Asia-Pacific is now the key driver of global economic growth.
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If Asia-Pacific was not driving growth, then the global world would be operating almost in consistent 0 to 1% growth rate at the moment.
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So they're actually an incredible driver.
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- [Narrator] APEC's core business of smoothing out trade barriers between its 21 member countries has also been very successful.
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Between 1989 and 2018, tariffs, border taxes on imports and exports, fell on average from 17% to 5.3%.
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Simultaneously, the region's total trade increased more than seven times, outpacing the rest of the world.
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Over 2/3 of this increased trading has occurred between Asia-Pacific countries, so the economic benefits have been felt mainly in the APEC region.
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- There's lots of economies mixed in there but what they've been able to do is in working together in a style in which it's called the APEC style, they've been able to create standards that operate across that region.
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And what's actually been enabled by that has been what's called the supply chain revolution because there are common standards that operate throughout APEC.
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The consequence of the supply chain revolution has seen a number of economies increase their growth exponentially.
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- [Narrator] APEC's efficacy is also linked to it being the only intergovernmental group that allows for partnerships with nonmember groups.
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APEC is open to cooperation with nonmembers so long as they align with its values and goals.
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Partnerships are open to governmental and non-governmental groups in other regions around the world.
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APEC has also sought to focus on issues broader than economic growth, such as the environment.
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Since 2010, APEC has facilitated agreements on significantly reducing tariffs on environmentally friendly technologies and goods, making it easier and cheaper to build and sell renewable energy technologies across the region.
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In 2011, member economies committed to reduce energy intensity in the region by 45% by the year 2030.
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In 2014, members agreed to work toward doubling the share of renewable energy by 2030 in APEC's energy mix, including power generation.
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Its proximity to the Ring of Fire makes the Asia-Pacific region vulnerable to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
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This vulnerability is now intensified by climate change.
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APEC has been instrumental in helping the region manage natural disasters.
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- The APEC community has actually been able to grapple with that as a collective and actually come up with solutions by early warning, management of the problems as a consequence of it, et cetera.
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The fact that it operates as a community is extremely helpful in mitigating or lessening the worst impacts of some of these natural disasters and shocks.
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[dramatic music] Global politics in recent years have been defined by countries questioning globalization and international integration and shifting toward nationalism.
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A stark example is Brexit, which signified a move away from free trade thinking, which benefited Europe for decades to more protectionist sentiments.
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The APEC community has witnessed similar trends.
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- [Protester] We have the power in numbers.
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We came here to protect our republic.
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- [Narrator] The America First policies of the Trump administration, defined by tariffs and trade barriers, particularly against China, as well as China's retaliation represented a distinct reversal from the goals of APEC.
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Increased competition between a strengthening China and her fellow APEC members, the US, Australia and New Zealand, could also prove problematic for APEC.
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- So there is the risk of geopolitical tension between the US and China playing out in the way in which the APEC community operates.
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As the competition between those two great powers intensifies, and perhaps China reveals an intention to be even a more dominant power in the APEC region, then we actually may see some forms of negative impact on the way in which the APEC community operates.
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- [Narrator] A deteriorated relationship between China and Australia further complicates matters, as does China's increasing insistence of its historical claim to Taiwan and its ramping presence in the South China Sea.
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine, resulting in considerable sanctions from some APEC countries has further strained the APEC community.
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APEC's ability to ensure members respect agreements and operate in the spirit of APEC's goals has also drawn scrutiny.
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APEC is a consensus-based forum.
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Commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis and APEC cannot make members implement agreements, something that other global organizations, like the World Trade Organization or the European Union are able to do.
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This is a core weakness of APEC.
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APEC has been crucial in cooperation and integration in the Asia-Pacific area.
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This work has benefited tens of millions of individuals throughout the region.
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But as geopolitical tension in Asia increases, APEC's aims for the region risk being undermined.
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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage with the complexities of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and its significant influence on the region's economy and international relations. By practicing with spoken content from the video, students will enrich their understanding of economic terms and global cooperation. This lesson aims to help learners improve English pronunciation, specifically in the context of discussing economics and geopolitics, making it an excellent choice for IELTS speaking practice and general English speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Asia-Pacific: Referring to the region encompassing East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
  • Economic integration: The process of unifying economies of different countries to promote trade and investment.
  • Tariffs: Taxes imposed on imported goods and services.
  • Supply chain revolution: Changes in how companies manage the production and distribution of goods due to new standards and technologies.
  • Renewable energy: Energy sourced from natural processes that are continuously replenished, such as solar or wind energy.
  • Geopolitical tension: Conflicts arising from the interaction between countries' geographical interests and political agendas.
  • Humanitarian crises: Situations in which there is a significant threat to the health, safety, or well-being of a large group of people.

Practice Tips

When practicing with this video, consider using the shadowspeak technique. This involves listening closely to the speaker and simultaneously repeating what they say, mimicking their pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. The video maintains a moderate speed, making it accessible for most learners. Here are some specific tips:

  • Start by watching the video without pausing, and pay attention to the overall message.
  • Focus on short segments; pause after every 1-2 sentences to repeat what you heard. This approach will help improve your English pronunciation.
  • Emphasize key vocabulary from the list while shadowing to reinforce your memory and comprehension.
  • Record yourself while practicing to evaluate your progress and pinpoint areas for improvement.
  • For those preparing for IELTS speaking practice, try to incorporate the new vocabulary into your responses about global issues or economic topics.

By consistently engaging in shadow speech from this transcript, you will not only enhance your speaking skills but also develop a deeper understanding of vital global economic concepts.

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.

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