Shadowing Practice: NEWS: Cooking Began 600,000 Years Earlier than we Thought - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Hello friends, this is Teacher JB.
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Hello friends, this is Teacher JB.
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Today we are studying English with World News.
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And the title of the news is,
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Cooking Began 600,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought.
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Cooking Began 600,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought.
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First, listen to the audio.
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Cooking Began 600,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought.
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New research suggests that using fire to cook food started 600,000 years before previously thought.
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Archaeologists from the Tel Aviv University's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Israel
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assert that our early ancestors cooked fish with fire 770,000 years ago.
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The archaeologists claim that these prehistoric humans,
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who lived alongside the banks of the Jordan River in what is present-day northern Israel,
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used fire to cook the huge fish they caught in a nearby lake.
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They say their finding is the earliest recorded evidence of food being cooked.
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Until this new discovery, scientists believed the first definitive evidence of cooking was by Neanderthals
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and early Homo sapiens around 160,000 years ago.
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Lead researcher Irit Zohar spent 16 years analyzing ancient fish bones and the enamel found on fish teeth.
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Her analysis showed that the grilled or baked fish had been eaten 770 millennia ago.
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She told the AFP news agency that it was like facing a puzzle with more and more information
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until we could make a story about human evolution.
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She added that her biggest conundrum was to ascertain whether
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or not the fish had been eaten raw and then their bones thrown into the fire,
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or whether it had been cooked first.
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She said the whole question about exposure to fire is whether it is about getting rid of remains
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or a desire to cook.
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She said the fish were two-meter-long carp that would have been particularly succulent when cooked.
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Now let us practice vocabulary.
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The first one, to do something to show that you have power.
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To do something to show that you have power, the word is assert.
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Assert.
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Assert is a verb and it has two syllables,
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A, S, S, E, R,
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T, and the second syllable, assert.
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Assert means to do something to show that you have power.
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The next one, a problem that is difficult to deal with.
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A problem that is difficult to deal with, the word is conundrum.
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Conundrum.
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Conundrum is a noun it has three syllables,
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C-O-N-U-N-D-R-U-M as in the second syllable, conundrum.
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Conundrum means a problem that is difficult to deal with.
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The next one, a decorative glass-like substance that is melted onto clay,
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metal, or glass objects and then left to cool and become hard.
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A decorative glass-like substance that is melted onto clay,
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metal, or glass objects and then left to cool and become hard,
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the word is enamel.
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Enamel is a noun.
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It has three syllables, E N A M E L,
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in the second syllable, enamel.
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Enamel is a decorative glass-like substance that is melted onto clay,
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metal, or glass objects and then left to cool and become hard.
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The next one, a period of 1000 years or the time when a period of 1000 years ends.
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A period of 1000 years or the time when a period of 1000 years ends.
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The word is millennium.
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Millennium is a noun.
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It has four syllables.
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M, I, L, L, E,
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N, N, I, U, M.
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It's in the second syllable.
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Millennium.
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Millennium is a period of 1000 years by the time when a period of 1000 years ends.
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The next one describing the period before there were written records.
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Describing the period before there were written records.
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The word is prehistoric.
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Prehistoric is an adjective it has four syllables P R E
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H I S T O R I C action
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the third syllable store prehistoric means describing the period before there were written records.
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And the last one, a plant such as a cactus in
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which the leaves and stem are thick and can store a lot of water.
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And as an adjective, pleasantly juicy.
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A plant such as a cactus in which the leaves
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and stem are thick and can store a lot of water or as an adjective,
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pleasantly juicy, the word is succulent.
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Succulent is a noun, an adjective.
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It has three syllables as U C C U L E N T as in the first syllable.
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Succulent.
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Succulent means a plant such as a cactus in which the leaves
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and stem are thick and can store a lot of water.
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And as an adjective, pleasantly juicy.
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So if you say succulent of food,
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it means the food is pleasantly juicy.
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Absurd, conundrum, enamel, millennium, prehistoric, succulent.
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Now let us read the news.
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Cooking began 600,000 years earlier than we thought.
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New research suggests that using fire to cook food started 600,000 years before previously thought.
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Archaeologists from the Tel Aviv University's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Israel assert
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that our early ancestors cooked fish with fire 770,000 years ago.
