Shadowing Practice: Facebook Finds New Friends in the World of Private Finance - 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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Facebook is the world's biggest social network and the subject of the movie The Social Network.
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The real Mark Zuckerberg and his friends at Harvard University launched the site in 2004.
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Facebook says it reached 500 million users last July.
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Now, the American bank Goldman Sachs and the Russian company Digital Sky Technologies have friended Facebook.
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They are investing a total of $500 million in the company.
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The deal values Facebook at $50 billion,
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more than many publicly traded internet companies.
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Goldman Sachs is expected to raise a billion
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and a half dollars more by selling shares of ownership in Facebook to rich investors.
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The plan does not include a public stock offering,
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at least not right now.
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For now, Facebook would remain a private company,
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meaning a company that does not sell shares to the public.
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The plan has brought new attention to the largely secretive world of private financing
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and the rules for private companies in the United States.
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The idea is that investors in public companies have protections that investors in private companies do not.
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The Securities and Exchange Commission says a private company must report financial information if it has more than 500 shareholders.
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A new business, a startup company,
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is usually considered too risky for average investors.
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But a promising startup may find a small number of private investors,
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often known as angels.
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These investors are willing to lose everything for a chance at big returns.
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Ricky Tada has been involved in raising money for startups.
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He is now chairman of his own investment company,
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CoVestor, with offices in New York and London.
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Mr. Tada compares the difference between public and private companies to the difference between marriage and dating.
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When people are dating, he says,
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there are understandings but few rules.
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In marriage, the rules are more clear and well-defined.
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In his opinion, the only real benefit for a private company is lower administrative and record-keeping costs.
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Yet he tells us CoVestor remains a private company after a few years because it is still too risky for most investors.
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For VOA Special English, I'm Alex Villareal.
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You can comment on our programs and find transcripts and MP3s at voaspecialenglish.com.
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We're on Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English.

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Context & Background

In the video titled "Facebook Finds New Friends in the World of Private Finance," Alex Villarreal from VOA Special English discusses the significant financial developments surrounding Facebook, a leading social media platform. The discourse revolves around Facebook's partnerships with major financial entities like Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies. These partnerships have marked Facebook's valuation at a staggering $50 billion and provide insight into the dynamics of private financing compared to public companies. Understanding this context not only enriches one's knowledge of financial terminology but also aids learners in navigating complex discourse.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Friend request” - A common term on social media for inviting someone to connect.
  • “Private company” - Refers to a business that does not sell its shares publicly, often less regulated.
  • “Startup” - A new business typically in the early stages of development.
  • “Angel investor” - An individual who provides capital for a startup, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity.
  • “Public stock offering” - The process by which a private company offers shares to the public for the first time, becoming a publicly traded company.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use the shadowing technique for improving your English speaking practice, follow these steps based on the video's content:

  1. Listen Actively: Watch the video several times, focusing on the vocabulary and phrases used. Pay attention to the speaker’s rhythm and intonation.
  2. Repeat Immediately: After each sentence or phrase, pause the video and repeat what you just heard. This method can significantly enhance your English pronunciation.
  3. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone or a recording device to capture your voice while you practice. Compare your recordings to the original video to evaluate your progress.
  4. Focus on Difficult Sections: Identify any particular phrases or words that are challenging and practice them repeatedly. This step is crucial for tasks like IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Engage in Conversation: After practicing the phrases, try to use them in conversations with friends or language partners. This real-time application will boost your confidence and fluency in speaking.

By integrating these steps into your learning routine, you will significantly improve your English pronunciation and overall speaking ability. Remember, consistency is key in language learning, so make shadow speech a regular part of your practice!

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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