Shadowing Practice: English Conversations for Everyday Use | Formal & Informal English in Different Situations (A2-B1) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creando lección...
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Hey everyone!
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Welcome to Learning English with Jessica.
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I'm Jessica, and I'm here to help you improve your English through fun and practical conversations.
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Ever struggled with real-life English?
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Ever wondered how native speakers actually talk?
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Well, you're in the right place!
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Stay with me till the end, and let's level up your English together!
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Number 1.
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ASAP.
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Maya, you just emailed the client.
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Call set up another meeting ASAP.
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Yep.
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Efficient, right?
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Straight to the point.
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It's straight, alright?
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So straight that it's practically a shortcut to the director's office.
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Wait, what?
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We're supposed to sound more professional.
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ASAP sounds like you're texting your roommate about pizza.
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Oh no, so what should I say instead?
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Try, the meeting will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
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And maybe skip the emoji next time.
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But the cake icon was cute.
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Yeah, but they make you look like a 14 year old pretending to be 24 at the office.
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Got it!
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Writing an email is like talking to your boyfriend's mom for the first time.
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And in this case, you should also pay attention to every sentence you write in the email.
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So does that mean I have to be act professional all the time when writing emails?
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Not just act professional.
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Actually be professional.
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If you still want to keep this job, you'd better listen to what I'm saying.
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I'll stop ending my emails with ASAP.
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I'd rather not see my job end that way.
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2. My sister just bought a new house.
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Dina, guess what?
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Don't tell me.
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You finally cooked something without starting a fire?
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Haha, no. My sister just bought a new house.
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Are we clapping or crying?
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Like, a whole house, not an apartment?
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Yes, a brand new house.
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Even a big garden like the one in the movie we just watched.
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Wow.
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Meanwhile, I'm over here arguing with my landlord about a broken door handle.
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She even has a bathtub big enough for two people.
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Okay, that's just showing off.
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She's only two years younger than me.
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I'm proud of her anyway.
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Just ten years ago, she was just a kid fighting me over snacks.
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Can't believe how fast time flies.
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You know what hurts most?
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What?
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Does your sister's fridge fit an elephant or something?
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Her dog has a bigger bed than I do.
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Well, my neighbor's cat has a better skin care routine than I do.
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We need to rethink our lives or move in with your sister.
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I'm taking the guest room.
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Then I'll sleep on the fancy balcony with the plants.
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And all those plants out there?
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I water them with my tears.
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3. The weather is absolutely perfect today. So, you actually came?
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You sound surprised.
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A little.
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People cancel, especially after seeing my profile picture.
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Because it looked really childish and didn't match our age, right?
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It's cool though.
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At first, I thought my screen was cracked.
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until I realized you had added a broken glass frame on your avatar.
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A masterpiece of graphic design, I know.
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Well, I'm glad I came.
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It's nice to finally meet you.
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Not through a screen.
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Same here.
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You look even better in real life.
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That's, um, the most beautiful compliment I've gotten today.
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Today?
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So, I'm not the first.
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Just kidding!
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We should walk.
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The weather is absolutely perfect today.
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Did you just jinx us?
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I take full responsibility.
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Let's go.
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And now I have wet hair on the first date.
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At least we shared the memory of getting soaked together.
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It's definitely memorable.
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You always stay positive.
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As long as it lifts you up.
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Thank you.
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Sometimes just spending time together is enough.
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Yeah, so when we look back, even the worst experiences can become beautiful memories.
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So, should we keep creating beautiful memories together?
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I don't want this date to end. Of course!
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Let's make the most of today!
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Number 4 Workplace Good morning Mr Harris!
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I'll begin with a quick update on last week's shipment.
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Please go ahead.
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Also sorry for any probs with the delivery last Friday.
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Wait sorry that came out too casual.
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I mean that wasn't very professional was it?
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Any probs?
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Are we texting now?
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A better choice would be I apologize for any inconvenience caused.
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I got it, thank you.
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I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delivery delay.
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We've addressed the issue and put a solution in place.
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And I'll make sure to keep my language more formal in the future updates.
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That's good to hear.
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The way we speak reflects how seriously we take our work.
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Absolutely.
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Saying any probs might work with friends.
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But not in this room.
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Exactly.
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Save the casual style for coffee breaks.
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I'll keep that in mind.
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Thanks for the guidance.
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Good.
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Remember, people, especially our clients, don't just listen to what we say.
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They judge how we say it.
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5. My friends surprise me with concert tickets Last weekend,
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I showed up in business casual, right on my day off. For what?
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So that day, I got a text from my friend.
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Be ready at 7.
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It's serious.
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That sounds like a tax meeting.
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I thought he needed help with a pitch deck or something.
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But no, my friend surprised me with concert tickets.