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The archaeologists claim that these prehistoric humans who lived alongside the banks of the Jordan River in what is present-day northern Israel,
88
used fire to cook the huge fish they caught in a nearby lake.
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They say their finding is the earliest recorded evidence of food being cooked.
90
Until this new discovery, scientists believed the first definitive evidence of cooking was by Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens,
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around 170,000 years ago.
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Lead researcher Irit Zohar spent 16 years analyzing ancient fish bones and the enamel found on fish teeth.
93
Her analysis showed that the grilled or baked fish had been eaten 770 millennia ago.
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She told the AFP news agency that it was like facing a puzzle with more
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and more information until we could make a story about human evolution.
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She added that her biggest conundrum was to ascertain whether
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or not the fish had been eaten raw
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and then their bones thrown into the fire or whether it had been cooked first.
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She said the whole question about exposure to fire is whether it is about getting rid of remains
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or a desire to cook.
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She said the fish were two meter long carp that would have been particularly succulent when cooked.
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Okay, now let us listen to the whole audio just one more time.
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Cooking began 600,000 years earlier than we thought.
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New research suggests that using fire to cook food started 600,000 years before previously thought.
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Archaeologists from the Tel Aviv University's Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Israel
106
assert that our early ancestors cooked fish with fire 770,000 years ago.
107
The archaeologists claim that these prehistoric humans,
108
who lived alongside the banks of the Jordan River in what is present-day northern Israel,
109
used fire to cook the huge fish they caught in a nearby lake.
110
They say their finding is the earliest recorded evidence of food being cooked.
111
Until this new discovery, scientists believed the first definitive evidence of cooking was by Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens,
112
around 160,000 years ago.
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Lead researcher Irit Zohar spent 16 years analyzing ancient fish bones and the enamel found on fish teeth.
114
Her analysis showed that the grilled or baked fish had been eaten 770 millennia ago.
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She told the AFP news agency that it was like facing a puzzle with more
116
and more information until we could make a story about human evolution.
117
She added that her biggest conundrum was to ascertain whether
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or not the fish had been eaten raw and then their bones thrown into the fire,
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or whether it had been cooked for a while.
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first.
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She said the whole question about exposure to fire is whether it is about getting rid of remains
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or a desire to cook.
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She said the fish were two meter long carp that would have been particularly succulent when cooked.
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Okay friends, this is the conclusion of today's study.
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I will come back to you with another news as much as possible.
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Until then keep studying English and and have a great day.
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Bye.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
Engaging with the video titled "Cooking Began 600,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought" is an excellent way to enhance your English speaking practice. This news segment introduces complex ideas related to archaeological findings, which can help expand your vocabulary and encourage discussion. One of the key benefits of practicing with this video is the exposure to scientific terminology, such as “archaeologists,” “evidence,” and “prehistoric.” By shadowing Teacher JB, you not only improve your pronunciation but also gain confidence in discussing intricate topics. Regularly practicing with such content can significantly aid in preparing for the IELTS speaking practice, allowing you to articulate well-structured thoughts under examination conditions.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Throughout the video, several grammatical structures and expressions stand out. Here are a few key phrases:
- “Suggests that” - This phrase is commonly used to present ideas or assumptions based on evidence. It’s valuable for IELTS speaking to indicate your thoughts thoughtfully.
- “Claim that” - This expression allows you to assert a statement and is useful for expressing opinions or findings clearly.
- “It was like facing a puzzle” - This metaphor enriches the narrative, and learning to use such figures of speech can enhance creative speaking skills.
- “Ascertain whether or not” - This phrase is an excellent example of how to articulate uncertainty and inquiry, a skill beneficial in discussions.
By practicing these structures within their context, you can effectively boost your speaking proficiency.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While shadowing Teacher JB, pay close attention to certain words that may pose pronunciation challenges:
- “Assert” - With two syllables, it can often be mispronounced. Practice saying it slowly, breaking it down: as-sert.
- “Conundrum” - This three-syllable word may trip you up, so rehearse it: co-nun-drum.
- “Enamel” - Its syllabic flow can be tricky. Break it down as you practice: en-am-el.
By focusing on these tricky words and mimicking the speaker's rhythm and intonation, you can significantly improve your English pronunciation. Remember, consistent practice through shadowing will enhance your overall speaking skills!
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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