Shadowing Practice: Business English Speakers Can Still Be Divided by a Common Language - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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I'm Alex Villarreal with the VOA Special English Economics Report.
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I'm Alex Villarreal with the VOA Special English Economics Report.
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Business is the most popular subject for international students in the United States.
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At last count, 21 percent of foreign students at American colleges and universities were studying business and management.
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The Institute of International Education in New York says engineering is the second most popular field,
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in case you were wondering.
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Thomas Cose is a professor of marketing and business at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
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He says international students who want to study business need to have good English skills
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and not just to study at his school.
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But the world has more non-native speakers of English than native speakers.
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As a result, Americans working with foreign companies may need to learn some new English skills themselves.
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At the University of Richmond,
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teams graduate students work with companies seeking to enter the American market.
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The students learn about writing market entry studies.
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The reports are written in English,
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but Professor Cosset tells his students to consider who will read read them.
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He said his students have to write the report so
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that it can be understood by someone who is an English speaker but not a native English speaker.
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For example, he tells his students to avoid jargon and other specialized terms that people might not know in their own language.
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This can be good advice even when writing for other native speakers.
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But effective communication involves more than just words.
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Kay Westerfield is director of the International Business Communication Program at the University of Oregon.
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She says you must have the language skills as well as cultural intelligence.
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Cultural intelligence means the need to consider local behaviors in everything from simple handshakes to speaking to large groups.
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Still, Kay Westerfield says the ability of foreign workers to speak
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English is becoming more important to companies looking to move operations to other countries,
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or, as she puts it, to off-source.
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Also, she says English skills often provide a competitive edge for business students when they seek jobs.
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She said, As one business student in West Africa put it,
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English is a lifeline.
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For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal.
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You can read and listen to our programs and find activities for English learners at voaspecialenglish.com.
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We're also on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English.

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Context & Background

This video features a report by Alex Villarreal, highlighting the growing importance of English proficiency in business education, particularly for international students. With business studies attracting a significant proportion of foreign students in the United States, there is a pressing need for effective communication skills in English. As Thomas Cose, a professor at the University of Richmond, emphasizes, understanding the nuances of English is essential not just for native speakers, but also for non-native speakers who may bring different cultural contexts to the table. The focus is not only on language proficiency but also on cultural intelligence, which enhances the ability to work in diverse environments.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Consider your audience." - Essential when writing or speaking in a business context.
  • "Written in English." - A reminder that good writing skills are fundamental when communicating internationally.
  • "Avoid jargon." - Important advice to make your message accessible to all parties.
  • "Cultural intelligence." - This signifies the understanding of cultural nuances that go beyond language.
  • "English is a lifeline." - A perspective emphasizing the crucial role of English in global business.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Improving your English pronunciation and overall speaking skills can be effectively achieved through the shadowing technique, a method emphasized in this video. Here’s how you can apply this approach using the provided content:

  1. Select a segment: Choose a brief part of the video transcript, ideally one that contains the phrases listed above, to focus your practice.
  2. Listen carefully: Play the segment multiple times while paying attention to the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speaker's voice.
  3. Practice shadowing: Use the shadowspeak method by repeating what you hear in real-time. Aim to mimic the speaker's pace and style for an authentic experience.
  4. Record yourself: After shadowing, record your own version. This allows you to compare your pronunciation and rhythm with the original speaker.
  5. Review and refine: Identify areas for improvement by listening to both your recording and the original. Focus on nuances, such as stress on certain words and the fluidity of phrases. Revisiting challenging sections can enhance your confidence in speaking.

Using this shadowing site method on a regular basis can significantly enhance not only your English pronunciation but also your overall communication skills, making you more adept in business contexts. Consistent practice is key to mastering the language!

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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