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No way!
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He picked me up in silence like it was a spy mission.
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And where did you end up?
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I was at Olivia Rodrigo's concert.
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I clapped like someone's uncle at their first concert ever.
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Please tell me you didn't sit the whole time.
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I stood up after checking if it was allowed.
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6. I finally learned how to cook pasta properly.
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You remember Ava from accounting, right?
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The one you've been pretending not to like for six months?
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That's the one.
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Her exact words were, If someone ever makes me pasta, I might marry them.
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And your brain went, challenge accepted?
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Yeah, and I finally learned how to make pasta properly.
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I've watched more pasta tutorials last weekend than actual work emails.
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Wow!
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So this is what love does to a man.
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I practiced plating too.
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Used fresh basil.
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You're the same guy who nearly threw up smelling basil.
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And now you're using it to impress a girl?
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Please tell me you didn't invite her over already.
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I did.
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Tomorrow night.
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You're really putting your heart into that saucepan.
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I even learned how to chop onions like a real chef.
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I might actually cry if she likes it.
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I hope she cries from how good it tastes.
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Not from that pile of undercooked onions.
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7. I just got promoted at work.
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You've been staring at that screen all morning.
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Do you even do anything useful with it?
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I know how to use a keyboard at least.
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That won't clean the floor.
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Or help pay the bills.
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Actually, this time, I might.
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What do you mean, might?
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Are you coding some kind of cleaning robot?
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No. I just got promoted full time and I work in the office instead of working from home.
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Seriously?
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Wait, like a real promotion?
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Yeah, more work, more pay.
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That's amazing.
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Why didn't you say anything earlier?
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You were too busy yelling about the floor.
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Oh, so we owe you an apology?
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Maybe it's time we upgraded your desk setup.
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Honestly, I'd be happy if you just stopped calling it playing on the computer.
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Deal.
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But after that, vacuum the living room.
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Promotion or not, dust waits for no one.
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As your newly promoted son, I accept this mission.
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8. My garden flowers are blooming beautifully.
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Morning, Jerry.
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Your garden's showing off again.
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You bet.
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My garden flowers are blooming beautifully.
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Blooming like they're in a shampoo commercial.
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Getting a compliment on my garden from you is like pulling stars from the sky.
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Remember when you told me flowers were not allowed in this neighborhood?
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I didn't say that.
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I said your flower pots were blocking my mailbox.
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And I said your mailbox could use some flowers.
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You treat my mailbox like it's part of your garden.
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Well, at least now it's the nicest looking mailbox on the street.
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The bees over there seem to agree more than I do.
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Even the bees know beauty when they see it.
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Or maybe they're just mistaking your garden for a five-star buffet.
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Next thing you know, they'll be writing reviews.
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Sounds like your garden's about to get a Michelin star.
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What's wrong with you today?
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Hey, Bob.
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How's it going?
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Fantastic, Henry.
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Morning, Anna.
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How's your report?
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Thanks for helping me yesterday.
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I'm almost done with it.
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Good to hear that.
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Keep it up.
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Can you help me print out this document, Henry?
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Sure.
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No problem, Sarah.
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Wait a second.
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Here's the coffee you asked me to buy for you on the way to work, Tony.
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Thank you so much, Henry.
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Let's work hard today, everyone.
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Hello, Henry.
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Hey, Henry.
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I saw your report and it was very detailed.
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Good job, man.
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What's wrong with Henry today?
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I'm about to ask the same thing.
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Yeah, me too.
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He's always the one who runs around with us.
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You're right.
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Henry is energetic and friendly.
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Then he knows how to cheer us up.
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There must be something wrong with him.
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Maybe his girlfriend dumped him yesterday.
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I don't think so.
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As far as I know, he doesn't have a girlfriend.
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Or maybe because he lost all his money.
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What?
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He was robbed?
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I guess so.
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It cannot be that bad.
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Whatever problems Henry had, he must be very sad and lost motivation to work.
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Hey guys, I've just come up with an idea.
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I suggest that we should take turns cheering him up today.
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How does that sound?
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I'll go with it.
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Me too.
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Okay, let's bring the old Henry back. Are you okay, Henry?
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It's okay.
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You don't have to tell me.
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I get it.
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You know, it's not the end of the world.
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There's nothing to be sad about.
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I know that you really like coffee.
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Take it.
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Trust me, after drinking it, you will be able to deal with every problem in life.
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Yesterday, I could not enter my house because I lost my key.
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I knew you would be surprised.
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But don't worry, I went to my friend's house to sleep over.
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And I found out that I didn't lose my key.
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I just left it on my desk in our office.
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Ha ha ha!
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As you can see, just because you have a bad day, doesn't mean you have a bad life.
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So, cheer up, Henry!
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Hey, Henry.
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I just want to say that your presentation yesterday was perfect.
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Everything you did went beyond our expectations.
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Just sending good thoughts, and I hope that you know you are more amazing than you think.
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You've been doing great, Henry.
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Um, everyone?
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Yes, Henry, what's the matter?
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Why did you guys just come to my seat and say something kinda emotional to me?
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Oh, we thought that you were having some problems that are hard to say.
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Yes, you've been being quiet and we were worried, Henry.
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Everyone's right.
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You didn't say hello or cheer us up today.
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If you need anything, we are here and we won't leave you behind.
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Well, actually...
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We always listen to you, Henry.
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Please tell us.
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Oh, yes.
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So, this morning, I forgot to brush my teeth.
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Wait, what?
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Yeah, I know it's kind of awkward to say something like this.
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I was so nervous that my breath smelled, so I chose to be silent.
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Oh, Henry.
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It's no big deal, man.
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The times that I forget to brush my teeth might double yours.
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OMG, I'm speechless with you, Tony.
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So, I hope we all cleared up our misunderstanding.
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Yes, thank God you are still okay, Henry.
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Thank you, everyone.
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I just forgot to brush my teeth, but everyone cares about me a lot.
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Oh, come on.
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We are your friends, Henry.
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Okay, let's hang out after work, everyone.
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Sure, let's work hard today and enjoy our Friday.
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Company rules.
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Excuse me, today is my first day at work.
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Hi Lucy, welcome to the company.
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My name is Sarah, I'm the human resources manager.
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Hello, Sarah.
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Let's go to my office.
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Now I will tell you about the company rules.
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I will tell you some basic rules.
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The details will be sent to your email.
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Yes, I understand.
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First, about the work day.
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You need to be at work on time time.
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You will work eight hours a day, five days a week.
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How about the lunch break?
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Lunch break will last two hours.
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Great, I got it.
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One more thing, the company doesn't allow you to do other things during work hours.
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Unless it's related to work.
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Oh, I understand.
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Can I go out to buy things?
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During working hours if you need to go out you must tell your manager about the time and reason.
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Okay, I understand.
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Thank you for explaining the rules.
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I will follow them.
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Good.
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Those are a few basic rules.
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Others are in the email.
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If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me.
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Yes, I got it.
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Thank you so much. At the meeting room.
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Henry, this is Lucy, our new assistant.
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Please help her to get used to the work.
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Henry is also an assistant.
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He will train you and let you know about your work.
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Hi, Lucy.
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Welcome to the company.
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Hi, Henry.
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Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you.
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Let's go.
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I will show you the meeting room of the company.
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Wow, it's so big!
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Yes, every week the company has a meeting on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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Tuesday is the team sales meeting, and Friday is the manager meeting.
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Is it the same every week?
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Yes, unless there's an emergency.
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Okay, let me take notes.
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Sure.
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Your job will be to record the information of the meeting.
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Also, you will help the director in handling tasks.
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Oh, for example?
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Such as receiving reports, arranging work, and scheduling meetings.
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I think I got it now.
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Thank you for your help.
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You are welcome.
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New Project Here is Bob.
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Bob is the main responsible person for the company's projects.
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This is Lucy.
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She is a new assistant at our company.
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Hi, Lucy.
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Welcome to the company.
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Hi, Bob.
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Nice to meet you.
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I hope you can help me at work.
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Sure.
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Now, I will tell you about the projects that the company is working on.
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Here's the information.
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Okay.
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Let me read it.
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If you have any problems, just ask me.
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Great, thank you.
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Don't mention it.
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The company is preparing to start a new project.
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You will join in this project.
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Really?
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I am new and I don't know much about the project.
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I believe you can do it.
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Everyone will be willing to help you.
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Oh, I see.
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I will carefully prepare.
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Agreement.
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Hi, Lucy.
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My name is Anna.
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I work in the administrative department.
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This is your work agreement with the company.
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Oh, well, I'd be on a trial period for two months.
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Yes, after you pass, the company will consider signing an official agreement with you.
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a confidentiality agreement.
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What does this mean?
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It means you need to keep secret about all of the information of the company.
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Oh, I see.
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Let me read it.
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If you have any questions, just ask me.
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Got it.
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I will sign it after reading it and give it back to you.
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Okay.
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Working hours.
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Hi, Lucy.
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Today you're working overtime again.
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Yes.
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There's still a few tasks I haven't finished yet. Are there any problems?
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Do you need help?
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No, thank you.
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I'm good.
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I can do it by myself.
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You're so hardworking.
