Shadowing Practice: Jack Welch: The Role of HR - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
You know, HR is without question one of the number one or number two most important functions in a company.
⏸ Paused
22 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
You know, HR is without question one of the number one or number two most important functions in a company.
2
I happen to believe it's number one.
3
Many others think finance is the key to success in a company.
4
HR is the driving force behind what makes a winning team.
5
We make the argument that the team that feels the best players wins.
6
HR is involved in making sure we feel the best players.
7
That's their job.
8
And their job is to sit in every meeting, be involved in every part of the business equation.
9
They're not the health and happiness, picnics, benefits team.
10
They have a development team developing today's and tomorrow's leaders.
11
And if you have an organization where HR is relegated to forms and benefits, you got the wrong game going.
12
I like to use one analogy.
13
If you were running a sports team, whether it be the New York Yankees,
14
the Boston Red Sox, would you like to hang out with the head of player personnel or the team accountant?
15
Who would help you build the best team to field?
16
Not the team accountant.
17
Same thing's true in business.
18
You get yourself a great HR person, preferably one with multi-skills in manufacturing perhaps,
19
people, or in sales, who happens to be a people person,
20
who understands that the role of the HR leader is to be both pastor and parent.
21
Pastor in keeping secrets, and parent in telling it straight.
22
You get that person who loves to see people grow, and you've got yourself a winner.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English speaking skills by engaging with the key concepts discussed by Jack Welch about the crucial role of Human Resources (HR) in a business environment. Through shadowing the transcript, you will focus on pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm, which are essential for improving your fluency. By the end of this lesson, you will not only enhance your linguistic capabilities but also gain insights into how HR contributes to building effective teams in organizations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Human Resources (HR) - The department in a company responsible for managing employees and organizational culture.
  • Best players - The most skilled and effective employees in a team.
  • Development team - A group focused on training and nurturing future leaders within the organization.
  • Relegated to - Assigned a lesser role or importance than is deserved.
  • Team accountant - The financial person in a team, contrasted with those focusing on team performance.
  • Player personnel - The individuals involved in scouting and managing talent for a team.
  • Pastor and parent - Metaphors for the dual role ofHR leaders in providing support and honest communication.
  • Winning team - A successful group that consistently achieves its goals.

Practice Tips

To maximize your practice efficiency while watching the video, consider using a shadowspeak approach. Find a shadowing app that allows you to playback the transcript at a comfortable pace. Start by listening to Jack Welch's speech once without interruption to get the gist of the content. Then, play it again, pausing frequently, and mimic his speech. Pay close attention to:

  • Intonation: Notice how he emphasizes certain words, especially when discussing the importance of HR.
  • Emotion: Focus on the energy and passion he conveys, particularly when discussing teamwork.
  • Rhythm: Try to match his pace. If he speaks quickly, adjust your shadowing speed accordingly.

Engaging in shadowing will help improve English pronunciation as you practice both the vocabulary and overall flow of speech. Remember, the goal is to immerse yourself fully; don’t shy away from repeating phrases until you feel confident. As you progress, challenge yourself by focusing on more complex sentences. This approach not only aids in language acquisition but also builds confidence in your 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.

☕ Buy us a coffee