Shadowing Practice: Young Entrepreneur Creates Hospital for iPhones - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.
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From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report in Special English.
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The iPhone has become one of the most popular mobile phones in the United States.
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An 18-year-old student in California has used his knowledge of the iPhone to create his own business.
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and he has gained national recognition for his work.
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Vincent Quigg is the chief executive officer of TechWorld.
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His company is like a hospital for iPhones.
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Vincent launched TechWorld while he was in high school.
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He says his mother became single at the time,
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and he needed to find ways to make money.
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So, he found ways to be entrepreneurial.
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An organization called the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship,
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or NIFTY, helped the young man get started.
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Both he and his mother,
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Carla, admit that he had a hard time developing a business plan.
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The first time Vincent attended a nifty class, he quit.
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At the same time,
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he worked for the electronic store Best Buy he says people
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always came into the store with broken electronic devices he decided
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that repairing those devices was what he wanted to do he not only
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re-registered for the Nifty class
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but he also won the organization's national competition for best
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young entrepreneur Estelle Reyes is executive director for Nifty in Los
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Angeles she says Vincent has an incredible gift for presenting himself
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and his dreams in a very compelling way that engages everyone to rally around him.
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His business has grown through word of mouth.
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Vincent says he now fixes up to 10 phones per week.
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He earns about $1,500 each month in sales.
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Tech World has two employees,
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and Vincent says he wants to continue to grow his business.
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His biggest goal, he says,
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has always been to work for himself.
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For VOA Learning English, I'm Carolyn Prasuti.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills through a real-world example of entrepreneurship. By exploring the story of Vincent Quigg, a young entrepreneur who created a business repairing iPhones, you will improve your vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension. This engaging narrative will help you not only understand the themes of innovation and determination but also develop your ability to speak like a native. Utilizing the technique of shadowspeak, you will practice shadowing the transcript to improve your English pronunciation and fluency effectively.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Entrepreneur: A person who starts and manages their own business.
  • Recognition: Acknowledgment of someone's achievements or efforts.
  • Business Plan: A detailed plan outlining the strategy and goals of a business.
  • Competition: An event where individuals or businesses compete for a prize or recognition.
  • Compelling: Attractive or interesting enough to draw attention.
  • Word of Mouth: Marketing that occurs through personal recommendations.
  • Sales: The total amount of money received from selling goods or services.
  • Employee: A person who works for a company or organization.

Practice Tips

To effectively enhance your English speaking skills with this video, try the following shadow speech techniques:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by listening to the video without any distractions. Pay attention to the rhythm, intonation, and clarity of the words.
  2. Shadow Speak: Once you feel comfortable, try to repeat what you hear immediately after the speaker. This is a great way to practice improving your English pronunciation.
  3. Slow it Down: If the pace feels too fast, slow down the playback speed. This will help you accurately imitate the pronunciation and diction of the speaker.
  4. Focus on Key Phrases: Choose specific phrases from the vocabulary list and practice those. Repeating them in different contexts will build your confidence.
  5. Record Yourself: Try recording your shadow speak sessions. Listening to yourself helps identify areas where you can improve your pronunciation and fluency.

By consistently engaging in these practices, you'll master the art of shadowing and significantly improve your English speaking abilities!

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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