Shadowing Practice: 🎧 Luyện Nghe Tiếng Anh Level B2 - THI THPT QG - | Listening English Podcast |🎯 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Welcome to my channel, let's practice your listening skill.
273 sentences
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1
Welcome to my channel, let's practice your listening skill.
2
With video level B2, and the topic is Nation High School Exam.
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Now listen carefully.
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Anna, have you noticed how chaotic social media has become lately because of the university entrance exam season?
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Of course.
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Everywhere I scroll, I see students crying,
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studying nonstop, posting exam memes,
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and talking about the 2K8 survival season.
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Honestly, this year feels more intense than ever before.
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Yeah.
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People are even calling it the all-star exam season.
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I saw that too.
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At first, it was just a funny trend.
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People started editing exam registration forms with famous celebrities,
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football players, singers, doctors, and even teachers and police officers.
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Right.
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It looked like the entire country suddenly decided to return to high school and compete with the 2K8 generation.
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Some of the posts were hilarious.
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I saw one where a famous chemistry teacher was registering for the exam again.
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Students in the comments were literally begging for mercy.
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And some people joke that after leaving the exam room,
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students would see teachers live-streaming answer explanations outside the school gate.
23
Exactly.
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But honestly, beneath all those jokes,
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the pressure is very real.
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Extremely real.
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This year, more than 1 million students are taking the exam.
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And there are over 50,000 independent candidates as well.
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That number is honestly terrifying.
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Imagine being an 18-year-old student taking the most important exam of your life for the very first time,
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then suddenly realizing you are competing against older people with more experience,
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some already graduated from university,
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and some have even been working for years.
34
Some of them are even in their late 20s or older.
35
Exactly.
36
A lot of students feel overwhelmed before they even enter the exam room.
37
But to be fair, independent candidates have their own difficulties too.
38
True.
39
Some work full-time during the day and study late at night.
40
Some failed in previous years and simply want another opportunity.
41
Others realized they chose the wrong major and decided to restart their future.
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And honestly, that takes a huge amount of courage.
43
Yeah.
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Society often makes jokes about people who retake exams,
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but many of them are simply trying to rebuild their lives.
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I think that's why the university entrance exam in Vietnam carries so many emotions.
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It's not just about academic knowledge.
48
It's about dreams, pressure, family expectations, and second chances.
49
Exactly.
50
Behind every student, there's an entire family waiting anxiously and hoping for good news.
51
Some parents spend years saving money just so their children can have the chance to attend university.
52
And students are fully aware of that sacrifice.
53
That's why the pressure feels even heavier.
54
Especially when people constantly say things like,
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This exam will determine your future.
56
Honestly, hearing that sentence alone is enough to make anyone panic.
57
And this year is even stressful because the exam is taking place earlier than usual.
58
Plus, many universities changed their admission methods.
59
Some removed old subject combinations,
60
while others raised their score requirements.
61
Students are completely confused.
62
I've seen many students online saying they can't sleep anymore.
63
Yeah, dreaming about formulas during the day and exam papers at night.
64
Funny, but painfully accurate.
65
Still, there's also something beautiful about exam season.
66
What do you mean?
67
The determination.
68
Students wake up early, study until midnight,
69
drink coffee every day, and sacrifice entertainment just to chase one dream.
70
And many of them aren't only fighting for themselves,
71
but also for their families.
72
Exactly.
73
Some students from small villages truly believe university is their only chance to change their future.
74
That's why even though the exam is stressful,
75
it still carries a lot of meaning.
76
It teaches people discipline, patience, and responsibility.
77
And also teaches them how to deal with failure.
78
Yeah, because not everyone succeeds.
79
That's the frightening part.
80
One exam can influence so many things.
81
But honestly, real life works the same way.
82
True.
83
Society outside school is even more competitive.
84
I think this is the first time many students realize that life is no longer separated by age.
85
Exactly.
86
Once you step outside school,
87
nobody really cares whether you're younger or older.
88
Everyone competes on the same field.
89
That's why some students feel shocked when they see independent candidates joining the exam.
90
But current students still have certain advantages.
91
Right.
92
Their knowledge is still fresh,
93
they study every day, and they have teachers supporting them closely.
94
Meanwhile, many independent candidates have forgotten a lot of knowledge already and have to study everything alone again.
95
So maybe, instead of fearing other people,
96
students should focus more on improving themselves.
97
Exactly.
98
You don't have to defeat everyone else.
99
You only need to become better than your old self.
100
Wow, that actually sounded really motivational.
101
I learned it from TikTok.
102
Of course you did.
