Shadowing Practice: Shangri-La Dialogue highlights Việt Nam’s rising strategic profile | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Now looking back at the concluded 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore,
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Now looking back at the concluded 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore,
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one highlight we must mention is Vietnam participation,
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especially with the country's top leader delivered a keynote address at the event,
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bringing a range of matters to the discussion table.
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Right, and international experts have pointed out Vietnam's leverage position with this speech,
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and because that speech has outlined Vietnam's perspective of a safer,
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more stable and more prosperous Asia-Pacific.
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At the same time, highlighting the importance of international law,
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multilateral cooperation, ASEAN centrality and constructive engagement amid growing geopolitical competition.
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And to gain a deeper insight into how the international community received the message
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and what it could mean for Vietnam's strategic role in the region,
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our correspondent spoke with Mr. Ng Chi Kern,
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director and chief executive officer of the IC's Yusof Ishak Institute.
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So let's hear his assessment.
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Mr. Ng Chi Ken, I thank you very much for giving us your time for the interview.
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Which message that the party leader,
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Toulam, did not address, attracted the greatest attention from international delegates?
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I think his speech was a very powerful one.
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And the very fact that he came here,
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gave his speech in a very important conference,
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was itself already a very strong message that he wants to send out to the world that Vietnam
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is a country that's coming of age,
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ready to play a stronger part in regional diplomacy.
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In addition to that, I think there were a few strong points that came out from his interview.
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The first is that the international environment is a tough one,
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difficult one, there's a lot of disruption.
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But at the same time,
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he clearly thinks that countries working together have the agency and the ability to respond well and effectively to the disruption.
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In addition, one of the key ways to respond to it is to re-emphasize international law,
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international norms, so that we can master the situation.
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I think those are very powerful messages.
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So how do you assess Vietnam's position as outlined in the speech regarding the major power competition and Asian's mentality?
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I think a very key point that came up from his message is
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that we do not want to be caught to be caught up in a very zero-sum big power competition.
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And for that, it's quite critical for Vietnam
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and ASEAN to complement each other so that ASEAN as a whole has an agency to maintain our non-alignment,
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maintain our inclusive regional architecture,
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where we emphasize a win-win situation to international diplomacy and not a zero-sum approach to diplomacy.
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and clearly he feels that Vietnam can contribute to ASEAN's centrality.
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At the same time, if ASEAN can remain central,
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it also helps Vietnam's position.
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And this synergistic relationship between ASEAN and Vietnam was very strong in his speech.
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In your view, what impact could the party leader's speech have on Vietnam's international image,
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the strategic standing and foreign relations in coming years?
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I think it has clearly managed to convey a very good image of what Vietnam is about.
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I think it conveyed the image that Vietnam domestically is stable,
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is very reform-minded, it's able to effect long-term,
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sustained improvements in its governance and economy.
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And they're using that as the basis to be able to play a stronger part in regional diplomacy.
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And I think it's a message
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that many countries welcome the chance of working together with Vietnam to contribute to regional cooperation and stability.
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Thank you very much for the interview.
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Thank you very much.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills through a focused analysis of the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasizing Vietnam's rising strategic profile. You will learn key vocabulary and phrases related to international diplomacy, enhance your listening skills, and develop your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly. This practice will particularly benefit those preparing for the IELTS speaking test by improving fluency and comprehension through a targeted shadowing technique.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Keynote address - A speech that sets the main theme of an event or conference.
  • Geopolitical competition - The rivalry between countries for power and influence in international relations.
  • Multilateral cooperation - Collaborative efforts between multiple countries to address common challenges.
  • International law - A set of rules and agreements that govern relations between countries.
  • ASEAN centrality - The concept that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plays a crucial role in regional diplomacy.
  • Non-alignment - A diplomatic stance of not aligning with any major power block or alliance.
  • Win-win situation - An outcome in which all parties benefit, rather than one party gaining at the expense of another.
  • Constructive engagement - Actively working together to resolve issues and build positive relationships.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning from this transcript, you can employ the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to a portion of the video and immediately repeating what you hear, mimicking the speaker's speed, tone, and intonation. Given the moderate pace of the speech in the video, it’s essential to focus on maintaining clarity while mimicking the rhythm of natural speech. Start with short segments of the transcript and gradually increase the length as you become more comfortable.

While practicing, pay special attention to the emotional weight behind phrases like "a profound message" and "not a zero-sum approach". Engaging in this shadowspeak can significantly boost your confidence in speaking and enhance your ability to express your thoughts during the IELTS speaking practice.

Utilizing a reputable shadowing site or instructional videos can further aid your practice by providing you with examples from native speakers. This will help you better grasp nuances in pronunciation and phrasing.

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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