Shadowing Practice: READING EXPLORER 1 UNIT 4B LIVING IN SPACE - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Unit 4.
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Be living in space.
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A Stephen Hawking, one of the world's most famous scientists, believed that to survive, humans will one day have to move into space.
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Once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe, he said.
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B. Today, the United States, Europe,
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Russia, China and Japan are all planning to send astronauts back to Earth's closest neighbour, the Moon.
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Some of these countries want to create space stations there within the next ten years.
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These stations will prepare humans to visit and later live on Mars or other Earth-like planets.
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See, Robert Zubrin, a rocket scientist, thinks humans should colonise space.
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He wants to start with Mars.
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Why?
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He thinks sending people to Mars will allow us to learn a lot of things for example, the ability of humans to live in a very different environment.
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Eventually, we could create new human societies on other planets.
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In addition, any advances we make in the fields of science, technology, medicine and health will benefit people here on Earth.
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DSpaceX is a company that builds rockets.
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Its founder and CEO, Elon Musk, also believes we should colonise Mars.
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He doesn't want to send just one little mission, though.
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His long-term goal is to put one million people on the planet in case something bad happens to us here on Earth.
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And not everyone thinks sending humans into space is a smart idea.
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Many say it's too expensive.
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Also, most space trips are not short.
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A one-way trip to Mars, for example, would take at least six months.
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People travelling this kind of distance could face many health problems.
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In addition, these first people would find life extremely difficult in space.
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On the Moon's surface, for example, the Sun's rays are very dangerous.
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people would have to stay indoors most of the time.
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F. Despite these concerns, sending people into space seems certain.
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In the future, we might see lunar cities or even new human cultures on other planets.
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First stop, the Moon.

About This Lesson

This lesson is designed to help you improve your English pronunciation and comprehension skills as you explore a fascinating topic: living in space. The transcript discusses the viewpoints of renowned scientists, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, on the future of human colonization of other planets, particularly Mars and the Moon. By engaging with this content, you will not only expand your vocabulary but also enhance your ability to articulate thoughts related to complex themes in English. Practicing with this video will assist you in using natural intonation and rhythm in your speech as you learn English with YouTube.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Colonization: The act of establishing a settlement or community in a new area.
  • Space Stations: Structures designed for humans to live and work in space.
  • Rocket Scientist: An engineer or expert in the design and construction of rockets.
  • Health Problems: Physical issues that may arise due to challenging environments.
  • Lunar Cities: Settlements on the Moon.
  • Earth-like Planets: Planets that share characteristics similar to Earth.
  • Environment: The surrounding conditions in which people or organisms live.

Practice Tips

To get the most out of this lesson and effectively improve your English pronunciation, consider using a shadowing app or a shadowing site to practice alongside the video. The pace of the transcript is moderate, so don’t hesitate to pause the video whenever needed. Here are some effective shadowing techniques to enhance your learning experience:

  • Start by listening to a short segment of the video, then repeat it aloud. This will help you mimic the speaker's tone and inflection.
  • Focus on specific phrases or vocabulary words; try pronouncing them multiple times to deeply embed them into your memory.
  • Record your voice while shadowing. Listening back can reveal areas where you might need improvement and help you track your progress in pronunciation.
  • Pay attention to the stress and rhythm in sentences. Try to match the speaker's rhythm to sound more natural when you talk.
  • Regularly practice with this transcript to build confidence and fluency in discussing topics like space exploration.

By incorporating these strategies, you will become more proficient in speaking English about innovative and engaging topics, paving the way for smoother conversations about scientific advancements.

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.