Shadowing Practice: Unit 7 Not the Normal News - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Unit 7.
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Not the normal news.
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Newspapers and television news programs always seem to report about the bad things happening in society.
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However, there is a place where readers can find some good news.
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That place is the website called Happy News.
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The man behind Happy News is Byron Rees.
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Rees set up Happy News because he thought other news sources were giving people an unbalanced view of the world.
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Rees said about Happy News, The news media gives you a distorted view of the world by exaggerating bad news, misery and despair.
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We're trying to balance out the scale.
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Not everyone agrees with Rees' view though.
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Many people think that news sources have a responsibility to provide news that is helpful to people.
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People need to know about issues or problems in today's society.
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Then people are better able to make informed decisions about things that affect their daily lives.
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Rees said that Happy News is not trying to stop people from learning about issues or problems.
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Happy News is just trying to provide a balanced picture of today's world.
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By the end of its first month online, Happy News had more than 70,000 unique readers.
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About 60% of those readers were women.
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Something else unique makes Happy News different from any of the other news or information websites that are on the Internet.
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Unlike many other websites, Happy News gets fan mail from its readers on a daily basis.
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Sources of the News Listen to the dialogue and choose the best answer.
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Where do you think Happy News gets all of the information it reports on?
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The information I read said that on the Happy News website you will find stories from other news media sources.
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The stories are just read by the editors who work for
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Happy News first to make sure they are okay for the website.
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So, they just look for happy stories from other news sources and collect those on their website?
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That's right.
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Also, they may post stories from regular people, as long as the stories are written like news reports.
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So, I could write a story for Happy News?
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You could, but be sure to provide sources for the information in your story.
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The editors at Happy News have to check your facts before they'll post your story.
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Thank you.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by engaging with a unique and uplifting topic: positive news. Inspired by the transcript, you will learn how to articulate thoughts surrounding the contrast between typical news reporting and more optimistic narratives, like those found on Happy News. This exercise is crucial for IELTS speaking practice as it encourages you to develop your ability to express opinions, provide arguments, and enhance your vocabulary related to media coverage and societal issues. By focusing on both content comprehension and pronunciation, you will utilize the shadowing technique to improve your spoken fluency and confidence.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Good news - Information that is uplifting or positive.
  • Distorted view - A biased or misleading perspective on a topic.
  • Balanced picture - A fair and comprehensive representation of something.
  • Informed decisions - Choices made based on adequate information.
  • Fan mail - Letters or messages of appreciation received from supporters.
  • Source of information - The origin or reference from which news or data is obtained.
  • Regular people - Ordinary individuals, as opposed to celebrities or professionals.
  • Fact-check - The process of verifying the accuracy of information.

Practice Tips

To optimize your English speaking practice using the shadowing technique, consider the following tips tailored to the pacing and tone of the video:

  • Slow Down: Start by listening to small sections of the transcript and repeat them carefully. The speed of the original content is moderately paced, making it suitable for shadowing; don't rush. Focus on clarity and articulation.
  • Mimic Tone and Emotion: Capture not just the words, but also the emotions conveyed in the delivery. As you practice, pay attention to the contrast in tones when discussing good news versus bad news, as it will help you become more expressive.
  • Record Yourself: After a few practice rounds, record your voice. Listening to your own speech will aid in identifying areas for improvement and increase your self-awareness.
  • Engage with the Material: Extend your practice by discussing the differences between typical news and positive news with a partner or through writing exercises. This will reinforce vocabulary and speaking skills while also preparing you for potential speaking topics in the IELTS exam.
  • Use Language in Context: Integrate the vocabulary and phrases you've learned into your everyday conversations. This real-world application will help solidify your understanding and enhance retention.

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.