Shadowing Practice: Phát âm chuẩn - Anh ngữ đặc biệt: Internet in Cuba (VOA) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
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24 sentences
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From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
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In Cuba, the Internet and other forms of modern communication are not easily available.
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Most people have smartphones, but they are limited to making and receiving calls.
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It is difficult to connect to social media, send emails, and text.
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Most Cubans do not have an internet connection in their homes.
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To use the internet, they first must buy a password.
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Businesses sell them on little pieces of paper.
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password costs about two and a half Cuban convertible pesos.
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That is equal to about two dollars and fifty cents.
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Users then go to a public park or a hotel with an internet connection.
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In a park about 15 minutes from downtown Havana,
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hundreds of Cubans come at all times of the day and night to use the Internet.
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Recently, about 50 people were there,
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each holding a phone, talking with friends and family,
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or catching up on social networks.
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Suki John was born in New York.
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He is a dance teacher and has been coming to Cuba to work for many years.
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He goes to the park to connect to the internet and says it is now more available.
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John says using the internet was not possible when he was in Cuba a year and a half ago.
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Things have improved because American President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro talking," John says.
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Having the internet in parks has let Cubans learn what is happening in the rest of the world, he says.
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It costs about three dollars an hour to connect to the internet.
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That is too costly for many Cubans who earn about thirty dollars a month.
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For VOA Learning English, I'm Carolyn Prasuti.

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Context & Background

The video titled "Phát âm chuẩn - Anh ngữ đặc biệt: Internet in Cuba" from VOA Learning English provides insights into the current state of internet access in Cuba. Despite the widespread ownership of smartphones, the ability for Cubans to connect to the internet remains severely restricted. As most citizens rely on public parks and businesses to gain internet access through purchased passwords, the dialogue in the transcript elaborates on the socio-economic challenges faced by individuals seeking digital connectivity. The speaker, Suki John, reflects on the improvements in internet availability and its impact on communication for Cubans in recent years, notably emphasizing the role of international relations in these changes.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “It is difficult to connect...” - Useful for expressing challenges.
  • “Most Cubans do not have an internet connection...” - Great for discussing access issues.
  • “Costs about two and a half Cuban convertible pesos...” - Helps with transactional conversations.
  • “Hundreds of Cubans come at all times...” - A way to describe crowds or social gatherings.
  • “Things have improved because...” - Effective for making comparisons or noting changes.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively practice English speaking through shadowing using this video, follow this structured approach:

  1. Listen Carefully: Play the video several times to familiarize yourself with the speech patterns, intonation, and context of the conversation.
  2. Transcription Review: Read along with the transcript, paying close attention to new vocabulary and phrases. Write them out in your own notes for better retention.
  3. Repeat After the Speaker: Utilize a shadowing app to pause and repeat the phrases. Focus on mimicking the speaker's rhythm and pronunciation. This will enhance your IELTS speaking practice as well.
  4. Record Yourself: After several attempts, record your voice while shadowing the video. Compare your pronunciation and fluency with that of the speaker.
  5. Engage with Others: If possible, practice these phrases in conversation with language partners or through online English speaking practice groups. This will help reinforce your learning through real-life application.

By incorporating these techniques into your practice routine on a shadowing site, you can improve not only your pronunciation but also your overall confidence in speaking English. Happy practicing!

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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