Shadowing Practice: 03.b Solve a Problem MS - Effortless Business English - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
292 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Welcome to the mini story for Solve a Problem.
2
Let's get started.
3
A little story using some of the vocabulary from the article.
4
Here it goes.
5
There is a bear.
6
Her name is Susan.
7
Susan is an excellent cook.
8
She makes great Italian food.
9
She loves being a cook, and she is very passionate about cooking.
10
Susan the Bear wants to be a freelance cook.
11
She doesn't want to work for a boss.
12
She wants to be a successful and famous cook.
13
One day, Meg Ryan calls Susan.
14
She says, I need to cook for a big party.
15
Susan is excited.
16
She says to Meg Ryan, I can cook for a big party.
17
No problem.
18
I'll make spaghetti.
19
Meg Ryan says, I don't want Italian food.
20
How about Thai food?
21
Unfortunately, Susan only cooks Italian food.
22
So Meg Ryan doesn't hire her.
23
Meg says to her, Susan, you need to diversify.
24
If you learn to cook many kinds of food, you'll be on the fast track to success.
25
Susan listens to Meg.
26
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
27
She says, I'm not going to play it safe anymore.
28
I'm going to learn to cook new things.
29
Susan learns to cook
30
Thai food, Indian food, Japanese food, Brazilian food, Venezuelan food, French food, Chinese food, and Mexican food.
31
One year later, Meg Ryan calls again.
32
Susan says, I can now cook anything related to food.
33
I can cook for your party.
34
Meg Ryan says, Ah, I'm relieved.
35
I have 500 people coming and I need a good cook.
36
Susan is happy.
37
She becomes a successful and famous freelance cook.
38
Okay, now again with questions.
39
Remember, only one, two, or three words to answer the questions.
40
Very short answers.
41
These are very easy questions
42
you only need a few words to answer all right let's start there is a bear what is there
43
yes a bear there's a bear what is the bear's name well the bear's name is susan is the bear's name john
44
no the bear's name isn't john what is the bear's name the bear's name is susan who is susan
45
susan is a bear what is susan's job A cook.
46
Susan is a cook.
47
What kind of cook is she?
48
She's an excellent cook.
49
Susan is an excellent cook.
50
Is she an excellent human cook or is she an excellent bear cook?
51
well bear of course she's a bear she's an excellent bear cook what kind of food does susan make
52
italian susan makes great italian food does susan make great thai food
53
No, no, she doesn't.
54
She doesn't make great Thai food.
55
Does she make great Mexican food?
56
Nope, she doesn't make great Mexican food.
57
Does she make great Indian food?
58
No, she doesn't make great Indian food.
59
What kind of food does she make great?
60
italian she makes great italian food and who makes great italian food Susan Susan the bear makes great Italian food.
61
Is Susan excited about cooking?
62
Yes she's very excited about cooking.
63
She's passionate about cooking.
64
What is Susan passionate about?
65
Yes, cooking.
66
She's passionate about cooking.
67
Is she passionate about football?
68
No, of course not.
69
Bears don't like football.
70
She's passionate about cooking Italian food.
71
In fact, she's passionate about cooking in general.
72
does she love being a businesswoman a business bear
73
no no no no she doesn't love being a businesswoman what does she love being
74
a cook that's right she loves being a cook right that's the name of the job is cook Not cooker.
75
Some students say cooker for the job.
76
That's wrong.
77
Don't say cooker.
78
The job is cook.
79
She loves being a cook.
80
And who loves being a cook?
81
Susan.
82
Susan the Bear loves being a cook.
83
Is she passionate about cooking?
84
Yes, of course.
85
She's passionate about cooking.
86
Is she passionate about running or is she passionate about cooking?
87
Well, of course, cooking.
88
She's passionate about cooking.
89
She loves being a cook.
90
What kind of cook does Susan want to be?
91
What kind of cook does she want to be?
92
A freelance.
93
She wants to be a freelance cook.
94
Does she want to work for one restaurant?
95
No, no, no, no. She doesn't want to work for one restaurant.
96
She wants to be a freelance cook.