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That's right.
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It has been two months from the time you were hired, and I've always seen you stay late to work.
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Yes, it seems like you work overtime every day.
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Nothing serious.
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I just want to finish the work within the day.
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Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, right?
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Good thinking.
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I'm impressed.
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What time do you usually get off work?
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Around 8 or 9 p.m.
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Wow, that's very late.
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You really work hard.
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Don't you feel tired?
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Sometimes, but I really love my job.
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Since I've been doing this work, I've learned a lot.
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Yes, but work never ends.
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I think you should arrange your time to work more efficiently.
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You are right.
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I will try to balance work and rest.
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I have things to do.
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I'll leave now.
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Take care.
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Sure.
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See you tomorrow.
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I have to go, too.
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Work is important, but remember to take care of your health.
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I understand.
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Thank you.
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Goodbye.
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Salary increase.
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Lucy, please come to my office.
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I need to talk with you.
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Hi, Sarah.
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Did you want to see me?
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Yes, let's see.
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You've been doing this job for almost six months, right?
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Yes, it has been five and a half months.
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How do you feel?
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Very good.
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Everyone in the company is very enthusiastic.
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They have helped me a lot.
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I've learned so many things.
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Good to hear that.
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Do you feel that the current workload is too much for you?
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No, I can handle it.
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Your performance is excellent.
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The company highly appreciates what you've done.
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After discussing this with the director, we decided to raise your salary.
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Really?
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The company will increase your salary 15% compared to before.
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Wow, I appreciate it.
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Thanks so much for the raise.
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Although the time you joined the company was not long We can see you put lots of effort into your work Yes,
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I want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity
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And I'm very happy that the director has recognized my dedication I will keep working harder Well done,
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keep trying Promotion Hi, Lucy.
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Please come to the director's office in the next ten minutes.
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We have something to discuss with you.
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Hi, I'm here.
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Please take a seat.
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Oh, Bob's also here.
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Is there a problem?
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No, here are the things.
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Since you've come to the company, you've done a great job.
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Lucy has brought numerous projects to the company.
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When did Lucy start working here?
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In April last year.
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So it's been over a year now, right?
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What do you think, Bob?
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Lucy has supported me a lot.
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From the time Lucy started working, she has always worked hard.
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All the projects she takes responsibility for are successfully completed.
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Thanks for your compliment.
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That's what I should do.
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It can't be done without your help.
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Yes, for all those reasons, we decided to promote you.
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You will manage the sales team.
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Bob will support you.
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I hope you guys can work together and bring more projects to the company. And find potential customers.
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What do you think?
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This is a great opportunity for me.
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I will happily take this chance.
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and I will try my best to help the company grow more and more.
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I believe you can fulfill this role well.
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Director Hi, sir.
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Do you have time right now?
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I have something to tell you.
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Okay, take a seat.
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What's the matter?
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Sir, I have heard that Lucy will be promoted and moved to a new department.
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That's right.
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Any problems?
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I have a little personal opinion to say.
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To be clear, I have no objection to Lucy's promotion.
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But I have been in the company for a long time, and I have devoted a lot to the company.
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I just don't understand why I'm still not getting a promotion or raise.
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I understand your concern.
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Before answering your question, I also have a few questions for you.
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Sure.
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As a person who works with Lucy, what do you think about her ability?
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Very well.
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She is a responsible person.
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But I am no less.
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Alright, stay calm.
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During your time working at the company, did any projects you work on help to make a profit?
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Hmm.
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No, but there are many reasons.
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It's not just me doing the project.
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Other people also have responsibilities.
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I have always done my duty well.
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Are you blaming me?
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I'm not blaming you.
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You're a longtime staff of the company.
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I do not deny your contributions.
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But you haven't made any achievements for the company.
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Lucy tries very hard and puts a lot of effort into the development of the company.
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That's why she got promoted.
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You are also very good at your work.
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Maybe if you try harder, in the future I will consider promoting you to a higher position.
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I got it.
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Thank you for answering my questions.
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I will try harder.
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I'll go back to work now.
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That's the end of the video.
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Thank you for watching.
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Remember to practice English every day to improve your skills.
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Watch the video at least three times a week and repeat daily conversations to improve your listening and speaking skills fast.
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Try to mimic the intonation and pronunciation in the video to enhance your speaking fluency and pronunciation.
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Don't forget to like, share, and comment on my video.
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Please subscribe to the Learn English with Jessica channel to watch more helpful videos.