103
But seriously, social media this year is both entertaining and dangerous.
104
Oh yes, especially students posting their exam cards online.
105
That's extremely risky.
106
Some students upload photos showing their full name,
107
ID number, date of birth, and even QR codes.
108
And scammers can easily use that information for fraud.
109
Exactly.
110
Fake phone calls, fake school announcements, online loan scams.
111
A lot of terrible things can happen.
112
People only think, I want to follow the trend,
113
but they forget how important privacy really is.
114
Social media spreads trends incredibly fast,
115
but not everyone stops to think carefully before posting.
116
Honestly, I really feel sorry for students these days.
117
Me too.
118
The pressure they face doesn't come from studying anymore.
119
It comes from social media,
120
comparison, trends, expectations, everything all at once.
121
But at the same time, I really admire them.
122
Why?
123
Because despite all that pressure,
124
they still wake up every day and keep trying.
125
Yeah.
126
Exam season is terrifying, but it's also proof that young people still have dreams.
127
And as long as people continue fighting for their dreams,
128
there will always be hope.
129
So if any 2K8 students are listening right now, don't panic too much.
130
Don't compare yourself to those all-star competitors online.
131
Most of those posts are just jokes anyway.
132
Focus on your own journey.
133
Eat properly, sleep enough, and trust your hard work.
134
One exam cannot define your entire life.
135
But the effort you put into this journey will help you grow forever.
136
And remember, you don't need to defeat the whole world.
137
You only need to become a better version of yourself.
138
Good luck, 2K8.
139
Fighting.
140
Anna, have you noticed how chaotic social media has become lately because of the university entrance exam season?
141
Of course.
142
Everywhere I scroll, I see students crying,
143
studying nonstop, posting exam memes,
144
and talking about the 2K8 survival season.
145
Honestly, this year feels more intense than ever before.
146
Yeah, people are even calling it the all-star exam season.
147
Ha, I saw that too.
148
At first, it was just a funny trend.
149
People started editing exam registration forms with famous celebrities,
150
football players, singers, doctors, and even teachers and police officers.
151
Right, it looked like the entire country suddenly decided to return to high school and compete with the 2K8 generation.
152
Some of the posts were hilarious.
153
I saw one where a famous chemistry teacher was registering for the exam again.
154
Students in the comments were literally begging for mercy.
155
And some people joke that after leaving the exam room,
156
students would see teachers live-streaming answer explanations outside the school gate.
157
Exactly.
158
But honestly, beneath all those jokes,
159
the pressure is very real.
160
Extremely real.
161
This year, more than 1 million students are taking the exam.
162
And there are over 50,000 independent candidates as well.
163
That number is honestly terrifying.
164
Imagine being an 18-year-old student taking the most important exam of your life for the very first time,
165
then suddenly realizing you are competing against older people with more experience,
166
some already graduated from university,
167
and some have even been working for years.
168
Some of them are even in their late 20s or older.
169
Exactly.
170
A lot of students feel overwhelmed before they even enter the exam room.
171
But to be fair, independent candidates have their own difficulties too.
172
True.
173
Some work full-time during the day and study late at night.
174
Some failed in previous years and simply want another opportunity.
175
Others realized they chose the wrong major and decided to restart their future.
176
And honestly, that takes a huge amount of courage.
177
Yeah.
178
Society often makes jokes about people who retake exams,
179
but many of them are simply trying to rebuild their lives.
180
I think that's why the university entrance exam in Vietnam carries so many emotions.
181
It's not just about academic knowledge.
182
It's about dreams, pressure, family expectations, and second chances.
183
Exactly.
184
Behind every student, there's an entire family waiting anxiously and hoping for good news.
185
Some parents spend years saving money just so their children can have the chance to attend university.
186
And students are fully aware of that sacrifice.
187
That's why the pressure feels even heavier.
188
Especially when people constantly say things like,
189
this exam will determine your future.
190
Honestly, hearing that sentence alone is enough to make anyone panic.
191
And this year is even stressful because the exam is taking place earlier than usual.
192
Plus, many universities changed their admission methods.
193
Some removed old subject combinations,
194
while others raised their score requirements.
195
Students are completely confused.
196
I've seen many students online saying they can't sleep anymore.
197
Yeah, dreaming about formulas during the day and exam papers at night.
198
Funny, but painfully accurate.
199
Still, there's also something beautiful about exam season.
200
What do you mean?
201
The determination.
202
Students wake up early, study until midnight,
203
drink coffee every day, and sacrifice entertainment just to chase one dream.
