Shadowing Practice: Will robots take our jobs? | CNBC Explains - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hi, I'm Elizabeth.
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Hi, I'm Robotesky.
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Nice to meet you.
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Likewise.
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This is a humanoid robot, which means it looks, it talks, and it even acts, well, like a human.
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So does that mean it could take a human's job, like mine?
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You better believe it.
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No, I'm only joking, not really.
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There's no denying robots and automation are increasingly part of our daily lives.
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Just look around the grocery store, or the highway, or in the case of Robothespian here, even at the theater.
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The rise of robots has led to some pretty scary warnings about the future of work.
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Robots will be able to do everything better than us.
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A recent study found up to 670 ,000 U .S jobs were lost to robots between 1990 and 2007, and that number is likely to go up.
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A widely cited study from 2013 found nearly half of all
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jobs in the U .S are in danger of being automated over the next 20 years.
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Occupations that require repetitive and predictable tasks in transportation, logistics and administrative support were especially high risk.
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And just think, robots don't need health benefits, vacation, or even sleep for that matter.
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But the debate over whether robots will take over all of our jobs is by no means settled.
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Many economists argue automation will ultimately create new jobs.
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After all, someone has to program the robots, right?
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Let's go back to the 1850s, when trains were the most popular mode of transportation.
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This chart shows the number of locomotive engineers, railroad conductors, and brakemen increasing by nearly 600%.
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But that growth slowed in the early 1900s.
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Why?
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You guessed it, the automobile came along.
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Car mechanic and repairman jobs surged, even though railroad jobs began to disappear.
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And some companies say the same thing will happen when robots move into the marketplace.
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A survey of 20 ,000 employers from 42 countries found that the IT,
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customer service, and advanced manufacturing industries will add workers over the next two years as a result of automation.
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It's hard to imagine that robots can replicate human characteristics like empathy or compassion that are required in many jobs.
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I mean, would you really want a robot as your nurse, babysitter, or teacher?
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But even if robots don't take our jobs entirely, research shows they will significantly change day -to -day tasks in
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the workplace this is particularly a problem for lower skilled workers
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who aren't able to retrain for new jobs they might get
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stuck with lower wages in a world with more robots and
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that could make income inequality even worse these guys are making a lot of things uncertain right now
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but one thing that's clear is skills training is required
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if we hope to get along with friends like them in the workplace i think we're going to get along just fine.
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Hey everyone, it's Elizabeth and RoboSeskin here.
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Thanks so much for watching our video.
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You can check out more of our videos all the time, including one about universal basic income over here on our YouTube page.
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While you're at it, leave us some ideas in the comment section and subscribe to our channel.
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See you later!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 43 sentences and 524 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:24. The speaker talks at a natural 154 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 81% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| robot noun | /ˈɹoʊ.bɑt/ | An intelligent mechanical being designed to look like a human or other creature, and usually made from metal. |
| automation noun | /ˌɔ.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/ | The act or process of converting the controlling of a machine or device to a more automatic system, such as computer or electronic controls. |
| worker noun | /ˈwɝ.kɚ/ | One who works: a person who performs labor for a living; traditionally, especially, manual labor. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| railroad verb | /ˈɹeɪlɹoʊd/ | To transport via railroad. |
| workplace noun | /ˈwɝkˌpleɪs/ | The place where someone works. |
| universal adjective | /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/ | Of or pertaining to the universe. |
| chart noun | /t͡ʃɑɹt/ | A map illustrating the geography of a specific phenomenon. |
| argue verb | /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ | To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply. |
| administrative adjective | /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹə.tɪv/ | Of or relating to administering or administration. |
| wage noun | /weɪd͡ʒ/ | An amount of money paid to a worker for a specified quantity of work, usually calculated on an hourly basis and expressed in an amount of money per hour. |
| nurse noun | /nɝs/ | Anyone performing this role, regardless of training or profession. |
| vacation noun | /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ | An extended trip or journey away from home for rest or pleasure. |
| increasingly adverb | Increasing in amount or intensity. | |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
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.). |
| come along verb | To accompany. |
| get along verb | To interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| go up verb | To move upwards. |
| look around verb | To inspect a building or area. |
| take over verb | To assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, aren't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: theater /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/, empathy /ˈɛmpəθi/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: automation /ˌɔ.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/, vacation /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/, compassion /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/
- Long words — get the stress right: automation /ˌɔ.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/, universal /ˌjunəˈvɜɹs(ə)l/, administrative /ədˈmɪn.ɪ.stɹə.tɪv/, occupation /ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/, characteristic /ˌkæɹ(ə)ktəˈɹɪstɪk/
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 robot, automation, worker.
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.