Prática de Shadowing: What’s a electrical substation and how does it work? - Aprenda a falar inglês com vídeo

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Have you ever seen a giant steel puzzle like this?
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It's a substation, and there are over 530 of them in Quebec.
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No two are the same, and each one has its own name.
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But what is a substation?
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What role does it play in the transmission and distribution of electricity?
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A substation connects parts of the power grid that aren't at the same voltage level.
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Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points, and it's measured in volts.
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If there's no voltage, there's no power.
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The substation's main role is to raise or lower the voltage level of the electricity before it reaches our homes.
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It also directs the electricity by determining the route it will take to reach its destination, and it protects the grid.
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The voltage of the electricity varies as it makes its way from the generating station to our neighborhoods.
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Over long distances, the voltage which can reach up to 735,000 volts.
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That's extra high voltage.
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But at home, our appliances and devices operate at 120 or 240 volts.
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That's low voltage.
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On its journey, the electricity stops at several substations and changes voltage.
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Substations adjust the voltage of the electricity as it moves from the generating station to our outlets.
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But what happens in a substation?
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Electricity enters through flexible conductors, which are cables supported by towers.
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In the substation, it passes through bus bars, which are usually large, rigid conductors.
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A voltage transformer measures the voltage, and a current transformer measures the intensity of the current in amperes.
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Next is the breaker.
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It protects the grid and the equipment in the substation by automatically cutting off the power when there's a problem.
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It can also be opened and closed manually for maintenance, for example.
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It's like the circuit breakers in your distribution panel at home.
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There are different models, but they all serve the same purpose.
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The disconnect switch is a huge switch.
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It's easy to see if it's open or closed.
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It's used in different places to disconnect equipment from the grid or provide an alternative path for the electricity.
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The disconnect switch is essential to keep people safe.
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This is the power transformer, the heart of the substation.
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It's inside this giant green box that the voltage is raised or lowered.
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Here, the transformer lowers the voltage from 315,000 to 25,000 volts.
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Not far from the transformer are the surge arresters.
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They protect the transformers from overvoltage.
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When there are lightning strikes or switching operations, they send the electricity towards the ground.
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And on the ground, there's a grid of metal wires.
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It's a safety device that protects the entire substation.
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This grounding grid disperses the electricity downwards as a safety measure.
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As it leaves the transformer, the electricity is guided to more bus bars, breakers and disconnect switches before moving to its next destination.
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At the last substation in the transmission system, electricity leaves through underground or overhead cables.
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That's the final stop before power is distributed to various neighborhoods.
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To make sure Hydro-Quebec can monitor and coordinate everything that happens in the substation,
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all the equipment is connected to a control and protection system that's housed in a control building.
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Most of the time, the operations are automated and carried out remotely.
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That's why it often seems like substations are empty.
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Hydro-Quebec crews only go there to carry out certain switching operations, maintenance, and repairs.
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But don't be fooled.
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Substations may look like quiet places, but there are risks of electrical injury and even electrocution.
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No one should ever go near a substation or try to enter one.
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Only Hydro-Quebec crews can go inside.
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They know all the substation secrets and always wear the right personal protective equipment.
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Now, the next time you see a substation, you'll know what goes on inside.
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It won't seem like a puzzle, but rather like the place where electricity makes some important stops
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as it makes its way from the generating station to our homes.

Vocabulário e dicas de fala para esta lição

Este vídeo tem 55 frases e 661 palavras para praticar shadowing. A fala dura 4:39. O falante mantém um ritmo estável de cerca de 142 palavras por minuto, confortável para o shadowing. Apenas 75% das palavras estão entre as 3.000 mais comuns do inglês, por isso o vocabulário é exigente.

