Shadowing Practice: How to challenge your mind to keep your brain healthy - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This morning we continue our series Brain Health from Awareness to Action in partnership with our sponsor the Alzheimer's Association.
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This morning we continue our series Brain Health from Awareness to Action in partnership with our sponsor the Alzheimer's Association.
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All week we've been showing you science backed lifestyle choices that may help reduce your risk of dementia.
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For our final conversation I spoke with Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Joanne Pike about the organization's Rethink Your Brain Challenge,
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including the importance of challenging your mind.
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MIND.
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SO JOANNE, I LOVE THIS TOPIC.
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TELL US ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO CHALLENGE YOUR MIND AND WHAT DOES RESEARCH SHOW?
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THE ALZHEMERS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN LEADING RESEARCH ON BRAIN HEALTH FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT.
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AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED EVEN IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THAT SIMPLE ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN TAKE,
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WHETHER NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OR CHALLENGING YOUR MIND CAN IMPACT YOUR BRAIN HEALTH.
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CHALLENGING YOUR MIND AS PART OF THAT IS A GREAT WAY OF STIMULATING YOUR BRAIN AND learning new things.
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It builds a cognitive reserve so that when you are aging you have a bank of brain health to rely on.
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So what does it mean to challenge your mind?
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I mean people talk about doing crossword puzzles as a way to to keep their mind sharp or sudoku,
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sudoku, however you say it.
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Is that what you're talking about?
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That is certainly a game that you can play but we're thinking more about strategy games.
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Things that are not routine or rote.
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So we want to do things that you have to THEIR something new
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or engage in that in a new way
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that could be like chess where you have a partner
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and you have to take actions based on their actions
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or think that through learning a new instrument is also a brain challenge there are multiple ways
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that you can think about it the key step is to learn and for it to be novel or new
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You also stress the importance of social connection.
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How can that impact your brain?
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We know based on science that individuals who are isolated have a 70% greater risk of cognitive decline.
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A big piece of our rethink your brain challenge is around that brain activation.
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And so rethinking your mind is a key piece to that,
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not just in brain challenges,
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but also in creating greater social connection.
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I love that.
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What do you do to try to keep your brain sharp?
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That's a great question.
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Earlier this year I was working on my conversational Spanish
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but I'm a big reader
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so I as a public health professional I have a tendency to think about reading
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that is outside of what I already know
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so maybe a biography about someone who I don't know
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or something related to history that I'm not aware of so that I'm really learning something new as I'm doing something enjoyable.
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Learning is the key.
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Joanne Pike, muchísimas gracias.
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Thank you for joining us and you can sign up for the Rethink Your Brain six-step challenge at rethinkyourbrain.org

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice their English speaking skills by engaging with a video discussing brain health and the importance of challenging your mind. The focus will be on understanding key concepts related to mental stimulation, social connection, and learning new things. Through this practice, learners will not only enhance their vocabulary but also improve their pronunciation and conversation skills while discussing topics related to cognitive health.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Challenge your mind: To engage in activities that stimulate cognitive functions.
  • Cognitive reserve: A term referring to the brain's ability to improvise and find alternative ways of doing things.
  • Social connection: The relationships and interactions that help maintain mental health.
  • Routine or rote: Actions performed mechanistically without engaging one's mind.
  • Novel or new: Something that is original or unfamiliar, providing a fresh perspective.
  • Engage: To participate actively in an activity or conversation.

Practice Tips

When using a shadowing app for your English speaking practice, try the following techniques to maximize your learning:

  • Listen actively: Pay close attention to how the speakers articulate words, especially new vocabulary, like "cognitive reserve" and "social connection." This will help improve your English pronunciation.
  • Slow down: If the video is too fast, adjust the playback speed. Allow yourself to absorb each word and phrase before repeating.
  • Focus on expression: Notice the tone and emotion in the speakers’ voices. Mimicking their intonation and stress patterns can significantly enhance your speaking skills.
  • Repetition is key: Use the shadowing technique by repeatedly listening to sections of the video. Try to sound as natural as possible to capture the rhythm of the language.
  • Record yourself: After practicing with the video, use your phone or a recording device to capture your speech. Playback your recordings to identify areas for improvement.

Remember, the goal is to challenge your mind as well as your speaking abilities. Embrace the learning process, engage in discussions about brain health, and enjoy every moment of building your English proficiency!

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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