Shadowing Practice: Four innovative ways people are fighting blocks on the internet - BBC World Service Documentaries - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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When governments put restrictions on the  internet, millions are cut off from the world.
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When governments put restrictions on the  internet, millions are cut off from the world.
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From China s vast Great Firewall to  sweeping internet shutdowns in Iran, censorship is increasingly being used as a tool  for state control. But pockets of resistance are taking shape. People are finding innovative  ways to bypass restrictions... We needed something else. Something else that wasn't  there. and secretly gaining unfettered access to the internet. People need internet to be  able to share what's happening on the ground.
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But who are these people - and why are they  risking so much to keep information free?
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In China if you are found by the police  or the intelligence services to be helping people access the internet freely, you may  be arrested by the Chinese government.
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This man only agreed to talk to me on the basis  that we did not film him or reveal his real identity. He is the cofounder of a service  that is helping people in China access parts of the internet that are blocked in the country.   He left 10 years ago fearing for his safety.
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The government is afraid of what people will  see if they had access to everything. Sometimes, when there s news, domestically and overseas, the  Chinese government will use only one voice in the media which is controlled by the government.  They are afraid of different voices.
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My service lets them bypass the great firewall to  access sites like Google, YouTube and Facebook.
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The Great Firewall is one of the most  sophisticated technological systems operating in the world. It filters and blocks corridors of  the internet including news sites, social media platforms, search engines, streaming platforms,  and other sites critical of the government.
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China s own social media ecosystem is dominated by  home-grown, state-controlled apps like WeChat and Weibo, which are regularly monitored. Officially,  China frames controlling the internet and media as something crucial for national security.  That means keeping the society stable - free from dissidence - and ensuring that the  Communist Party can continue to rule.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that  if the party could not overcome the hurdle presented by the internet, it cannot overcome  the hurdle of remaining in long-term power.
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Approximately 5,000 kilometres away, China s  technology has become the blueprint for similar infrastructure in Iran. After the government shut  down the internet earlier this year following its deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, whispers  of information - of extrajudicial killings, unlawful arrests and beatings - trickled out.   The internet eventually came back on. But since the beginning of the US-Israeli war with Iran,  the internet has, once again, been shut off.
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Tens of millions of people have  been cut off from their families, livelihoods and access to information.   But an underground network of people outside the country has found a  way to get some people online.
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I m smuggling Starlink to fight the internet  blackout. People need internet to be able to share what's happening on the ground. Plus, we want to  make sure that whatever gets out of the country is not being manipulated by the Iranian  regime's narrative. Sahand, whose real name we can t reveal, is part of a clandestine  network of Iranians dotted across the globe smuggling Starlink satellite technology, which  helps connect people to the internet in Iran.
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We purchase Starlinks and smuggled them through  the borders. It is a very complex operation.
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I m not going to give you the exact number, but we  have sent over a dozen and we are actively looking for other ways to smuggle in more. The satellite  technology, which is also being used in Myanmar, has become a lifeline since the civil war began  after a military coup in 2021. Secret, pop-up internet cafes like this one, which relies on  the technology, have cropped up in some areas.
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But running the internet caf is risky because  it s not allowed by the military authorities.
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In this shop, there are about 30  people who use Starlink every day.
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It is mostly used by displaced people who were  trying to run away from war and other people from nearby villages. Phyu, whose name we ve also  changed, opened up this cafe four months ago.
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But it s a task that comes with challenges.   When the planes are flying nearby, we have to turn off the lights immediately.  If Starlink is blocked, people like us will surely be plunged into darkness. Digital  rights group Myanmar Internet project has reported more than 400 internet shutdowns  2021 - affecting 40% of the population.
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Around the world, internet shutdowns are  increasingly being used by governments to quash the flow of information. But this isn t the only  method. I left Venezuela in late 2024 after the presidential elections. In Venezuela Andr s  Azpur a says being critical of the government made him a target. It's impossible to know 100% what  was going to happen. But all the signs were there of them trying to find where I was and trying to  capture me. Two years ago, his NGO La conexion segura y libre launched Noticias sin filtro -  Unfiltered News in English - possibly the first news app with a built in Virtual Private Network  that helps to conceal your location. Most independent news websites are unaccessible  to the average Venezuelan because of the pervasive internet censorship that is in the  country. If you have to promote the use of VPN, you have to explain what a VPN is And if they have  to pay, then again, those are increasing barriers to entry. Once the people download it, then  they have to remember to turn on the VPN before checking a news website. So, we decided to do  something completely different. So, as a concept, it s a newsreader, not a VPN. Some private media  organisations do exist but they face repercussions of being shut down or surveilled if the  government does not like what they have to say.
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Venezuela Myanmar China Iran Across the world,  governments are limiting access to information and blocking communication platforms many of us take  for granted. While the means to defy censorship develop rapidly, it s individual acts of defiance  that are helping people to get the truth out.

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Context & Background

The recent BBC World Service documentary sheds light on the increasing trend of internet censorship worldwide, highlighting how various governments employ different tactics to restrict access to information. From China's Great Firewall to internet shutdowns in Iran and Myanmar, millions of individuals face barriers to online communication. The documentary features brave individuals who are risking their safety to ensure that critical information flows unobstructed, utilizing technology to bypass restrictions and maintain connectivity. The urgency and necessity of this issue emphasize the importance of free access to information, especially in regions where media narratives are tightly controlled.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I need access to information.” - Vital in requesting news or updates in an information-restricted environment.
  • “Can you help me bypass the restrictions?” - A direct plea for assistance when facing censorship.
  • “We must share the truth.” - A phrase to rally support for information dissemination.
  • “What’s the latest news?” - Essential to initiate conversations about current events.
  • “Stay safe while connecting.” - A reminder of the risks involved when circumventing censorship.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively employ the shadowing technique from this video, follow this step-by-step guide to enhance your English pronunciation and speaking skills:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by viewing the documentary and paying attention to the context. This will provide you with an understanding of the subject matter, making it easier to follow along when practicing.
  2. Listen Actively: Focus on the narrator's pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Notice how they articulate sentences, especially those focused on the importance of communication and information freedom.
  3. Start with Short Segments: Choose brief sections of the transcript or video. Listen to a single sentence multiple times until you feel comfortable.
  4. Repeat Aloud: Use the shadow speech technique—speak along with the audio. Imitate the narrator's tone, speed, and emotion for a more realistic practice.
  5. Record Yourself: Using your phone or a recorder, capture your voice as you practice. This will help you identify areas for improvement, particularly in your pronunciation and fluency.
  6. Review and Refine: Play your recording back and compare it with the original. Take note of any discrepancies in your speech and work on those specific areas during subsequent practices.

By integrating the shadowing technique into your learning routine, you can significantly improve English pronunciation while engaging with meaningful content relevant to today's world. Whether preparing for IELTS speaking practice or simply enhancing your conversational abilities, this method offers a practical and effective approach.

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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