97
She wants to be an independent cook.
98
Is she passionate about cooking?
99
Oh, yes.
100
She is very passionate about cooking.
101
What kind of cook does she want to be?
102
Freelance.
103
She wants to be a freelance cook.
104
Does she want to work for a boss?
105
No, she doesn't want to work for a boss.
106
She wants to be a freelance cook.
107
Who doesn't want to work for a boss?
108
Susan, Susan the Bear.
109
Susan the Bear doesn't want to work for a boss.
110
She wants to be a freelance cook.
111
Does she want to be a freelance cook or an employee?
112
She wants to be a freelance cook.
113
She doesn't want to be an employee.
114
She wants to be a freelance cook.
115
Does she want to be a very successful freelance cook?
116
Yes, exactly.
117
She wants to be a successful freelance cook.
118
Does she want to be a famous freelance cook?
119
Yes, she does.
120
She wants to be a successful and famous freelance cook.
121
Who wants to be a famous freelance cook?
122
Susan the Bear.
123
Susan the Bear wants to be a famous and successful freelance cook.
124
And one day, Meg Ryan calls Susan the bear.
125
Who does Meg Ryan call?
126
Susan.
127
Meg Ryan calls Susan.
128
Who calls Susan?
129
Meg Ryan.
130
Who does Meg Ryan call?
131
Susan.
132
Meg Ryan calls Susan. And...
133
What?
134
What does she say?
135
Well, she says, I need a cook for a big party.
136
Who or what does Meg Ryan need?
137
Meg Ryan needs a cook.
138
Does Meg Ryan need a housekeeper?
139
No, Meg Ryan doesn't need a housekeeper.
140
Meg Ryan needs a cook.
141
And who is a cook?
142
Yes, Susan.
143
Susan's a cook.
144
And what kind of cook is Susan?
145
Susan, a freelance cook.
146
Susan's a freelance cook and Meg Ryan needs a freelance cook.
147
Why does Meg Ryan need a freelance cook? For a big party.
148
For a big party.
149
Meg Ryan is having a big party, so she needs a freelance cook.
150
Susan is excited.
151
She says to Meg Ryan, I can cook for a big party.
152
No problem.
153
I'll make spaghetti.
154
Meg Ryan says, hmm, I don't want Italian food.
155
How about Thai food?
156
What kind of food does Meg Ryan want?
157
Thai food.
158
Meg Ryan wants Thai food.
159
She says, how about Thai food?
160
Does Meg Ryan want Italian food?
161
No, no, no. Meg Ryan doesn't want Italian food.
162
She wants Thai food. But there's a problem.
163
What's the problem?
164
Susan only cooks Italian food.
165
Who only cooks Italian food?
166
Susan.
167
Unfortunately, Susan only cooks Italian food.
168
So does Meg Ryan hire Susan?
169
No, no, she doesn't.
170
Meg Ryan doesn't hire Susan.
171
Why doesn't Meg Ryan hire Susan?
172
Well, because she doesn't cook Thai food.
173
Susan doesn't cook
174
Thai food, so Meg Ryan doesn't hire her.
175
Meg says to Susan, Susan, you need to diversify.
176
Does Susan need to learn more kinds of food?
177
Yes, she needs more kinds.
178
Susan needs to diversify.
179
Does Meg Ryan need to diversify?
180
No, no, Meg Ryan doesn't cook.
181
Susan needs to diversify.
182
What does Susan need to diversify?
183
She needs to diversify the food she cooks.
184
She needs to cook more kinds of food.
185
She needs to cook more variety, a bigger variety of food.
186
So Susan needs to diversify her cooking.
187
Does she need to diversify her money, her investments?
188
No, no, no, no. Susan doesn't need to diversify her investments.
189
Susan needs to diversify the food she cooks.
190
Meg Ryan says, if you learn to cook many kinds of food, You'll be on the fast track to success.
191
What will she be on the fast track to? To success.
192
She'll be on the fast track to success.
193
Who will be on the fast track to success?
194
Susan the bear will be on the fast track to success.