Vocabulário principal deste vídeo

15 palavras menos comuns do vídeo, com pronúncia e significado:

  • voltage /ˈvəʊltɪd͡ʒ/ (substantivo) — tensão, voltagem. The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth.
  • electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/ (substantivo) — eletricidade. Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now…
  • grid /ɡɹɪd/ (substantivo) — matriz, quadriculado. A rectangular array of squares or rectangles of equal size, such as in a crossword puzzle.
  • generate /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ə.ɹeɪt/ (verbo) — gerar. To bring into being; give rise to.
  • connect /kəˈnɛkt/ (verbo) — conectar. To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object.
  • transmission /tɹænsˈmɪʃən/ (substantivo) — transmissão. The act of transmitting, e.g. data (signals) or electric power.
  • destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/ (substantivo) — destino. The place set for the end of a journey or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.
  • leaf /lif/ (substantivo) — folha. The usually green and flat organ that represents the most prominent feature of most vegetative plants.
  • puzzle /ˈpʌzəl/ (substantivo) — enigma. The state of feeling confused or mystified because one cannot understand a complicated matter, a problem, etc.; bewilderment, confusion; (countable) often in…
  • conductor /kənˈdʌktɚ/ (substantivo) — maestro, maestrina. One who conducts or leads; a guide; a director.
  • circuit /ˈsɝ.kɪt/ (substantivo) — circuito, volta. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution
  • wire /ˈwaɪɚ/ (substantivo) — arame. Metal formed into a thin, even thread, now usually by being drawn through a hole in a steel die.
  • repair /ˈɹiːpɛɚ/ (verbo) — reparar. To restore to good working order, fix, or improve damaged condition; to mend; to remedy.
  • monitor /ˈmɑ.nɪ.tɚ/ (substantivo) — monitor, observador. Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.
  • underground /ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/ (adjetivo) — subterrâneo. Below the ground; below the surface of the Earth.

Phrasal verbs que você vai ouvir

  • carry out /ˈkæ.ɹi aʊt/ (verbo) — carregar. To hold while moving it out.
  • cut off /ˌkʌt ˈɔf/ [ˌkɐɾ ˈɔf] (verbo) — recortar. To remove by cutting.
  • go on /ˈɡoʊˌɒn/ (verbo) — continuar. To continue in extent.

Pronúncia para ficar de olho

O falante usa 4 contrações e formas reduzidas, como aren't, don't, won't. Diga-as na forma curta, do jeito que você ouve.

  • Os sons de “sh” e “zh”: transmission /tɹænsˈmɪʃən/, destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/, substation /sʌbˈsteɪʃən/, electrocution /ɪˌlɛktɹəˈkjuːʃən/
  • Palavras longas — acerte a sílaba tônica: electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/, electrical /ɪˈlɛktɹɪkəl/, destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/, intensity /ɪnˈtɛnsɪti/, coordinate /koʊˈɔɹ.dəˌneɪt/

Como praticar com este vídeo

  1. Ouça o vídeo inteiro uma vez sem falar e anote as palavras que você não conhece.
  2. Faça shadowing frase por frase na velocidade normal, repetindo cada uma até o seu ritmo ficar igual ao do falante.
  3. Grave a sua voz e compare com o original, prestando atenção a palavras como voltage, electricity, grid.

Gramática neste vídeo

As estruturas que o falante mais usa, com as palavras exatas do vídeo:

EstruturaNo vídeo
Voz passiva be + particípio passado — o foco está no que acontece, não em quem fazbe opened · is raised · is guided
Orações relativas who / which + oração — informação extra sobre uma pessoa ou coisavoltage which can · conductors, which are · bars, which are

O que é a Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing é uma técnica de aprendizado de idiomas com base científica, originalmente desenvolvida para o treinamento de intérpretes profissionais. O método é simples, mas poderoso: você ouve áudio em inglês nativo e repete imediatamente em voz alta — como uma sombra seguindo o falante com 1-2 segundos de atraso. Pesquisas mostram melhora significativa na precisão da pronúncia, entonação, ritmo, sons conectados, compreensão auditiva e fluência na fala.

Técnica de shadowing: leia o guia completo passo a passo →