Shadowing Practice: A Daily routine conversation at workplace | ✅ English podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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The English you need to work, communicate, and grow.
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Hello, and welcome to 20
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Minutes English for Work podcast.
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My name is Tom.
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And my name is Liz.
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If you understand English but feel nervous when you need to speak at work, you are not alone.
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Many professionals feel confident reading emails or listening in meetings, but when it's time to speak, the words don't come out,
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and that can be frustrating.
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Maybe you worry about making mistakes.
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Maybe you don't know what to say in daily work conversations.
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Or maybe you feel like your English sounds too simple.
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Here's the truth.
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Simple English is powerful English.
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You don't need perfect grammar.
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You need clear, practical, real English for work.
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In this episode, you will listen to a realistic daily routine conversation at the workplace,
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place, the kind of conversation you can use tomorrow in your job.
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Don't worry if you don't understand everything the first time.
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That's completely normal.
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After the dialogue, we will explain the phrases step by step, talk about important vocabulary, and share cultural tips from real work environments.
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This podcast is here to help you practice English without fear.
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You are learning.
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You are improving.
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You are doing great.
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Subscribe to the channel because here you can practice English for real work situations every day.
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And tell us in the comments where you are listening from.
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We love reading your messages and connecting with you.
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Now take a deep breath, relax, and let's begin.
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Hi Laura, good morning.
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How are you today?
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Good morning, Michael.
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I'm doing well, thank you.
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A bit busy already, but I feel focused, which helps a lot.
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How about you?
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I'm doing well, too.
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Thanks.
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I like to start the day by checking in with the team and making sure we're all aligned.
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It really helps the day run more smoothly.
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I agree.
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When I know exactly what I need to do, I feel more confident and less stressed.
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That's good to hear.
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So let's talk about today's priorities.
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What are you working on right now?
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At the moment, I'm finishing a few emails from yesterday.
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After that, I was planning to start the daily report, but I wanted to confirm if that's still the main focus.
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Yes, the daily report should be your top priority today.
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Management expects it before noon, so it's important that we stay on schedule.
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Okay, that makes sense.
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Do you want me to use the same format as usual, or should I change anything?
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You can keep the same format, but I'd like the explanations to be a little shorter today.
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Clear and simple is better, especially for busy readers.
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Got it.
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Same format, shorter explanations.
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Thanks for clarifying.
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No problem at all.
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And if anything feels unclear while you're working on it, please ask.
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It's always better to double -check.
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I'm trying to do that more.
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Sometimes I hesitate because I don't want to interrupt or ask too many questions.
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I understand.
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But asking questions is part of doing good work.
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It shows responsibility, not weakness.
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That's reassuring.
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Thank you for saying that.
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You're welcome.
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You're doing great, Laura.
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Keep going.
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Thanks, Michael.
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I really appreciate the encouragement. Of course.
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Now, about the numbers in the report, do you feel comfortable with them, or would you like to review anything together?
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I feel mostly comfortable, but there's one section I want to confirm.
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In the performance comparison, are we using last week's data or the monthly average?
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Good question.
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We're using the monthly average.
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That gives a better overall picture.
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Okay, that helps a lot.
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Thanks for explaining that again.
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Anytime.
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And just so you know, phrases like, can you explain that again or just to confirm, are very common at work.
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That's good to hear.
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Sometimes I worry about repeating myself.
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Don't worry about that.
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Clear communication is always better than silence.
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I agree.
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It's something I'm working on, especially in English.
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And you're improving every day.
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Study English every day, use it at work, and it will feel more natural over time.
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I'm trying to do that.
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Even small conversations like this help a lot.
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Exactly.
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Real conversations are the best practice.
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Once I finish the report, should I move on to the pending internal requests?
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Yes, that would be great.
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Some of those requests have been waiting, so it's a good idea to review them today.
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Okay.
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If I find anything urgent, I'll let you know right away.
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Perfect.
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I appreciate that.
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Keeping each other informed is very important.
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I agree.
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Communication really makes a difference.
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It does.
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By the way, how are you feeling about managing your time lately?
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To be honest, sometimes I feel like the day goes by very fast and I don't finish everything I planned.
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That's very common.
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What usually helps me is setting realistic goals and accepting that not everything will get done in one day.
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I think that's where I struggle.
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I try to do too much at once.
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Many people do.
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The key is to prioritize and leave some flexibility for unexpected tasks.
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That makes sense.
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I'll try to plan my day with that in mind.
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Good.
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Learn something new every day, even about how you work.