204
And many of them aren't only fighting for themselves,
205
but also for their families.
206
Exactly.
207
Some students from small villages truly believe university is their only chance to change their future.
208
That's why even though the exam is stressful,
209
it still carries a lot of meaning.
210
It teaches people discipline, patience, and responsibility.
211
And also teaches them how to deal with failure.
212
Yeah, because not everyone succeeds.
213
That's the frightening part.
214
One exam can influence so many things.
215
But honestly, real life works the same way.
216
True.
217
Society outside school is even more competitive.
218
I think this is the first time many students realize that life is no longer separated by age.
219
Exactly.
220
Once you step outside school,
221
nobody really cares whether you're younger or older.
222
Everyone competes on the same field.
223
That's why some students feel shocked when they see independent candidates joining the exam.
224
But current students still have certain advantages.
225
Right.
226
Their knowledge is still fresh,
227
they study every day, and they have teachers supporting them closely.
228
Meanwhile, many independent candidates have forgotten a lot of knowledge already and have to study everything alone again.
229
So maybe instead of fearing other people,
230
students should focus more on improving themselves.
231
Exactly.
232
You don't have to defeat everyone else.
233
You only need to become better than your old self.
234
Wow, that actually sounded really motivational.
235
I learned it from TikTok.
236
Of course you did.
237
But seriously, social media this year is both entertaining and dangerous.
238
Oh yes, especially students posting their exam cards online.
239
That's extremely risky.
240
Some students upload photos showing their full name,
241
ID number, date of birth, and even QR codes.
242
And scammers can easily use that information for fraud.
243
Exactly.
244
Fake phone calls, fake school announcements, online loan scams.
245
A lot of terrible things can happen.
246
People only think, I want to follow the trend,
247
but they forget how important privacy really is.
248
Social media spreads trends incredibly fast,
249
but not everyone stops to think carefully before posting.
250
Honestly, I really feel sorry for students these days.
251
Me too.
252
The pressure they face doesn't come from studying anymore.
253
It comes from social media,
254
comparison, trends, expectations, everything all at once.
255
But at the same time, I really admire them.
256
Why?
257
Because despite all that pressure,
258
they still wake up every day and keep trying.
259
Yeah.
260
Exam season is terrifying, but it's also proof that young people still have dreams.
261
And as long as people continue fighting for their dreams,
262
there will always be hope.
263
So if any 2K8 students are listening right now, don't panic too much.
264
Don't compare yourself to those all-star competitors online.
265
Most of those posts are just jokes anyway.
266
Focus on your own journey.
267
Eat properly, sleep enough, and trust your hard work.
268
One exam cannot define your entire life.
269
But the effort you put into this journey will help you grow forever.
270
And remember, you don't need to defeat the whole world.
271
You only need to become a better version of yourself.
272
Good luck, 2K8.
273
Fighting.
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About This Lesson
This listening practice session focuses on improving your English listening skills at the B2 level, particularly in the context of the university entrance exam in Vietnam. Throughout the lesson, you will engage with a conversation about the emotional challenges faced by students during this intense period. You will practice identifying key themes, such as pressure, expectations, and the realities of exam competition, which are essential for understanding and discussing relatable topics in English. By focusing on real-life situations, this lesson aims to enhance your overall comprehension and provide valuable material for IELTS speaking practice.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Chaotic: In a state of complete disorder and confusion.
- Survival season: A term referring to periods of intense competition or challenges.
- Independent candidates: Individuals who are not enrolled in the conventional school system but take the exam.
- Pressure: The feeling of stress as a result of expectations or demands placed on someone.
- Retake: To take an exam again after previously failing.
- Dreams and family expectations: The aspirations students have and the hopes their families place upon them concerning academic success.
- Experience: Practical contact with and observation of facts or events, which plays a crucial role during exams.
Practice Tips
To maximize your learning from this listening exercise, consider applying shadowing techniques. Start by playing the audio at a moderate speed, allowing yourself to absorb the content before attempting to repeat it. As the speaker discusses the pressures surrounding the university entrance exams, pay special attention to tonal variations and emotional expressions. Maintain the rhythm of the dialogue through shadowspeak, mimicking the speaker's intonation and pace.
When you are comfortable, try increasing the playback speed slightly to challenge your listening comprehension and further enhance your English speaking practice. Focus on clear enunciation of the vocabulary mentioned earlier. Utilizing a shadowing site or a dedicated platform can offer additional resources like transcripts and exercises to deepen your understanding. This method will not only improve your listening skills but also bolster your speaking abilities as you learn to express complex ideas naturally and fluently.
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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