Shadowing Practice: What is the Capability Approach to development? - Learn English Speaking with Video

I think there was a Nobel,

there is a Nobel laureate, Amartya Sen, who in 1979 observed that when we think about equality,

we're always trying to measure equality in some space.

And And all of the disagreements are about what space we measured in, whether it's in resources, whether it's in liberty or something else.

And theories of justice would disagree about the space in which we should assess equality.

And he proposed that we consider it in a space of capabilities, which is people's freedom, their real freedom,

not a paper freedom, but their real freedom to pursue and achieve activities and states of life that they deeply value,

and also that they have reason to value, that are valuable from a wider perspective.

And so that's a mouthful, it's a lot of phrases, it's a lot of ideas,

but he developed those ideas very powerfully both in philosophy and in economics. And so

that has been a way of widening the focus of economic thinking away from just looking at people's preferences

or utility to really looking at their activities and their states of being,

and also doing so while leaving respect for them, freedom, so that they can act as agents, so that they can create in an ongoing way,

and you're not putting them in a box and trying to simply give them basic needs, as in a prison.

So that idea which I had read when I was still studying theology in a reading group, continued to inspire me.

It was the basis of my doctoral work and it's been a continual theme since then.

✨ Recommend Video

193 sentences

In full: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos

IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepUniversity Students

Understanding the Capability Approach: Context & Background

The video dives into a fascinating concept from economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen: the Capability Approach to development. Sen challenges traditional ideas of equality by shifting focus from resources or utility to people’s "real freedom"—the ability to pursue and achieve valued life goals. This idea, which blends philosophy and economics, inspired the speaker’s academic work and offers a fresh lens on human development. It’s a rich topic that not only expands your knowledge but also boosts your English vocabulary with terms like "capabilities," "utility," and "agents."

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

"real freedom" – Use this to contrast actual opportunities with theoretical ones: "Having a job isn’t enough; real freedom means choosing work that aligns with your values."
"deeply value" – Express strong personal importance: "I deeply value time with family, so I prioritize weekends off."
"wider perspective" – Highlight broader context: "When solving problems, it’s good to consider a wider perspective beyond just your own needs."
"ongoing way" – Describe continuous action: "Learning English is an ongoing way to grow professionally."
"basic needs" – Refer to essential requirements: "Governments must ensure citizens have access to basic needs like food and healthcare."

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video

Shadowing—repeating speech immediately after the speaker—is a powerful way to improve fluency, and this video is perfect for practice. Here’s how to use the shadowing technique effectively:

Listen first: Watch the video once to grasp the main idea. Focus on the flow of ideas about Sen’s theory.
Break it down: Pause after 5-10 second clips. Use a shadowing app to loop sections if needed. Repeat phrases like "real freedom to pursue and achieve activities" to mimic the rhythm.
Emphasize intonation: Notice how the speaker stresses words like "capabilities" and "freedom." Copying this helps with natural expression—key for IELTS speaking practice.
Speed up: Once comfortable, try shadowing at full speed. This trains your brain to process and reproduce language quickly, a skill for daily communication.
Record yourself: Compare your recording to the video. Check if you’re using phrases like "wider perspective" correctly. This feedback accelerates progress!

Learning English with YouTube videos like this not only builds vocabulary but also sharpens your ability to discuss complex ideas—great for IELTS or real-world conversations. With consistent shadowspeak practice, you’ll notice quick wins in your speaking confidence. Keep going—every repetition brings you closer to fluency!

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 been
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	capabilities, which is

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: What is the Capability Approach to development? - Learn English Speaking with Video

Amartya Sen interview (1999)

What science can’t answer, according to physicist Jim Al-Khalili | Big Think

IELTS Speaking Part 2: A Place That Changed My Perspective

Health is all about people – it’s time to invest in social participation!

Will the Good of the Other – Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

POLITICAL THEORY - Karl Marx

Creating Capabilities – Martha Nussbaum

English vocabulary in use Advanced Unit 2

Peter Singer | It Is NOT Immoral To Be A Billionaire (8/8) | Oxford Union

An introduction to a lecture

Hegel: Philosophy of world history and spirit