Shadowing Practice: Would you like a robot companion? ⏲️ 6 Minute English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
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6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
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Hello.
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This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
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I'm Neil.
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And I'm Beth.
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One area of technology which has been in the news a lot recently is robotics – the design and building of robots.
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Humanoid robots, meaning robots which appear and behave like humans,
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are being built to help us do everything from washing the dishes to babysitting the kids.
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But not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of inviting a human-like robot into their home.
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Neil, how would you feel about living with a robot?
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I really don't want to live with a robot.
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I have enough people in my house.
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With advances in AI, robots are becoming smart enough to develop meaningful relationships with humans.
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There are reports of people telling their secrets to robot therapists and even falling in love with their robot friend.
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In this episode, we'll meet a home companion robot called Abby,
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who's making friends with the elderly residents of Melbourne in Australia.
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And as usual, we'll learn some useful new vocabulary,
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all of which you'll find over on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.
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First, I have a question for you, Beth.
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Because it's important people feel safe around robots,
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engineers design them to look like the friendly characters seen in animated movies by studios like Pixar and Dreamworks.
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So, what is the name of Pixar's friendly robot who picks up garbage on an uninhabited planet Earth in the year 2805?
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Is it a Ros, b Wally or c R2D2?
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I am pretty certain that the answer is b Wally.
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Well, we'll find out the answer later in the programme.
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For five months during the Covid pandemic,
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Australian engineer Grace Brown had no human contact.
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She used this time to build a home companion robot,
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ABBY, with the idea it would provide companionship to other people suffering loneliness.
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Now Grace runs her own company,
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Andromeda, building robots specially designed as company for elderly residents in care homes who don't get many visitors.
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Here, she explains more about Abby to BBC World Service programme The Conversation.
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Abby, who's the humanoid robot that we build at Andromeda,
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people don't expect humanoid robots to have, like, so much personality.
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She's very, very sassy.
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She's very inquisitive and curious.
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And I think when people meet her,
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they're always kind of taken back by,
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oh, she's, like, got a mind of her own.
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When people meet Abby, they are surprised by her sassy personality.
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The adjective sassy means bold, confident and cheeky.
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Some people are taken aback,
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meaning they are shocked or surprised by the things Abby says.
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She really seems to be interested and to take care of the people she meets.
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Abby can also express opinions.
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And Grace says she has a mind of her own,
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a phrase used when a non-living object,
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like a robot, seems to be behaving or acting independently of human control.
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Unlike the unpredictable and violent robots which are sometimes portrayed in sci-fi movies,
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Abby is much more approachable and friendly, even funny.
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She can blow bubbles from her hand.
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Her softer design was a conscious decision by Grace,
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who wanted children and elderly people to interact with Abby naturally and without fear,
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as she explained to BBC World Services The Conversation.
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I originally modelled her off the size of like a young child,
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so like a six, seven year old child.
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So she's about 110 centimetres tall.
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She's got a whole splash of different colours.
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She's got large, expressive eyes.
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So I was very much trying to replicate the kind of approachableness
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and the endearingness of these different Pixar characters that you'd watch in all of these films.
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Abi looks like a friendly character from a Pixar film.
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She's the size of a six or seven-year-old child
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and decorated with a splash of colour – a phrase used
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when a bit of colour is added to brighten up something which is dull or unexciting.
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Abby also has large expressive eyes.
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If you describe something as expressive,
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you mean it shows what someone thinks or feels.
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Elderly residents who regularly chat with Abby say the robot companion brings them joy and a sense of community.
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Ah, well, it is good to hear the positive side of technology,
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which can still seem a bit strange or frightening.
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And I would like to see Abi blowing bubbles from her hand.
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Now, isn't it time you revealed the answer to your question, Neil?
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I asked you for the name of Pixar's friendly robot who
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picks up garbage on an uninhabited planet Earth in the year 2805.
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And I said it was Wally.
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And you were correct.
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That is the right answer.
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OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned starting with humanoid,
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an adjective meaning to have the appearance and behaviour of a human.
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Someone who is sassy is bold, confident and cheeky.
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If you are taken aback by something,
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you are shocked or surprised by it.
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If you say an object has a mind of its own,
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you mean that it seems to be acting independent independently, without human control.
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The phrase a splash of colour is used
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when a bit of colour is added to brighten something which is dull or unexciting.
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And finally, the adjective expressive means showing what someone thinks or feels.
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Once again, our six minutes are up!
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If you've enjoyed this episode then head over to our website bbclearningenglish.com where you'll find a quiz
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and worksheet to practice the vocabulary you've learnt.
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See you again soon, but for now, it's goodbye!
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Goodbye!

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will enhance your English speaking practice skills through engaging discussions about robotics and technology. The topic centers around the emotional and social implications of humanoid robots, particularly focusing on their roles as companions for the elderly. By participating in this lesson, you will learn to articulate your thoughts about feelings towards robots, companionship, and advances in technology. This content will be especially beneficial for those preparing for the IELTS speaking practice, as you will practice expressing opinions and feelings in a conversational manner.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Humanoid robots: Robots designed to resemble and behave like humans.
  • Sassy: Bold, confident, and cheeky, often in a playful manner.
  • Taken aback: Shocked or surprised by something unexpected.
  • Mind of her own: Exhibiting independent thoughts or behaviors.
  • Companionship: The feeling of fellowship or friendship.
  • Inquisitive: Curious and eager for knowledge or information.
  • Express opinions: To convey one's thoughts or beliefs about a topic.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this learning opportunity, try using a shadowing app to follow along with the conversation from the video. The speed of the dialogue in the video is typically moderate, which will allow you to practice your pronunciation and intonation effectively. As you listen, focus on the tone and pace of the speakers, Neil and Beth. Pay attention to how they express surprise and other emotions about robots.

For a targeted shadowing experience, consider the following steps:

  • Listen to a short section of the dialogue, then pause and repeat it out loud. Try to mimic their intonation and rhythm.
  • Take note of the key vocabulary, especially terms like "sassy" and "taken aback". Create your own sentences using these words.
  • Discuss your thoughts about robots with a friend or through a mirror, implementing the vocabulary you’ve learned to improve your confidence in English speaking practice.
  • Record yourself speaking and listen to identify areas for improvement, especially focusing on the clarity and expressiveness of your speech.

By regularly practicing these techniques, you'll gain confidence and fluency in your English speaking skills, enhancing your overall communication effectiveness.

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.

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