195
she'll be on the fast track to What kind of success?
196
Well, she'll be on the fast track to cooking, cooking success.
197
Susan will be on the fast track to cooking success.
198
How will Susan be on the fast track to success?
199
Well, by diversifying, by diversifying, she'll be on the fast track to success.
200
Right?
201
If she learns to cook many kinds of food,
202
then she'll be on the fast track to success.
203
And Susan listens to Meg.
204
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
205
Does she choose not to cook Italian food?
206
That's right.
207
She chooses not to.
208
She thinks about it and she decides not to cook Italian food.
209
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
210
Does she think about it first and then refuse?
211
That's right.
212
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
213
Who deliberately refuses to cook Italian food?
214
Meg Ryan?
215
No, no, no. Not Meg Ryan. Who?
216
Susan.
217
Susan deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
218
What kind of food does she deliberately refuse to cook?
219
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
220
Italian.
221
Does she deliberately refuse to cook Thai food?
222
She doesn't deliberately refuse to cook Thai food.
223
She deliberately refuses to cook Italian food.
224
She says, I'm not going to play it safe anymore.
225
I'm going to learn to cook new things.
226
Is Susan going to do the same thing?
227
Or is she going to try something new?
228
She's going to try something new.
229
She says, I'm not, not going to play it safe.
230
I'm not going to do the same thing all the time.
231
I'm not going to play it safe.
232
I'm going to learn to cook new things.
233
Will Susan play it safe?
234
No, she won't play it safe.
235
She says, I'm not going to play it safe anymore.
236
Is she going to try new things? things?
237
Yes, yes.
238
She says, I'm not going to play it safe.
239
I'm not going to do the same thing.
240
Who is not going to play it safe?
241
Susan the bear.
242
Susan the bear is not going to play it safe anymore.
243
She won't play it safe.
244
She learns to cook
245
Thai food, Indian food, Japanese food, Brazilian food, Venezuelan food, French food,
246
Chinese food, and Mexican food.
247
One year later, Meg Ryan calls again.
248
Susan says, I can now cook anything related to food.
249
I can cook for your party.
250
Can she cook anything related to clothes?
251
No, of course not.
252
That's crazy.
253
You don't cook clothes.
254
Of course, she can cook anything related to food.
255
Can she cook any kind of food?
256
Yes, exactly.
257
She can cook anything related to food, any kind of food.
258
She can cook anything related to food.
259
Who can cook anything related to food?
260
Susan.
261
Susan can cook anything related to food.
262
She says, I can cook for your party now.
263
Meg Ryan says, whew, I'm relieved.
264
I have 500 people coming, and I need...
265
A great cook.
266
Does Meg Ryan feel better?
267
Yes, she says, I'm relieved.
268
I feel better.
269
Was Meg Ryan worried before?
270
Yeah, that's right.
271
She was worried before, but now she's not worried.
272
Now she's relieved.
273
Is Susan relieved or is Meg Ryan relieved?
274
Well, Meg Ryan is relieved.
275
Why is Meg Ryan relieved?
276
Oh, because now she has a cook for her big party. So who is relieved?
277
Meg Ryan.
278
Meg Ryan is relieved.
279
She's relieved because she has 500 people coming and now she found a cook.
280
Now Susan can cook for her.
281
So Meg Ryan is relieved. Is Susan relieved?
282
No, Susan isn't relieved.
283
Susan is happy.
284
She's very happy.
285
Why is Susan happy?
286
Ah, because now she's a successful and famous freelance cook.
287
Is Susan a successful and famous employee?
288
No, Susan is not an employee.
289
Susan is a freelance cook.
290
What kind of freelance cook is Susan?
291
Susan is a successful and famous freelance cook.
