Shadowing Practice: Smartphones in Space: a Really Long-Distance Call for NASA - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Music From VOA Learning English,
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this is the Technology Report.
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Smartphones are small and easy to carry,
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so they are always ready when we need them.
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People use them to get road directions,
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to take pictures, or to call friends.
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But we easily forget the power of smartphone microprocessors.
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Scientists with NASA, the American Space Agency, have not.
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In April, NASA sent three smartphones into space to operate as low-cost satellites.
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They were launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in the state of Virginia.
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The launch was the first test flight of the privately built Antares rocket.
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Space agency officials gave names to the three phone sats,
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as they are called.
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The names are Alexander, Graham,
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and Bell, after the inventor of the telephone.
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All three phone sats looked like small cubes or boxes.
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Each one was about the size of a drinking cup and weighed a little more than one kilogram.
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At the heart of each was a Google HTC Nexus One phone.
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The microprocessor inside the phone serves as the brain of the mini-satellite.
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Jim Cockrell works for NASA in California.
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He says the phone sats were an experiment to find out
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if a cell phone can serve as the avionics for a satellite.
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NASA says the phone sats operated for almost a week.
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They collected pictures of the Earth and sent messages to ground stations.
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The agency says smartphones have more than 100 times the computing power of an average satellite.
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Jim Cockrell notes that they also have high-resolution cameras and global positioning system receivers.
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So, the next time you pick up a smartphone,
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think about the work of the phone sats Alexander, Graham and Bell.
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For VOA Learning English, I'm Mario Ritter.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video, titled "Smartphones in Space: a Really Long-Distance Call for NASA," presents a fascinating intersection of technology and creativity that can significantly enhance your English speaking skills. By engaging with this content, learners can practice their speaking abilities not only in terms of vocabulary and sentence structure but also in expressing complex scientific ideas in English. Such topics can be particularly beneficial for preparing for exams like IELTS speaking where clarity and articulation matter greatly.

Utilizing techniques like shadow speech, learners can mimic the pronunciation and intonation of the speaker as they describe innovative uses of smartphones in space. This method allows you to internalize the rhythm of natural English, making your speech more fluid and confident. Additionally, discussing such intriguing subjects can ignite conversations with peers, enhancing your speaking practice. Consider using a shadowing app to make your practice more effective; simply play the video and repeat after the speaker to strengthen your fluency.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the transcript, several key grammatical structures and expressions stand out, providing learners with useful phrases for their own speaking practices:

  • Passive Voice: "NASA sent three smartphones into space." This structure emphasizes the action over the subject and is common in formal English, particularly in scientific contexts.
  • Relative Clauses: "that they also have high-resolution cameras." These clauses provide additional information and are essential for complex sentence formation.
  • Comparative Structures: "more than 100 times the computing power." Understanding how to use comparisons can help learners convey ideas effectively.
  • Direct Speech: Jim Cockrell says... This technique can be advantageous when quoting sources or expressing opinions in discussions, especially during IELTS speaking tasks.

Incorporating these structures into your speech will enhance your expressiveness and clarity, key components for successful communication.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice with this video, be mindful of certain pronunciation challenges that may arise, especially for non-native speakers:

  • Microprocessors: This word can be tricky due to its multiple syllables. Practice breaking it down to "mi-cro-pro-cess-ors" to articulate it clearly.
  • Aeronautics: Though not directly mentioned, related terms like "avionics" can be challenging due to the mix of vowel sounds. Pay attention to the correct enunciation, focusing on the 'aer' sound.
  • High-resolution: The transition between "high" and "resolution" can blend into a single sound. Make sure to emphasize both words distinctly when practicing.

Using shadowspeak techniques during practice, like conscious repetition and recording your speech, can help identify and improve these challenging areas, ensuring your spoken English is clear and proficient.

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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