Shadowing Practice: The challenge of counterfeits in the digital age | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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we take a look at the challenges of counterfeits Vietnam is facing at the moment.
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And Vietnam's crackdown on counterfeit goods is increasingly shifting to online platforms.
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During a month-long nationwide counterfeit campaign,
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authorities removed more than 9,130 infringing products from e-commerce platforms and blocked over 2,000 online storefronts suspected of selling counterfeit.
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substandard or intellectual property infringing goods.
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And the challenge comes as Vietnam's online retail market continues to expand rapidly.
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Now, sales across the country's four largest e-commerce platforms, namely Shopee, TikTok, Lazada and Tiki,
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reached approximately US$5.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026 alone,
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up nearly 47% year-on-year, according to market analytics firm Metric.
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Current fiat smuggled and unverified goods continue to pose challenges for both consumers and regulators in Vietnam.
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In Hanoi, authorities say violations are being detected across both traditional markets and e-commerce platforms,
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highlighting the scale of a problem that remains difficult to contain.
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Our reporter Lộc Dương has the details.
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On my hand right now is an eyeshadow palette and nail polish.
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They look ordinary, even appealing.
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But these were seized during an investigation behind the domestic market surveillance forces.
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No traceable origin, no quality certification and possibly on sale right now on e-commerce platforms.
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According to authorities, the products were being sold without invoices, proof of origin, or any documentation verifying their quality and legality.
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In this particular inspection, the product category we were most concerned was about the trademark counterfeits.
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Specifically, the items involved were data storage devices and a large quantity of cameras.
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These cameras are capable of connecting via both Wi-Fi and wired networks.
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The quantity seized were substantial.
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In addition, we also found smuggled goods, including cosmetics, dietary supplements and various other household products.
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The growing number of violations reflects the scale of the challenge facing regulators.
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In recent months, inspection teams have expanded enforcement efforts across warehouses, retail outlets and online stores,
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uncovering increasingly sophisticated methods used to distribute illicit goods.
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Through our inspection and control operations in the first six months of the year, we have collected approximately US$230,000 in administrative fines,
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all remitted to the state budget.
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Of that total, during a peak enforcement campaign running from May 5 to May 25 of 1026,
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we uncovered nearly 300 violations in the field of intellectual property and issued fines amounting to over 77,000 US dollars.
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The scale of the challenge extends far beyond Hanoi.
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According to the National Steering Committee 389 Against Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeit Goods,
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authorities across Vietnam uncovered and handled nearly 44,000 cases involving smuggling,
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trade fraud and counterfeit goods in the first four months of 2026 alone.
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Yet officials warn that the true scale of the problem may be even greater as more violations move online,
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whereas sellers can operate anonymously and quickly evade a detection.
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We must strengthen the accountability of e-commerce platform operators.
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These include social media networks that engage in e-commerce activities, as well as intermediary service As providers, we emphasize that technological measures must be employed.
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And especially in the age of artificial intelligence, these tools must be put to use.
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As the market grows increasingly complex, the line between genuine and counterfeit is becoming harder to see.
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And consumers are often the last line of defense.
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Lop Sương reporting from Hanoi for Vietnam Today.
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As counterfeit and substandard goods becomes increasingly difficult to detect, authorities are looking beyond enforcement alone.
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Vietnam is now investing in stronger institutions,
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new technologies and international best practices to better protect consumers and intellectual property rights.
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More on the following report.
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Vietnam is expanding efforts to strengthen intellectual property enforcement.
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Alongside inspections and legal action, authorities are investing in information-sharing systems
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designed to help agencies respond more quickly to violations that often extend beyond provincial and even national borders.
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We are gradually developing a database to support intellectual property rights enforcement, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
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This system will enhance information sharing and experience exchange among relevant agencies, providing enforcement authorities with a tool to verify information,
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detect violations and take action more quickly and accurately.
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But experts say technology alone will not be enough.
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As online infringement grows more complex,
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Vietnam also faces the challenge of building institutions capable of handling increasingly sophisticated intellectual property disputes.
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So for Vietnam to build something generally sustainable, the foundations have to be institutional.
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rather than regulatory.
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For me, the single most important investment that Vietnam can make is in the quality of its tradition in IP matters.
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Better institutions take time to build and better judges do not appear overnight.
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Another challenge lies in the rapid evolution of counterfeit networks themselves,
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from fake online storefronts to increasingly sophisticated digital piracy operations enforcement agencies worldwide are being forced to adapt.
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You're seeing some changes in terms of the approaches that enforcement authorities are using.
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But part of it is just a mindset change, an attitude change.
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They have to train and build their capacity with technically proficient people on their staff who understand
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and can deal with counterfeiters and pirates on their own technological terms.
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For Vietnam, the challenge now is not only to respond to violations as they emerge, but also to build a system capable of preventing them in the first place,
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protecting consumers, supporting legitimate businesses, and strengthening confidence in the digital economy.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English speaking skills using a transcript from a video titled "The challenge of counterfeits in the digital age | Vietnam Today." You will learn important vocabulary related to counterfeit goods and the measures taken by authorities to combat them. By focusing on the context of e-commerce in Vietnam, you'll enhance your understanding of both the language and its relevance in today's digital marketplace. This practice is an excellent way to learn English with YouTube, as you will be shadowing the natural speech patterns and expressions used in the video.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Counterfeit goods - items that are copied or made to look like genuine products but are of lower quality or illegal.
  • E-commerce platforms - online marketplaces where goods and services are bought and sold.
  • Intellectual property - creations of the mind, such as inventions and brands, protected by law.
  • Administrative fines - monetary penalties imposed for violations of laws or regulations.
  • Smuggling - the illegal movement of goods, often to evade regulation or taxation.
  • Quality certification - verification that a product meets specific standards for safety and performance.
  • Market surveillance - the monitoring of markets to enforce compliance with laws and standards.
  • Technological measures - tools and systems implemented to enhance enforcement and compliance in various domains.

Practice Tips

When practicing with the video, start by watching it once without attempting to mimic the speech; simply immerse yourself in the content. Focus on understanding the overall message. Then, play the video again, pausing after each phrase or sentence. Repeat what you hear as closely as possible to the speaker's tone, speed, and intonation. This process, known as shadow speech, will help improve your pronunciation and listening skills. Since the speech may include complex terminology related to counterfeit goods and online commerce, take special care to articulate these words clearly. Regularly practicing in this way on a shadowing site can greatly enhance your fluency. Aim for consistency and a balance between speed and clarity in your shadowing practice—this will prepare you to engage confidently in discussions about digital trends and consumer rights.

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.