Shadowing Practice: What Teachers Think of the Digital Age - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
From VOA Learning English, this is education in special English.
⏸ Paused
21 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
From VOA Learning English, this is education in special English.
2
Teachers say the digital age has been both a good and bad influence on this generation of American teenagers.
3
More than 2,000 middle and high school teachers took an online survey.
4
Researchers also spoke with teachers in focus groups.
5
Three-fourths of the teachers said the Internet
6
and digital search tools have had a mostly positive effect on their students' research habits and skills.
7
But 87% agreed that these technologies are creating an easily distracted generation with short attention spans.
8
And 64% said the technologies do more to distract students than to help them academically.
9
Many students think doing research now means just doing a quick search on Google.
10
The Pew Internet Project did the survey with the College Board and the National Writing Project.
11
A majority of the teachers came from advanced placement classes,
12
which provide college-level work for high school students.
13
Judy Buchanan is with the National Writing Project and a co-author of the report.
14
She says digital research tools are helping students learn more and learn faster.
15
But one problem the survey found is that many students are lacking in digital literacy.
16
In other words, they trust too much of the information they find on the Internet.
17
Judy Buchanan says these students have not developed the skills they need to judge the quality or credibility of online information.
18
They also say being able to quickly find information online hurts their students' ability to work hard to find answers.
19
Many teachers are also concerned
20
that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others instead of using their own abilities.
21
For VOA Learning English, I'm Carolyn Prasuti.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing your English speaking skills through real context is essential for effective communication. The video, "What Teachers Think of the Digital Age," provides a relevant discussion on the influence of technology on education. By engaging with this content, you will familiarize yourself with contemporary issues that American students face, enhancing your vocabulary related to education and technology. Utilizing this video allows you to practice your English speaking in a meaningful way, as you can discuss key themes and express your opinions. The insights shared by teachers offer excellent material for conversation practice and can be implemented using the shadowing technique.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, several key grammatical structures and expressions can be highlighted:

  • Comparative structures: Phrases like "more than" and "mostly positive" help convey opinions about technology's impact. For example, "the Internet has had a mostly positive effect" is a useful structure for discussing advantages and disadvantages.
  • Passive voice: The expression "are created" indicates how technology affects attention spans without focusing on the subject, which is a common feature in formal discussions.
  • Modals for deduction: Words like "should" and "can" suggest recommendations and possibilities, as in "students should develop the skills to judge the quality of online information." Using modals effectively is crucial for articulating advice.

By focusing on these structures, learners can enhance their ability to construct complex sentences and make informed arguments in English.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When practicing with this video, pay attention to specific terminology and phrases that can be challenging for non-native speakers:

  • Digit-al: The word "digital" can be tricky due to the soft "g" sound. Ensure you pronounce it clearly, emphasizing the short "i" vowel sound.
  • Research: This term is commonly mispronounced. Focus on pronouncing it as "ree-surch," breaking it down to avoid blending the syllables.
  • Attention span: The phrase "attention span" requires clear enunciation of both words, as they can easily run together, obscuring meaning.

Utilizing a shadowing app can significantly help in overcoming these pronunciation difficulties. By listening and repeating after the speaker, you can enhance both your fluency and pronunciation.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee