Shadowing Practice: Labour force reskilling in AI age | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Vietnam's labor market continues to show positive signs in 2026,
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with nearly 50,000 jobs created in Hanoi in the first quarter and unemployment remaining below 3%.
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But as the job market evolves, new challenges are emerging.
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Definitely.
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And one of the main drivers of this challenge has got to be artificial intelligence.
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And as workers are under growing pressure to adapt to new technologies, Reskilling is becoming essential to staying competitive in the AI age.
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So now let's take a closer look.
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He's clicking loudly.
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Bing carefully rewrites his CV, refining every line and polishing each bullet point in search of something that stands out.
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But behind the effort, a quiet concern lingers.
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As I prepare for graduation, I feel quite worried because AI is increasingly capable of replacing many language-related tasks,
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including translation and interpretation.
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Besides improving professional knowledge, I also need to develop soft skills and gain more practical experience, especially in communication and presentation.
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As A-Agen transforms the workplace, employers are increasingly prioritizing adaptable skill sets over traditional qualifications.
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People start switching from the degree-based hiring into skills-based hiring.
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People don't look into the role as the job title like before, but they look for the skill set.
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And sometimes the combination of the skill set can, you know, setting up a new role that people never seen it before.
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And this is very interesting that it makes all of us go beyond the limit.
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LinkedIn data suggests that around 20.8% of jobs in Vietnam could be exposed to generative AI, with experts warning the key challenge is now whether workers can
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be re-skilled fast enough to keep up with rapid labor market changes.
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Since 2024, AI has been one of the company's key strategic programs.
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Our company has introduced mandatory AI training programs for all employees, covering AI fundamentals, practical applications, and prompting techniques.
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Beyond technical skills, the company also focuses on helping employees embrace change, build confidence in using AI, and apply the technology responsibly.
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We are developing new workflows that enable people and AI to work together more effectively.
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The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 warns that around 39% of core skills will change, highlighting a rapid shift in labor market demands.
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As a result, Reskilling and continuous adaptation are becoming essential, with workers increasingly expected not just to use AI, but to manage it effectively.
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And we have just seen how workers and employers alike are adapting to the AIH.
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But AIH is one aspect of a much broader transformation taking place in the labor market.
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So what more can be done to help workers adapt and thrive?
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To find out, our reporter spoke with Mr. Felix Waden-Kalb, Employment and Labor Market Policy Specialist at the International Labor Organization, or ILO.
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Thank you Mr. Felix for joining our interview today.
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Thank you very much for having me.
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The LinkedIn data reveals a strong massive demand for high skilled labour, yet Vietnam has a low percentage of certified workers.
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From the ILO's perspective, how can Vietnam create a national framework for lifelong learning
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that allows older or low skilled workers to reskill without losing their livelihoods?
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It's very important for Vietnam to, for a national framework, to move towards more flexible pathways that could include modular courses,
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online and blended learning, apprenticeships, work-based learning.
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Today, I would like to highlight actually the recognition of prior learning.
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Many workers in Vietnam already have skills that they obtained, be it through the family business.
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Economic upgrading also means reskilling workers, and that will need very practical support not only for the younger generation of workers but throughout the life cycle.
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What is the ILO's stance on ensuring a human in command approach?
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The recent ILO brief on Gen AI and jobs in Vietnam shows
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that actually around 20.8% of the total employment in Vietnam is potentially exposed to Gen AI.
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But it is only 1.8% of this total employment that is most exposed to the risk of automation.
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Human in command from an ILO perspective means that workers themselves, but also the organization representing workers,
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trade union, involved even before AI systems are introduced.
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This should allow workers to be able to move more to more productive jobs,
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but while also supporting workers that are currently in heavily exposed jobs to Gen AI.
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And how can the LLO and the Vietnamese government collaborate to ensure gender-responsive employment policies in these digital sectors,
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preventing a digital gender gap and ensuring that women have equal access to these high-value roles identified in this data?
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Tackling a digital gender gap needs to take a more holistic
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gender responsive approach in Vietnam where women account for 55.5% of the total employment exposed to Gen AI.
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One key priority can also be that young women and girls have access to and to STEM programs,
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ensuring that there's no discrimination and more actually more gender responsive action in the workplace that enables.
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also willing to flourish in technology-oriented jobs in the future.
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Thank you for your insights.
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Thank you very much.

Context & Background

The landscape of Vietnam's labor market is rapidly changing as we advance into the AI age. With nearly 50,000 jobs created in Hanoi alone in early 2026, the unemployment rate remains impressively low—below 3%. However, the rise of artificial intelligence poses significant challenges for both employers and employees. As workers face pressure to adapt to evolving technologies, reskilling has become essential to remain competitive. In this context, the emphasis on soft skills and practical experience, alongside technical knowledge, has never been more relevant.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Switching from degree-based hiring to skills-based hiring.” This phrase highlights the shift in hiring practices towards evaluating candidates based on their skills rather than formal qualifications.
  • “Embrace change and build confidence in using AI.” Encouraging workers to adapt to new technologies is vital for personal and professional growth.
  • “Reskilling and continuous adaptation are essential.” Emphasizing lifelong learning is key in a rapidly evolving job market.
  • “Practical support for the younger generation of workers.” This addresses the need for guidance and resources for emerging professionals.
  • “Creating flexible pathways for lifelong learning.” Highlighting the importance of modular courses and work-based learning opportunities.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this video for your English learning journey, consider following this step-by-step shadowing guide:

  1. Watch and Listen: Watch the video without any subtitles first. Focus on the overall message and tone used by the speakers. This is key to understanding context and pronunciation.
  2. Identify Key Sections: Replay segments that contain the top phrases listed above. Pay attention to how they are articulated and the emotions conveyed by the speakers.
  3. Shadow Speech: After identifying those key phrases, listen closely and try to repeat them in real-time. Mimicking the intonation and pace will help you improve your English pronunciation.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowing sessions. Listening back will help you identify areas for improvement, especially in fluency and confidence during IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Use a Shadowing Site: Supplement your practice by accessing online resources and shadowing sites that focus on similar topics to reinforce your learning.

By following these steps, you'll enhance your language skills while staying informed about significant trends in the labor market. This alignment with real-world issues, like labor force reskilling, not only improves your English but also prepares you for dynamic conversations in the workplace.

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.