What You'll Learn: Master Formal & Informal English for Real Life

This video is your shortcut to nailing everyday English! You’ll learn to switch between casual chat and professional communication—like ditching "ASAP" in work emails for "as soon as possible" to sound polished, or gushing about a sibling’s new house with phrases like "Can’t believe how fast time flies." These are the exact skills that make native speakers think you’ve been practicing for years. Plus, you’ll pick up how to read social cues: when to keep it light (with friends) and when to stay sharp (at the office). Perfect for A2-B1 learners ready to move beyond textbooks!

Listen For These Sounds: Connected Speech That Makes You Sound Natural

Native speakers don’t just speak—they link words! In the dialogue, listen for how "as soon as possible" becomes "asoonaspossible" (linking the "s" sounds) and "big enough" turns into "bigenough" (blending the "g" and "e"). You’ll also hear reductions like "I’m" instead of "I am" and "don’t" for "do not"—small changes that make your speech flow. These details are key to improving your English pronunciation, so hit replay and focus on how the words melt together. You’ll be surprised how quickly you start noticing them in real conversations!

Say It Like a Native: Shadow Speech to Master Rhythm & Stress

Want to sound like you’ve lived in an English-speaking country? Try shadow speech (or "shadow speak")—repeat the dialogue out loud right after the speakers, mimicking their tone, stress, and pauses. Notice how in "My sister just bought a new house," the stress is on "sister" and "new" to emphasize the excitement. In the work scene, "the meeting will be rescheduled as soon as possible" has a slower, more deliberate rhythm to sound professional. Shadowing helps you internalize natural rhythm, so practice daily—even for 5 minutes! Learning English with YouTube has never been this effective. You’ll go from "I can speak" to "I sound like a pro" in no time.

Ready to level up? Press play, grab a notebook, and start shadowing. Your next conversation will be your best one yet!

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.

Técnica de shadowing: lee la guía completa paso a paso →