Shadowing Practice: English A1 | Easy English News | Zelensky Shares Ukraine's Drone Skills in Saudi Arabia - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Welcome to LinguaWire English A1.
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Welcome to LinguaWire English A1.
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Today we have two stories.
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One is about Ukraine and drones.
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The other is about new Olympic rules for women's sports.
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Please follow us to practice English every day with the latest episode.
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For transcripts and comprehension quizzes, visit lingwawire.com.
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I am here with Adam, LinguaWire's international news correspondent.
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Adam, what happened with Ukraine and Saudi Arabia?
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Hello, Daniel.
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Ukrainian President Zelensky visited Saudi Arabia on March 26.
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He said Ukraine can help with drone technology to improve security in the Gulf region.
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This is new because Ukraine wants to share its drone experience with other countries.
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Why does Ukraine want to share drone technology now?
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Zelensky said it is important because energy security depends on the Gulf.
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The Gulf countries have oil and gas.
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If these are safe, prices stay stable.
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This helps Europe and the world.
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What does Zelensky want in return for this help?
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He wants help to defend Ukraine.
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He said Middle Eastern countries have air defense missiles.
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Ukraine does not have enough of these missiles.
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He wants to make a deal to get some.
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Is there any progress with this deal?
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Some Ukrainian companies have talked with Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
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But the Ukrainian government has not yet allowed the sale.
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The companies say it is not just business, it is also political.
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Why is this drone deal important for Ukraine?
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It is important because Ukraine is still in conflict with Russia.
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Better defense means more safety for Ukraine.
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Also sharing drone technology can build good relations with other countries.
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What is interesting or new about this story?
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It is interesting that Ukraine has special experience with drones.
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Zelensky said Ukraine knows how to use drones with radars in aviation.
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This is not just about making new weapons.
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It is about real experience.
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What could happen next in this story?
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We may see a deal soon if the government agrees.
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could get missiles to help defend itself also Gulf countries might get new drone technology from Ukraine thank you Adam
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that was very clear now I am with Sarah lingua wires sports correspondent
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Sarah, what is the new rule for women's sports at the Olympics?
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Hello, Daniel.
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The International Olympic Committee said that from 2028,
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only biological females can compete in women's sports.
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This is a new rule for the Los Angeles Olympics.
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What does biological females mean in this rule?
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It means women who were born female and did not go through male puberty.
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The rule stops transgender women and some others from competing in the women's category.
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How will the Olympic Committee check this?
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They will do a once-in-a-lifetime sex test.
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It looks for the SRY gene,
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which is on the Y chromosome.
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This gene causes male characteristics.
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The test uses saliva, cheek swabs or blood samples.
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Why did the Olympic Committee make this new rule?
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The Olympic president, Kirsty Coventry,
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said it is about fairness and safety.
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She said small differences can change who wins.
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Also, in some sports, it could be unsafe if biological males compete in women's events.
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What happens to athletes who do not pass this test?
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They can still compete in other categories.
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For example, they can compete in male categories or mixed events.
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The IOC said they are still included in sports where sex is not a factor.
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What is surprising about this new rule?
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It is new that the IOC will use a gene test to decide eligibility.
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This is a very clear and scientific method.
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It is also the first time this rule will start at an Olympic Games.
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What could happen next with this rule?
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We will see how athletes and countries react.
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Some may agree, some may not.
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It could change how teams prepare for the 2028 Olympics.
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Thank you, Sarah.
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That was very helpful.
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Let's look back at some words from the first story about Ukraine and drones.
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The theme is security and defense.
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The first word is drone.
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A drone is a small flying machine without a pilot.
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In the story, Ukraine offers its drone technology to help security in the Gulf.
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For example, the farmer uses a drone to watch his crops.
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The second word is missile.
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A missile is a weapon that flies through the air to hit a target.
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Zelensky wants air defense missiles from Middle Eastern countries.
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For example, the country tested a new missile yesterday.
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The third word is security.
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Security means safety from danger or harm.
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The story talks about energy security and how drones can help keep it safe.
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For example, the bank has good security to stop thieves.
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Now, for our second part,
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let's learn the verb to offer.
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To offer means to say you will give something or help.
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We use it in the present, past, and future.
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For example, I offer my help.
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She offered a gift In the present,
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we say, I offer, you offer,
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and he or she offers In the past,
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we say, offered Here are two more examples They offer free classes
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He offered to carry the bags That is all for today's language recap
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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English with engaging content related to current events, focusing on Ukraine's advancements in drone technology and new Olympic rules affecting women's sports. By following along with this authentic material, you will improve your listening and speaking skills, enhancing your ability to discuss world affairs and sports topics. This lesson is particularly beneficial for English speaking practice and can aid in your IELTS speaking practice as you learn to articulate your thoughts clearly using relevant vocabulary and phrases.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Drone Technology: Unmanned aerial vehicles used for various purposes, including military and surveillance.
  • Energy Security: The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.
  • Biological Females: A term referring to individuals who were born female and have not undergone male puberty.
  • Political Deal: An agreement negotiated primarily for political reasons rather than strictly business interests.
  • Air Defense Missiles: Weapons designed to detect and destroy enemy aircraft or missiles.
  • International Olympic Committee: The governing body that oversees the Olympic Games and sets the rules for competition.
  • Radar in Aviation: A technology used to detect and locate objects in the sky, significantly benefiting drone operations.
  • Once-in-a-Lifetime Sex Test: A test administered to determine an individual's biological sex for competitive eligibility.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson, engage in a practice method called shadowspeak. This technique involves listening to a native speaker and repeating what they say in real-time, mimicking their pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Start by playing the video or transcript at a slower speed to capture the nuances of the speech before gradually increasing to normal speed.

Here are some effective strategies for applying shadow speech in this context:

  • Choose short segments of the transcript to focus on specific vocabulary, such as "drone technology" or "energy security." Repeat these phrases aloud to improve your pronunciation.
  • Pay attention to the tone and emotion in the speaker's voice as you practice. This will help you speak more naturally and confidently.
  • Record yourself during practice sessions and compare your speech to the original audio. This can help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Utilize this shadowing site to find additional resources on current events and related topics to enhance your vocabulary for future discussions.

By incorporating these techniques into your English learning journey, you can significantly elevate your speaking abilities and prepare effectively for situations like the IELTS speaking test.

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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