Shadowing Practice: Why Care About Water? | National Geographic - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Water is the basis of life and only a tiny share of all the water on earth is fresh and renewed by the water cycle.
⏸ Paused
19 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Water is the basis of life and only a tiny share of all the water on earth is fresh and renewed by the water cycle.
2
If you took all the water in the world and put it into a gallon jug, less than one teaspoon of it would be available to us.
3
We're overusing it.
4
We're overtapping rivers and we're overpumping groundwater.
5
We live at a time in history where over a billion people don't have access to safe drinking water, and over three billion people have no access to sanitation.
6
Water is a global issue, but it's also a very local issue.
7
We forget that we live in a hydrosphere and that all of our water resources are connected.
8
Water that runs in the Ganges could also end up in the Hudson, or could fall over the plains of Africa, or could make a cup of tea in the Queen's Palace.
9
To support the average American lifestyle today takes about twice the global average.
10
The Great American Lawn is a great example of one of the myriad of ways that we take water for granted.
11
We can't continue to flaunt our water.
12
Agriculture is something that we really need to give thought to.
13
70% of all the water we extract from rivers, lakes, and aquifers goes to irrigated agriculture.
14
To some extent, we're using some of tomorrow's water to meet today's food demands.
15
Large number of people I talk to, when they learn that the Colorado, the mighty force of nature, no longer reaches the sea, there's a look of shock in most people's faces.
16
At the delta, it literally runs dry.
17
We are using and abusing our water resources in ways that are completely unsustainable.
18
And unless we think about it that way, and we start taking action at an individual level, then I don't really see how we'll be able to overcome so many of the issues that we're going to be faced with in the next 50 years.
19
And this is our time in history to do something about it.

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

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will explore an important topic: the significance of water conservation. The video discussed provides fascinating insights into the global water crisis, its impact on communities, and personal responsibility towards water usage. By viewing and analyzing the content, you will practice your English listening and speaking skills, focusing on clarity and pronunciation. This lesson will also incorporate shadowing techniques to improve English pronunciation, allowing you to mimic the speaker's tone and rhythm.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Hydrosphere - the system that encompasses all of Earth's water.
  • Overusing - using something too much.
  • Sanitation - the conditions relating to public health, especially the provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal.
  • Agriculture - the science or practice of farming and growing crops.
  • Sustainable - capable of being maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting resources.
  • Irrigated - supplying water to crops through channels or pipes.
  • Access - the means or opportunity to approach or enter a place, in this case, for drinking water.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience, try using the shadowing technique. Start by watching the video segment at a slower speed to catch the pronunciation and intonation of key phrases. Focus on the proper articulation of words like "sustainable" and "agriculture", as these are vital to the topic discussed.

Once comfortable, switch back to the normal speed and practice shadowing—simultaneously speak along with the video. Pay special attention to the rhythm and pauses; this will help improve English pronunciation. Consider pausing the video after difficult sentences and repeat them multiple times until you feel confident.

For those preparing for the IELTS speaking test, this practice not only hones speaking abilities but also enhances your understanding of contemporary issues, which can be beneficial for your examination. Use the insights gained here as a springboard for discussions in your practice sessions, making your speech more engaging and informative.

For a dedicated shadowing site, look for recording options that allow you to listen and respond in real-time, which will significantly enhance your fluency.

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