Shadowing Practice: What Is 3D Printing and How Does It Work? | Mashable Explains - Learn English Speaking with Video
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23 sentences
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3D printing technology is already changing the way we produce objects, from tools and toys, to clothing, and even body parts.
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3D printing is part of a process known as additive manufacturing, where an object is created by adding material layer by layer.
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Additive manufacturing allows designers to create complex parts for machines, airplanes, and cars at a fraction of the cost and time of standard means like forging,
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molding, and sculpting.
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Now, smaller, consumer -friendly 3D printers are bringing additive manufacturing to homes and businesses.
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The first step in 3D printing is to create a blueprint of the object you want to print.
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You can use modeling software like Blender to create your own designs,
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or you can visit websites like Thingiverse or Shapeways to find objects other users have 3D modeled.
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Once you have a finished design, it's time to send it to the printer.
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Some printers, like the MakerBot Replicator 2, have renewable bioplastics spooled in the back of the device, almost like a string.
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When the printer receives the data, it pulls the material through a tube, melts it, and deposits it to the plate where it instantly cools.
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As you can see, the 3D object is created through layering,
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where the printer will add one layer of the object at a time until you have a fully formed structure.
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The most common material used in 3D printing is plastic,
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but the use of some other materials allow for the creation of some pretty amazing products beyond simple tools and toys.
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3D printing food is becoming very popular, and additive manufacturing has allowed for the creation of some pretty intricate treats.
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In the medical world, doctors are testing biomaterials for regenerative medicine.
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By using a patient's cells, doctors could 3D print small body parts like ears and noses.
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Some surgeons have even tested 3D printed organs for transplants.
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Recently, giant 3D printers in China printed 10 houses in just one day
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and at a cost of less than $5 ,000 per house, proving just how cost and time efficient 3D printing can be.
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For more on 3D printing, check out Mashable's latest coverage.
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And don't forget to watch the other videos in our Mashable Explains series.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “What Is 3D Printing and How Does It Work?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: printing, printer, object, additive, manufacturing. This video has 23 sentences and 366 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:20. The speaker talks at a natural 157 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 75% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| printer noun | /ˈpɹɪntɚ/ | One who makes prints. |
| layer noun | /ˈleɪ̯ɚ/ | A single thickness of some material covering a surface. |
| toy noun | /tɔɪ/ | Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child. |
| clothing noun | /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/ | Any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to… |
| ear noun | /ˈɪə̯/ | The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna or auricle, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea. |
| designer noun | /dɪˈzaɪnɚ/ | A person who designs something, or who designs things as a profession. |
| efficient adjective | /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ | Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy. |
| string noun | /stɹɪŋ/ | A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. |
| tube noun | /tuːb/ | Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape. |
| deposit noun | /dɪˈpɑ.zɪt/ | Sediment or rock that is not native to its present location or is different from the surrounding material. Sometimes refers to ore or gems. |
| instantly adverb | /ˈɪnstəntli/ | At once; without delay. |
| organ noun | /ˈɔːɡən/ | The larger part of an organism, composed of tissues that perform similar functions. |
| surgeon noun | /ˈsɝd͡ʒən/ | One who performs surgery; a doctor who performs operations on people or animals. |
| fraction noun | /ˈfɹæk.ʃən/ | A part of a whole, especially a comparatively small part. |
| melt verb | /mɛlt/ | To change (or to be changed) from a solid state to a liquid state, usually by a gradual heat. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has allowed · have even tested |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is created |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: efficient /ɪˈfɪʃənt/, fraction /ˈfɹæk.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like printer, layer, toy.
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.