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That's a good mindset.
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Thanks for the advice.
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You're welcome.
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Now, before you start working, is there anything blocking you right now?
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No, I think I'm good.
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I just need to focus and get started.
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Great.
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When you finish the report, please send it to me so I can review it quickly.
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Sure, no problem.
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I'll send it as soon as it's ready.
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Thank you.
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I trust your work, and I know you pay attention to details.
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That means a lot to me.
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Thank you.
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You've earned that trust.
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I'll do my best.
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I know you will.
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And remember, you can always say, I'll get back to you if you need more time.
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That's a useful phrase.
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Sometimes I feel pressure to answer immediately.
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There's no need for that.
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It's perfectly professional to take time to think.
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That's good to know.
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It takes some pressure off.
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Exactly.
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Work should be productive, not overwhelming.
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I agree.
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I feel more confident after talking with you.
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I'm glad to hear that.
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Confidence grows with practice.
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Okay.
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I'll start working on the report now.
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Sounds good.
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Let me know if you need anything. Will do. And Laura.
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Yes?
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You're doing great work.
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Keep going.
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Thank you, Michael.
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I will.
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Now that you've listened to the dialogue, don't worry if you didn't understand everything the first time.
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That's completely normal.
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Today, we are going to slow things down for you.
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We'll review useful phrases, explain important vocabulary, and talk about cultural tips from real workplace situations.
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The goal here is simple.
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Help you feel confident using English at work.
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Step by step.
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One phrase at a time.
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You're doing great already.
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Exactly.
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Keep going, study English every day, and trust the process.
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Now, let's start with the main phrases from the dialogue.
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Phrase 1.
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How are you today?
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Let's start with a very simple but very important phrase phrase, how are you today?
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In the workplace, this phrase is more than just a question.
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It's a polite way to start a conversation and show professionalism.
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You can use it when you arrive at the office, when you start a meeting,
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or when you talk to a colleague for the first time that day.
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You're not expected to give a long, personal answer.
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A simple response like, I'm doing well, thank you, is perfect.
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Another way to say this is, how's your day going? or how are things today?
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These variations sound natural and friendly.
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They help create a positive work environment without being too personal.
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Phrase two, I wanted to confirm if that's still the main priority.
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This is a very professional phrase.
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I wanted to confirm shows that you care about doing the task at the right time.
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In the dialogue, Laura uses this to check if the daily report is still the priority.
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This is excellent workplace communication because it avoids mistakes and confusion.
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You can also say, just to confirm, or I'd like to check if.
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For example, just to confirm, is this due today or tomorrow?
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These phrases are polite, clear, and very common at work.
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Phrase 3.
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That makes sense.
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This is a short phrase, but it's very powerful.
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That makes sense shows understanding and agreement.
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You can use it when someone explains a process, a rule, or a decision.
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It tells the other person that you are following the conversation.
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Another option is, I understand, or, okay, I see.
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These phrases are very helpful when you're listening more than speaking.
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Phrase 4.
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Could you explain that again?
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Many learners feel afraid to use this phrase, but But it's actually very professional.
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Asking for clarification is normal at work.
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Using could you explain that again is polite and respectful.
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It shows you want to understand correctly.
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You can also say, sorry, could you repeat that?
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Or can you go over that one more time?
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All of these are safe, professional options.
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Phrase 5.
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I'll get back to you.
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This is one of the most useful workplace phrases.
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It means you need time to check information or think before answering.
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You don't need to answer everything immediately.
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Saying, I'll get back to you, is professional and honest.
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You can also add time to it.
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I'll get back to you by the end of the day.
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This sounds very responsible.
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Phrase 6.
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Thanks for clarifying.
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This phrase shows appreciation.
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When someone explains something again, it's polite to thank them.
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You can also say, thanks for explaining, or I appreciate the clarification.
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Phrase 7.
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If anything is unclear, let me know.
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This phrase is often used by leaders or colleagues who want open communication.
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It creates a safe environment where people feel comfortable asking questions.
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You might also hear, feel free to ask, or let me know if you have questions.
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Now that we've explained the main phrases, let's focus on the vocabulary.
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These are words you will hear every single day in an office or professional environment.
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Exactly.
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This is not academic English.
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This This is real work English, words that help you understand emails, meetings, tasks, deadlines, and conversations with your coworkers.
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Don't try to memorize everything at once.
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Just listen, understand the idea, and repeat the examples.
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You're doing great!
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Let's start with the word priority.
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A priority is the most important task or thing that needs attention first.
