Pratique du Shadowing: Business English - Lesson 1 - Business English Course | Business English Conversation - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
1
You're listening to Business English Pod, the Business English Podcast for professionals on the move.
2
In this Business English Pod episode, we'll be looking at ways to give and ask for opinions.
3
We'll be looking both at more formal or careful language as well as at more informal or direct language.
4
Giving and asking for opinions is a very important part of meetings and discussions of all types.
5
First, let's listen to a more formal situation.
6
We'll be listening to part of a meeting at Digisoft, a multinational software company.
7
Sheila, a vice president, is talking to Walt, George, and Bruce, three software engineers, about the deadline for the new software release.
8
Release here means launch, that is, bring the product onto the market.
9
So, let's move on to the topic of release date.
10
Gentlemen, when do you think we'll be able to launch this product?
11
Walt?
12
Well, I tend to feel that we should probably be able to start testing the product in April.
13
That means that if all goes well, we can have a first release in May or June.
14
I see.
15
Thank you, Walt.
16
What's your reaction to that, Bruce?
17
May or June?
18
Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.
19
Excuse me, may I come in here?
20
I wonder if I could say something.
21
Go ahead, George.
22
What would you like to add?
23
Well, it seems to me that May is much, much too early.
24
Actually, we are still having some pretty major problems with bugs in the update engine, and I just don't see how we will be able to fix those bugs.
25
Okay, now let's listen to George, Bruce, and Walt walk into the break room right after the meeting.
26
Sheila, their boss, is not here.
27
This is a more informal situation.
28
Hey guys, did you see the Chelsea-Lewithful game last night?
29
What did you think, Walt?
30
Quite a game, huh?
31
Chelsea looked pretty good.
32
You always have to rub it in, don't you, Bruce?
33
You know I'm a Liverpool fan.
34
How about you, George?
35
Actually, that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
36
But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch any more football games.
37
We're all going to be working overtime every night, burning the midnight oil.
38
So now you've heard both formal and informal conversations.
39
First, let's look at the formal conversation.
40
How does Sheila ask for her employees' opinions?
41
Sheila is in charge.
42
She is the boss and the chairperson of the meeting.
43
One way for her to ask for an employee's opinion is simply to say his name with a rising intonation or tone.
44
Gentlemen, when do you think we will be able to launch this product?
45
Sheila also uses some other ways to ask for her employees' opinions.
46
All these ways are relatively formal.
47
They signal that this is a formal meeting.
48
She says, I see.
49
Thank you, Walt.
50
What's your reaction to that, Bruce? And?
51
Go ahead, George.
52
What would you like to add?
53
Together with these speakers, try some other formal phrases for asking for an opinion.
54
How do you feel about that, Cecilia?
55
Could you please share your thoughts on that, Sam?
56
What's your view on this, Richard?
57
Tony, what's your feelings on this?
58
Now, let's look at the language Walt, Bruce and George use to express their opinions in a formal situation.
59
Walt says...
60
Well, I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the product in April.
61
This language, I tend to feel that, shows a careful, formal tone.
62
Walt uses this tone because he is talking to his boss, and perhaps because he's not sure whether or not the others will agree with him.
63
Let's keep listening.
64
I see.
65
Thank you, Walt.
66
What's your reaction to that, Bruce?
67
May or June.
68
Well, from my point of view, that sounds about right.
69
Bruce, likewise, uses more formal, careful language.
70
Well, from my point of view, this makes him sound more polite, since he's talking to his boss.
71
In addition, it gives him time to think.
72
Giving yourself time to think is another reason to use these phrases.
73
How about George?
74
How did he offer his opinion?
75
Excuse me, may I come in here?
76
I wonder if I could say something.
77
Go ahead, George.
78
What would you like to add?
79
Well, it seems to me that may is much, much too early.
80
Think about the ways that George uses to express his opinion.
81
I wonder if I could say something and, well, it seems to me that these ways of expression are quite careful.
82
George has a good reason to be careful, doesn't he?
83
He disagrees with his colleagues.
84
Now let's practice some further formal or careful phrases for expressing your opinion.
85
I have the impression that he didn't really want to come.
86
Don't you think that that's a little early?
87
I tend to feel it's a bit too early to start.
88
Next, let's turn to the more informal discussion between Walt, Bruce, and George.
89
Remember, they're in the break room right after the meeting.
90
Bruce asked George and Walt, Hey guys, did you see the Chelsea-Louisville game last night?
91
What did you think, Walt?
92
Quite a game, huh?
93
Chelsea looked pretty good.
94
This is an informal, relaxed discussion among colleagues.
95
You can tell it's informal because Bruce uses the informal word, guys, to address George and Walt.
96
Also, he says, what do you think?
97
This is an informal way to ask for an opinion.
98
Walt says, You always have to rub it in, don't you, Bruce?
99
You know I'm a Liverpool fan.
100
To rub something in is an idiom.
101
It means to remind someone on purpose of something that is uncomfortable or painful.
102
Here it's done as a joke.
103
It sounds like Walt is a Liverpool fan and he's unhappy because Chelsea won the game.
104
Let's keep listening.
105
How about you George?
106
Actually that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
107
How about you is another direct way to ask for an opinion.
108
Next, notice how George starts his sentence with actually.
109
Actually is a direct or informal way to state an opinion.
110
It shows us that George has something new or surprising to say.
111
With George, practice more direct ways to state an opinion.
112
The point is we're doing very well in this market.
113
The way I see it, we're heading for trouble.
114
Obviously, there's only one choice.
115
Basically, I think we have two options.
116
Finally, let's listen to the end of the dialogue again.
117
How about you, George?
118
Actually, that was one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
119
But the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May, none of us are going to have time to watch any more football games.
120
George means that if Bruce and Walt keep telling the boss that they can meet the May deadline, everyone is going to have to work very hard.
121
In fact, they're going to have to work so hard that they won't have any time to watch football games.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice essential skills for giving and asking for opinions in both formal and informal business contexts. Engaging in discussions is a critical part of professional communication, and this lesson will guide you through effective phrases and language styles suited for various situations. By leveraging examples from a business meeting and a casual conversation, you will enhance your English speaking practice, preparing you for real-world encounters.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Launch - To bring a product onto the market.
  • I tend to feel that... - A formal way to express your opinion.
  • From my point of view... - A polite phrase to share your perspective.
  • Excuse me, may I come in here? - A polite way to interject in a conversation.
  • That's a bit too early. - An informal way to express disagreement or concern.
  • Actually... - A casual phrase to introduce a surprising opinion.
  • Rub it in - To remind someone of a painful or uncomfortable issue, often jokingly.
  • Burning the midnight oil - A common idiom meaning to work late into the night.

Practice Tips

To effectively practice the phrases presented in this lesson, consider using the shadowspeak technique. Listen carefully to the dialogues, noting the differences in language and tone used in formal versus informal scenarios. Pay attention to the speed of the conversations; they vary based on the context. Engage in shadow speech exercises by first listening to a segment, then pausing the video to repeat what you’ve heard. Focus on mimicking not just the words but also the intonation and rhythm. This will enhance your English speaking practice and help you gain confidence.

For an effective practice session, try recording yourself while shadowing. Listening to your recordings can highlight areas for improvement, such as pronunciation and stress patterns. Incorporating this method into your study routine is especially beneficial for IELTS speaking practice, where clarity and fluency are crucial. Remember, the more you practice, the better you'll become at navigating various conversational contexts in English. So, start learning English with YouTube today!

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.