Shadowing Practice: VOA Learning English - Health Report # 394 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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36 sentences
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This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
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We all know that some people do not seem as emotionally strong as others when life gets difficult,
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but why is that?
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A study published in 2003 in the journal Science offered an answer.
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The study followed almost 850 people from birth through age 26.
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Researchers found
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that those with a short version of a certain gene were more likely to get depressed after a sad or difficult experience.
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They found that people with the normal length of the gene were better able to deal with problems.
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The gene is a transporter of serotonin,
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a brain chemical involved with mood and desire for food.
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The 2003 study captured attention among mental health professionals and popular culture.
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In fact, Science Magazine recognized the discovery of genes for mental illness as the number two breakthrough of the year.
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The winner was observations about mysteries of the universe.
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In June however, other researchers published findings of a large new study.
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They reported finding no link between the serotonin transporter gene and the risk of depression.
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The findings appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Neil Reisch is director of the University of California,
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San Francisco Institute for Human Genetics,
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and a leader of the new study.
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He says the earlier study gained so much recognition,
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it became fixed in many people's minds as true.
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The National Institute of Mental Health and Kaiser Permanente Northern California also took part in the latest study.
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The researchers used information from 14 studies involving more than 14,000 patients.
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The scientists examined the data using the same measures as the 2003 study.
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They found that the risk of depression was not higher among those with the shorter gene.
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But they also found that stressful events themselves did appear to increase the risk for depression.
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Neuroscientist Absalom Caspi, then at King's College London, led the 2003 study.
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He is now at Duke University in North Carolina.
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He has criticized the new study as incomplete.
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He says it ignores evidence that supports the original research.
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Peter Zandi is a genetic researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Maryland.
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He agrees that this latest study is not the final word.
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He said, after many years of trying to figure out what is going on with the genetic cause of depression,
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we're still not there yet.
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And that's the VOA Special English Health Report.
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For more health news go to voaspecialenglish.com.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video from VOA Learning English offers a rich resource for understanding complex topics related to mental health. By practicing speaking with this video, you can enhance your ability to discuss sensitive subjects like depression and genetics, which are vital skills for both academic and everyday conversations. Engaging with the content allows you to integrate shadowspeak into your practice, helping you develop fluency and confidence in expressing nuanced ideas.

Moreover, using the shadowing technique, where you repeat what you hear in real-time, strengthens your listening skills while also improving your pronunciation and intonation. This is particularly beneficial for IELTS speaking practice, where clarity and coherence are essential.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The transcript contains several key grammatical structures and expressions that can elevate your English proficiency. Here are a few to focus on:

  • Passive Voice: The phrase "findings appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association" is an example of the passive voice. Practice using the passive form to emphasize the action rather than who performed it.
  • Conditional Statements: Notice the conditional elements, such as "if the earlier study gained so much recognition." Exploring conditional clauses can improve your ability to express hypothetical situations.
  • Reported Speech: The transcript includes phrases like "he says" and "he criticized." Learning to use reported speech effectively allows you to convey someone else's ideas without directly quoting them, crucial in more formal discussions.
  • Adverbial Phrases: Phrases like "after a sad or difficult experience" help set the context for understanding relationships between events. Incorporating adverbial phrases can add depth to your speaking.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with this video, pay attention to certain pronunciation challenges that may arise:

  • Serotonin: The scientific term "serotonin" can be tricky due to its multisyllabic nature. Break it down into syllables—ser-o-to-nin—and practice until you feel comfortable.
  • Causal Links: Phrases like "mental illness" or "stressful events" are vital in the context of the video. Make sure to connect the sounds smoothly to improve rhythm and fluency in your speech.
  • Complex Vocabulary: Words like "depression," "findings," and "researchers" can be difficult for non-native speakers. Focus on the stress patterns: 'de-pression' and 're-search-er' to enhance clarity.

By implementing the shadow speaking technique while focusing on these elements, you will boost your overall speaking skills, making you better prepared for academic assessments like IELTS and improving casual conversation skills.

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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