Shadowing Practice: Track 10c - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Track 10c, Listening Part 3.
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You will hear two science lecturers called John and Susan discussing space travel and exploration.
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As you listen, answer questions 1 to 10.
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Hey John, how was your conference on space exploration?
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Hi Susan, great!
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There were some fascinating speakers, especially one person who was an expert on Mars.
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I've never understood the fascination with Mars.
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Well, I can't see it myself, but he seems to think we might end up living there in the near future if Earth becomes uninhabitable.
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Well, if we spent the billions of dollars that go into space research looking after our own planet, then perhaps we wouldn't need to worry about colonising another one.
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Come on.
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There are so many important things that space exploration can teach us, especially about the history of our own planet and its atmosphere.
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Plus, it gives us knowledge that could help solve some of our problems, like how to manage our resources better.
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Still, I don't really see why they have to send people into space.
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Why can't they just send robots?
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Well, robotics is a lot more advanced now, and in the long term it'd probably be cheaper than using a manned spaceship.
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But don't forget that robots have to be programmed for every possible eventuality.
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Yes, I suppose you're right.
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Robots can't just react to situations independently the way that people do.
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They need to be told what to do.
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That's right and batteries and so on may have come a long way, but they have to be sure everything will function well when it's up in orbit.
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They tend not to take risks with new and untested technology.
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What if it lets you down?
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Yes, I read somewhere that right up until the 2000s, on the space missions, they were still using a lot of technology from the 1960s
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and 1970s rather than anything state -of -the -art, simply because they knew it worked and was reliable.
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I guess they can't afford to just pop up there and fix the odd printer or laptop if it's playing up, like more modern tech tends to do.
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Yeah.
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I had an interesting chat with a female astronaut at the conference.
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She's been working on plans for a mission into deep space.
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Oh?
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What sort of issues are they anticipating?
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She said the main concerns are all around communication.
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I'd imagine the conditions wouldn't help with that.
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I mean, with external temperatures as low as minus 455 degrees, that must interfere with signals and equipment.
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Well, apparently those issues can be dealt with.
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The real concern is simply how far away the craft will be.
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There can be long delays before receiving messages, like what to do if there's a sudden power failure or something.
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Hmm, I can see that would be very concerning.
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You now have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
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So tell me, do you really think we should even be contemplating a mission to Mars right now?
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Shouldn't we wait until we have the technology?
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Not at all.
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Think about the humans in ancient times,
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the civilizations that built the pyramids or that began building enormous cathedrals that took hundreds of years to complete.
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Those projects must have seemed just as impossible to people of that time.
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Sometimes you have to start a project, even if you're not going to see it finished.
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I think we should take the same approach with Mars, even if there's no real progress for ten or more years.
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It's never too soon to start, in my view.
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I take your point, though I'm still not convinced.
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But surely you don't actually foresee a time when humans will be living on Mars.
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How would they deal with the conditions there?
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I actually think it is feasible.
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But even the dirt on the ground could kill us.
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True, but there's ways to deal with that.
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We can easily build shelters well below ground that are self -contained.
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That way people wouldn't even need to go outside.
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Hmm, and I suppose the ground would likely contain a lot of resources.
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So extracting metals, for example, would be possible.
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Yes, a lot of building materials could be sourced there, which opens up a lot more possibilities.
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But I'll admit, there are still a lot of risks involved.
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Yes, but it isn't just the obvious dangers.
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There are other issues to contend with if you're going to Mars.
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It's hard to imagine what that would be like.
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There are definitely social issues to consider.
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For me, the worst would be trying to keep myself occupied.
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Yes, I mean, we worry now about tedious long -haul flights.
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With Mars, you're talking about years of watching the same movies on some little screen.
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Ha ha, true.
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Well, maybe when the time comes, the spaceship will be like a luxurious cruise liner.
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But even then, I'd go crazy looking at the same things day in, day out.
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I just can't even contemplate it, to be honest.
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I need nature and open spaces.
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And even when they get there, it would be years before they see any of that.
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Yeah, I agree.
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That would have a big impact on me, too.
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I guess the first priority on getting there would be managing air and water supplies.
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They won't be able to let anything go to waste on things like planting trees.
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But you have to accept that it is within the realms of possibility
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that one day there'll be a space station on Mars.
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Well, I have every faith in science, but I can't ever see people living there, I'm afraid.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
The speaker keeps coming back to these words: space, Mars, issues. This video has 80 sentences and 942 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:45. The speaker talks at a steady 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| exploration noun | /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/ | The process of exploring. |
| contemplate verb | /ˈkɑn.təmˌpleɪt/ | To look at on all sides or in all its aspects; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study, ponder… |
| spaceship noun | A manned vehicle that flies through space. | |
| colonise verb | /ˈkɑlənaɪz/ | Non-Oxford British standard spelling of colonize. |
| eventuality noun | /ɪˌvɛntjuˈælɪti/ | A possible event; something that may happen. |
| fascinate verb | /ˈfæsɪneɪt/ | To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone. |
| fascination noun | /fæsɪˈneɪʃən/ | The state or condition of being fascinated. |
| foresee verb | /fɔɹˈsi/ | To perceive (a situation or event) in advance. |
| tedious adjective | /ˈtiː.dɪəs/ | Boring, monotonous, time-consuming, wearisome, livelong. |
| uninhabitable adjective | /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbəl/ | Not fit for people (or other living things) to live in; not able to be inhabited. |
| untested adjective | Not previously tested. | |
| robotics noun | /ɹoʊˈbɑ.tɪks/ | The science and technology of robots, their design, manufacture, and application |
| luxurious adjective | /lʌɡˈʒʊəɹi.əs/ | Very fine in quality and comfortable. |
| contend verb | /kənˈtɛnd/ | To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight. |
| astronaut noun | /ˈæstɹəˌnɔt/ | A member of the crew of a spaceship or other spacecraft that travels beyond Earth's atmosphere, or someone trained to serve that purpose. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. |
| open up verb | To open. |
| play up verb | To misbehave. |
| pop up verb | To come up with a "pop" sound. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Why can't they just send robots?
- Yes, I suppose you're right.
- What if it lets you down?
- I'd imagine the conditions wouldn't help with that.
- Shouldn't we wait until we have the technology?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 27 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/, fascination /fæsɪˈneɪʃən/, luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊəɹi.əs/, civilization /ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/, eventuality /ɪˌvɛntjuˈælɪti/, fascination /fæsɪˈneɪʃən/, uninhabitable /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbɪtəbəl/, luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊəɹi.əs/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like exploration, contemplate, spaceship.
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.