Shadowing Practice: Building Machines With Human-Like Senses - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.
⏸ Paused
24 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.
2
Every year, IBM chooses five new technologies that the company believes will change the world within the next five years.
3
The list is called Five in Five.
4
IBM says it considers its own research and the new directions of society and business when identifying the technologies.
5
This year, the list describes devices that will extend our five senses.
6
Imagine looking for clothes online and touching your computer or smartphone to feel the cloth.
7
IBM's Vice President of Innovation,
8
Bernie Meyerson, says this technology could be available in the next five years.
9
Touch is just one of the senses that technology will help to extend.
10
IBM says smart machines will soon be able to listen to the environment and give us information about the sounds they hear.
11
For example, Bernie Meyerson says an advanced speech recognition system will tell new parents why their baby is crying.
12
Smart machines will also help identify medical conditions.
13
If you sneeze on your computer or cell phone,
14
the device will study the molecules that came out of your mouth.
15
It will then tell you whether you need to see a doctor.
16
Another prediction is that computers will be better able to not just look at images
17
but understand what they show and act on that information.
18
Bernie Meyerson
19
says IBM scientists are also developing a computer system that can examine
20
and combine molecules to create the most popular flavors and smells.
21
Mark Malouf is a computer scientist at Georgetown University.
22
He says it will be exciting to see what young people will do with the mobile technology,
23
networking, and computing power of tomorrow.
24
For VOA Learning English, I'm Carolyn Prasuti.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

Engaging with the Technology Report focused on "Building Machines With Human-Like Senses" offers a rich opportunity for learners to grasp essential conversational skills in English. The speaker covers innovative technologies that enhance human-like interactions, creating an ideal backdrop for practicing your speaking abilities. By shadowing the content, you can:

  • Develop an understanding of technical vocabulary.
  • Improve your ability to discuss current events and technology advancements.
  • Enhance your fluency through repetition of real-world dialogue and scenarios.

Utilizing this video as part of your IELTS speaking practice can also help familiarize you with formal English structure and academic discussions, both valuable for your exams.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The speaker employs a variety of grammatical structures and expressions that can enrich your English speaking capabilities. Here are some key phrases and constructions used in the transcript:

  • “IBM says it considers its own research and the new directions of society and business…” – This example showcases the present simple tense used for general truths and reporting statements.
  • “Imagine looking for clothes online…” – An imperative mood encourages learners to visualize possibilities, an effective strategy for engaging listeners in conversation.
  • “will soon be able to listen to the environment…” – The future simple tense is used here to express predictions, an essential structure for discussing future technology.

Incorporating these structures into your own speech will help you communicate complex ideas effectively, enhancing your fluency in shadowspeak.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice, pay attention to some tricky words and phrases from the video that learners often mispronounce:

  • “molecules” – This word can trip up non-native speakers due to its three syllables. Practice saying it clearly: mol-e-cules.
  • “innovation” – Make sure to emphasize the second syllable: in-no-VA-tion.
  • “environment” – The challenge lies in pronouncing the middle syllables correctly, aiming for en-VIR-on-ment.

Improving your English pronunciation in these areas will significantly enhance your speaking skills, allowing you to communicate with more clarity in both casual and formal settings. Regular practice will lead to mastery, so take advantage of the shadowing techniques offered through this informative content!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee