Shadowing Practice: Luyện nghe bản tin tiếng Anh y khoa VOA 01 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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36 sentences
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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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Tourists come to Zanzibar for its white sand beaches and historic buildings in Stonetown.
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But something else also makes its way to the Tanzanian island.
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Heroin, trafficked across the Indian Ocean from Asia.
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Most of the heroin shipped through East Africa is headed for Europe and North America.
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But Raishad Abdul of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says a lot of it stays on the continent.
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We know for a fact that heroin is being used in at least 30 countries in Africa.
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And we also know for a fact that the number of countries reporting injecting drug use,
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especially of heroin, is also increasing in Africa.
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The problem in Zanzibar has led to some creative local solutions.
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Suleiman Mali stopped using heroin six years ago.
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Now he operates a network of so-called sober houses.
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These are run by addicts themselves to help one another recover.
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There are nine sober houses, eight for men and one for women.
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Mr. Mali himself went through a drug treatment program in Kenya, but it cost around $2,000, he says.
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Staying in a sober house costs about $100 a month a month.
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Most of the people are supported by their families.
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Treatment is based on the idea that drug addiction is more of a public health problem than a crime.
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Mr. Molle says this is still a new idea to many people.
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Because addiction, it's a disease and addicts need treatment.
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But people, they hear that addicts are bad people and they need punishment.
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He says in the sober houses, the addicts are in charge of nearly everything.
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It's a new method to Zanzibar.
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It's a new phenomenon to East Africa, whereby drug addicts take responsibility to run the system.
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This responsibility, he says, is important to building their belief in their own abilities.
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The men also learn woodworking as a way to earn money.
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Much of the program is based on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
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But it also includes art therapy, yoga, and even acupuncture.
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This is done by Kasim Noonyi, a sober house counselor and former addict.
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He was trained by a volunteer from a Chinese medical school in Hawaii.
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It reduces tension, and it's relaxing.
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It's a kind of treatment that's very effective for the recovering addicts.
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Still, he estimates that around 60% of those in the program return to heroin.
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Suleman Mali hopes to expand the network in Zanzibar.
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His next goal is to send former addicts to work with heroin users in prisons.
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For VOA Special English, I'm Carolyn Prasuti.

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Context & Background

This segment from the VOA Special English Health Report discusses the increasing issue of heroin addiction in Zanzibar, highlighting the unique solutions being implemented by former addicts. Suleiman Mali, a key figure in the local recovery community, focuses on managing sober houses that offer support for individuals struggling with addiction. The report reveals the broader context of drug use in Africa and how societal perceptions of addiction are shifting. Emphasizing treatment over punishment, the program includes therapeutic activities like art therapy and yoga, aiming to foster a supportive environment for recovery.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "It's a public health problem." - Useful for discussing societal issues.
  • "Addiction is a disease." - Important in conversations about health and recovery.
  • "Cost about $100 a month." - Practical for discussing budgets or costs.
  • "Take responsibility." - Applicable in various contexts, from work to personal life.
  • "It's a new phenomenon." - Effective for introducing new ideas or trends.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Improving your English speaking skills through shadowing is an excellent approach. Use the following steps to effectively tackle this video’s content:

  1. Watch Carefully: Begin by watching the video without any interruptions. Listen closely to the speaker's tone, pronunciation, and intonation as they present the information.
  2. First Shadow: Use a shadowing app to play small sections of the transcript. Repeat the phrases immediately after hearing them. Pay attention to the rhythm of the speech.
  3. Focused Practice: Select phrases that stand out to you, like "Addiction is a disease." Practice these repeatedly until you can say them smoothly.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your voice recording feature to capture your repetitions. Compare your recordings to the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Engage in Dialogue: Find a friend or use a shadowing site to practice these phrases in conversation. Discuss topics related to health and recovery, integrating the vocabulary you've learned.

By following this structured plan and utilizing the shadowing technique, you'll develop your proficiency in English while discussing relevant and meaningful topics. Remember, consistency is key; practice regularly to maximize your learning experience!"

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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