Shadowing Practice: Searching for life on another planet ⏲️ 6 Minute English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/70 sentences)
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences
70 sentences
1
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
2
I'm Neil.
3
And I'm Bekah.
4
Neil, do you believe that life exists away from planet Earth?
5
Well, I'm not sure about the kind of little green men that you see in science fiction movies, but also I think we cannot be alone in the universe.
6
What about you, Bekah?
7
What do you think?
8
I agree.
9
I think that maybe life does exist beyond our planet, but maybe not as we see in alien movies.
10
Well, in this episode we'll be learning from science and space experts about whether the conditions for life exist on a planet 40 light years away.
11
Yes, and as usual you can find a transcript for this episode, along with all the vocabulary and a worksheet, on our website, bbclearningenglish.com OK, a quiz question for you, Becca.
12
How long would it take to drive a car to the sun at 100 kilometres an hour?
13
Is it a 70 years, b 170 years or c 1,700 years?
14
Well, Neil, the sun seems very far away, so I'll go for c 1,700 years.
15
I hope you have enough petrol for that.
16
Well, we'll find out the answer to the question later.
17
Now though, some science and space experts are excited about a planet in a different solar system from our own.
18
Science journalist Caroline Steele talks about this discovery on the BBC World Service programme What in the World?
19
Caroline Steele, So scientists have been looking at an exoplanet, so that's a planet that exists in a solar system that isn't our own, called Trappist-1e.
20
And it's a rocky planet like Earth.
21
It's a similar size to Earth and it exists in the habitable zone around its sun.
22
And its sun is called Trappist-1.
23
Caroline explains that scientists have discovered that the planet Trappist-1e exists in the habitable zone around its sun.
24
The adjective habitable describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live.
25
Yes, and a zone is an area with a particular feature.
26
For example, people who live in earthquake zones have to be prepared for danger.
27
So a habitable zone is an area where something could live.
28
Caroline goes on to explain why they think TRAPPIST-1e may be habitable.
29
Scientists have been looking at the potential atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e and they've ruled out that it's really full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide, which is a great thing because they're greenhouse gases which would make the planet really hot.
30
And there are some small clues that it might be a nitrogen dominated atmosphere, which again is another sort of clue that there could be life there.
31
Caroline Steele says that scientists are looking at the potential atmosphere around Trappist-1e.
32
That is, they want to find out if the atmosphere is capable or likely to become able to host life.
33
If something has potential, it already has the qualities or abilities to do something.
34
The adjective potential has a similar meaning but refers to future capability.
35
Exactly.
36
We could say the data has potential in that it shows signs of helping the research, But when we talk about potential data, we're referring to data that could help us with future research.
37
She also mentions how scientists have ruled out that TRAPPIST-1e is full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide.
38
The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something.
39
Scientists have found that TRAPPIST-1e is not full of those greenhouse gases.
40
They've ruled it out.
41
Indeed.
42
And Caroline goes on to say how the atmosphere of Trappist-1e is dominated by nitrogen.
43
If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it.
44
Trappist-1e is full of nitrogen, which is exciting because nitrogen is a sign of life and habitability.
45
So what if nitrogen is actually found on this planet?
46
Caroline Steele has more.
47
My guess is what we'll do is try and see what other gases are in the atmosphere and use models to work out how warm the planet could be and
48
whether or not it's a temperature that basically could support life or it maybe it's too hot or too cold but fingers crossed it has a nitrogen there's enough of it to keep the planet a decent temperature and then that's one step closer to finding life.
49
Caroline guesses that scientists will focus on the planet's temperature and whether it could support life.
50
She uses the expression fingers crossed to express hope for a positive outcome.
51
Yes, we often make the physical gesture of crossing our fingers for good luck.
52
We do.
53
That reminds me, Neil, the answer to your question.
54
Fingers crossed that I answered correctly.
55
I see what you've done there, Becca.
56
Yes, I asked you how long it would take to drive to the sun.
57
at 100 kilometres an hour and you answered C, 1,700 years.
58
Well, the sun is very far away, but the answer was B, only 170 years.
59
Ah, well, that's still longer than my lifetime.
60
Now let's have a recap of the language we've learnt in this episode, starting with habitable, which describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live.
61
A zone is an area with a particular feature.
62
Potential describes having possible qualities or abilities to do something.
63
The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something.
64
We also had dominated.
65
If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it.
66
And finally, the expression fingers crossed is used to wish for hope or luck.
67
Once again, our six minutes are up, but head over to our website bbclearningenglish.com for a quiz and worksheet for this episode.
68
See you soon.
69
Bye for now.
70
Bye.
📱

Shadowing English

Now available on mobile devices, download now!

5.0
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will explore the fascinating topic of the search for extraterrestrial life, focusing on an exoplanet called Trappist-1e located in a different solar system. By watching the video and engaging with the associated transcript, students will practice listening comprehension and expand their vocabulary related to space exploration and science. This content is perfect for those who want to learn English with YouTube while immersing themselves in exciting scientific discussions.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Habitable zone - A region around a star where conditions might be suitable for life to exist.
  • Exoplanet - A planet located outside our solar system.
  • Atmosphere - The layer of gases surrounding a planet.
  • Potential - The inherent ability or capacity for growth or development in the future.
  • Rule out - To eliminate the possibility of something being true or present.
  • Dominated by - Controlled or primarily composed of a particular element or substance.
  • Fingers crossed - A phrase used to express hope for a positive outcome.

Practice Tips

To enhance your English speaking skills while engaging with this video, consider using the shadow speak technique. This method allows you to practice pronunciation and fluency by mimicking the speakers in real-time. The 6 Minute English format features a clear and conversational tone that is ideal for learners.

When watching the video, pause it after each sentence or key expression to give yourself time to repeat what you hear. This method is particularly effective in a shadowing app or a shadowing site, where you can listen closely and record your voice. Pay attention to the rhythm and intonation of the speakers, especially during the segments discussing the conditions of the exoplanet. As you practice, focus on enunciating the vocabulary phrases listed above.

By applying these tips and actively shadowing the speakers, you'll develop a more confident speaking style and improve your overall comprehension, making it easier to engage in discussions about exciting topics like space exploration.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee