Shadowing Practice: The Economics Report: World Bank Official Says Panama Papers Hurting Public Trust - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
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From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
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Information from the newly released Panama Papers is hurting public trust,
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says a top World Bank official.
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Sri Mulyani Indrawati is the bank's managing director.
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She warns the information may make everyday citizens less willing to pay taxes.
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She says this could reduce public money to pay for roads,
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schools, or other government services.
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Sri Mulyani is calling on policymakers to cooperate by developing stronger laws.
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The information came from documents stolen from a law firm in Panama.
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They show how wealthy people and government leaders around the world hide their money to avoid paying taxes.
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Sri Mulyani says that could lower the amount of money governments collect.
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That would hurt the economies of countries that need to grow.
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Tom Cardamone works at the research group Global Financial Integrity.
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He says, the money sheltered in Panama represents a large part of the economy of some countries.
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He says that more than a trillion dollars in illegal money is leaving developing country economies every year.
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This is far more than all the foreign aid
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and all the foreign investment that goes into these countries every year, he says.
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Audrey Mulyani of the World Bank says that for real change to happen,
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countries will have to work closely together.
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Without international cooperation, it is going to be very hard to chase this tax avoidance, she says.
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Tony notes that slower growth around the world is worsening economic pressures in many nations,
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especially in the 40 weakest economies.
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For VOA Learning English, I'm Dan Friedel.

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Context & Background

The recent remarks from the World Bank's managing director, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, in the Economics Report, shed light on critical issues arising from the release of the Panama Papers. This information has positioned itself at the forefront of discussions about public trust in financial systems across the globe. Indrawati emphasizes that revelations about wealthy individuals hiding money to evade taxes could diminish willingness among citizens to contribute to taxation. Consequently, this situation threatens the funding for essential public services, such as roads and schools, particularly in emerging economies. As larger sums of money are obscured and driven out of developing countries, the economic repercussions could be severe, especially for nations struggling with slower growth.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Public trust: The belief that the government or institutions will act in the best interests of the people.
  • Tax avoidance: The legal practice of finding ways to reduce tax liabilities.
  • Economic growth: The increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over time.
  • International cooperation: Countries working together to address global issues.
  • Illegal money: Funds gained through unlawful activities that are kept hidden to avoid the legal consequences.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To make the most of the knowledge shared in the video and improve your English pronunciation, follow this step-by-step shadowing technique:

  1. Watch and Listen: Start by watching the video without subtitles. Focus on understanding the key messages and overall tone.
  2. Read the Transcript: Read through the transcript to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and phrasing used. Pay special attention to the highlighted phrases.
  3. Slow Down: Play the video again but pause after every sentence. Repeat what you hear, mimicking the speaker's intonation and rhythm to enhance your shadow speech.
  4. Practice Reflection: After shadowing each section, take a moment to reflect on what you practiced. Record yourself and compare your speech with the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Daily Repetition: Commit to practicing regularly. The more you shadow the speaker, the better you will become at enhancing your pronunciation and fluency in English.

Utilizing these techniques can significantly help you learn English with YouTube and actively participate in discussions on global economic issues, thereby improving your communication skills in English.

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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