292
Susan is very, very happy.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
A24
04.b Stand Out MS - Effortless Business English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
04.c Stand Out POV - Effortless Business English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A21
1.02b A Kiss MS-A - Effortless Original English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
Article #1 I Want to Dye my Hair Green - Learn English via Listening Level 02
TeensDaily Conversation
B21
03.e Solve a Problem Commentary - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B24
04.d Stand Out Vocab - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
C12
04.a Stand Out - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B15
02.c What Is Success? POV - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
A213
02.b What Is Success? MS - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B12
Unit 23 The Report - Listening Practice Through Dictation 2
Daily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
1.01a Day of the Dead - Effortless Original English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B16
02.a What Is Success? - Effortless Business English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B126
Unit 12 The Summer Music Festival - Listening Practice Through Dictation 1
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
04.e Stand Out Commentary - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
A210
01.b Financial Liberation MS - Effortless Business English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B13
02.d What Is Success? Vocab - Effortless Business English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B23
2.04a Meddling Mother-In-Law - Effortless Original English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B15
Unit 18 He's Famous! - Listening Practice Through Dictation 1
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B118
Unit 13 The School Play - Listening Practice Through Dictation 1
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B21
01.a Earthquakes Conversation - Effortless Real English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
A22
93 sentences
03.c Solve a Problem POV - Effortless Business English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A21
478 sentences
Effortless English - Bubba’s Food - Mini story A+B+C
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A21
204 sentences
Speak Out 2ND Edition - Starter Class Audio CD - Unit 10 (plans) + Full Book Pack Free Download
Interview EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B124
30 sentences
Working from Home: The Video Call Goes Wrong
American AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
169 sentences
Emma Cooks Dinner Alone! | Slow English Story for Beginners (A1–A2)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
171 sentences
100 Everyday English Sentences Native Speakers Use Daily | Slow and Easy English for Beginners
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
171 sentences
Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 3
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A228
151 sentences
Tiếng Anh cơ bản bài 7: Cậu đang làm gì thế?
American AccentBusiness EnglishInterview EnglishTeens
![[1] English Grammar not easy | 12 tenses through stories](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2dOwMA7K4-I/mqdefault.jpg)
B11
145 sentences
[1] English Grammar not easy | 12 tenses through stories
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
166 sentences
Job - Teamwork - Company - Skill Set - Workplace - Learn American English - Key Vocabulary Review
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
238 sentences
EnglishPod 8 - Elementary - What is your name again
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “03.b Solve a Problem MS - Effortless Business English”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: cook, susan, Meg, Ryan, freelance. This video has 292 sentences and 1997 words to shadow. The speech runs for 22:00. The speaker talks slowly, about 91 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 75 of its 292 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| freelance adjective | /ˈfɹiˌlæns/ | Of or relating to a freelance; without a long-term employment contract. |
| passionate adjective | /ˈpæʃənɪt/ | Fired with intense feeling. |
| relieve verb | /ɹɪˈliːv/ | To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. |
| refuse verb | /ɹɪˈfjuːz/ | To decline (a request or demand). |
| deliberately adverb | /dɪˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹət.li/ | Intentionally, or after deliberation; not accidentally. |
| hire verb | /ˈhaɪɹ/ | To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
| mini adjective | /ˈmɪn.i/ | Miniature, tiny, small. |
| nope | /noʊp/ | No. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| diversify verb | /daɪˈvɝ.sə.faɪ/ | To make (something) diverse or varied in form or quality; to give variety to (something) to distinguish by numerous aspects or differences. |
| cooker noun | /ˈkʊkɚ/ | A cookstove. |
| businesswoman noun | A woman involved in business. | |
| housekeeper noun | /ˈhaʊskipɚ/ | Someone (traditionally a woman) employed to look after the home, typically by managing domestic servants or superintending household management; also someone… |
| whew | /hwjuː/ | An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'm going to learn to cook new things.
- Who doesn't want to work for a boss?
- I'm not going to play it safe.
- She says, I'm not going to play it safe.
- I'm not going to do the same thing.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is relieved · isn't relieved |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | I'm not going to play · I'm going to learn · is she going to try |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll make · you'll be · will she be |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to cook · need to diversify · need to learn |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 55 contractions and reduced forms, such as doesn't, I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: deliberately /dɪˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹət.li/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, diversify /daɪˈvɝ.sə.faɪ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like freelance, passionate, relieve.
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.