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At work, people often talk about priorities because time is limited.
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You can't do everything at the same time, so you need to decide what comes first.
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For example, the report is my top priority today.
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This means the report is the most important task.
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You might also hear, what's the priority for today?
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Or this task is not a priority right now.
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The opposite, or antonym, of priority could be low importance or secondary task.
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So you might say, this is a secondary task, I'll focus on it later.
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The next word is deadline.
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A deadline is the date or time when something must be finished.
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Deadlines are extremely important at work because they help teams stay organized.
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Example, the deadline for this report is noon.
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You can also say, we need to meet the deadline, or the deadline was extended.
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The antonym of deadline is not very common, but you can think of flexible timing or no fixed date.
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The verb clarify means to make something clear or easier to understand.
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At work, people clarify information all the time to avoid mistakes.
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Example, thanks for clarifying that, or can you clarify this point?
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This word is very professional and polite.
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Instead of saying, I don't understand, you can say, could you clarify that?
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That sounds calm and professional.
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A follow -up is an action you take after something already happened, like a meeting or an email.
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For example, I'll send a follow -up email.
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At work, follow -ups are very important.
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They show responsibility and organization.
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You can also use it as a verb.
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I'll follow up with the client tomorrow." The word review means to look at something again carefully.
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At work, you review documents, reports, emails, and plans.
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Can you review this before I send it?
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This is very common between colleagues and managers.
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It doesn't mean something is wrong, it just means checking.
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Now let's talk about something very important.
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Workplace culture.
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Because English at work is not only about words, it's also about behavior, tone, and expectations.
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Understanding these cultural points helps you feel more confident and avoid misunderstandings.
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Let's start with meetings.
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In many workplaces, meetings are structured and focused on time.
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People usually arrive on time or a few minutes early.
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Being late can be seen as disrespectful.
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Also, you don't need to speak all the time.
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Listening is very important.
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If you don't understand something, it's okay to say, sorry, could you repeat that?
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That's normal and acceptable.
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Deadlines are taken very seriously in most professional environments.
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If you think you cannot meet a deadline, the worst thing to do is stay silent.
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Exactly.
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It's much better to say, I may need more time, or can we adjust the deadline?
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This shows responsibility.
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Tone matters a lot in English.
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Direct does not mean rude.
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Simple does not mean unprofessional.
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For example, saying, please send the file today, is direct but still polite.
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You don't need long explanations.
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In many work cultures, asking questions is encouraged.
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It shows engagement and interest.
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Silence can sometimes be interpreted as confusion or lack of interest, so asking questions is positive.
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Feedback at work is usually direct but respectful.
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People may say, I think this part could be improved.
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That's not criticism of you as a person, it's about the work.
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Learning to separate you from your work is very important.
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Words like please, thank you, and I appreciate it are very important.
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They make communication smoother and more respectful.
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Even small phrases like, thanks for letting me know, make a big difference.
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Remember, you don't need perfect English to be professional.
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You need clarity, politeness, and confidence.
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Keep practicing, keep listening, keep using English at work.
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You can do this.
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Now it's time to move from understanding to action.
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This is the moment where English starts to feel useful, not theoretical.
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These model sentences are here to help you speak even when you feel nervous.
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You don't need to create perfect sentences.
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You just need something clear and professional.
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Listen, repeat, and imagine yourself using these sentences tomorrow at work.
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You're doing great.
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Keep going.
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Let's start with very common phrases used at the beginning of the workday.
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Good morning.
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How are you today?
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This is polite, professional, and safe in any work environment.
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I just wanted to check today's priorities.
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This shows organization and responsibility.
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I'm reviewing my tasks for today.
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You can use this when someone asks what you're working on.
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Another useful sentence is, I'd like to align on what needs to be done first.
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This sounds professional and shows teamwork.
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Good morning.
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Just checking priorities.
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Reviewing my tasks.
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Short sentences are okay.
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Clear is better than complex.
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Tom, asking questions is part of your job.
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Here are very natural ways to do that.
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Could you explain that again, please?
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Just to confirm, is this for today or tomorrow?
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Did you mean the weekly report or the monthly one?
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These sentences help avoid mistakes.
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You can also say, I want to make sure I understood correctly.
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That phrase sounds careful and professional.
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At work, people constantly talk about tasks.
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I'm working on the daily report right now.
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This task is my main priority today.
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I'll finish this first, then move to the next task.
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These sentences show focus and planning.
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Tom, you can also say, This is still in progress.
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Or, I'm almost done with this.
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You don't need to answer everything immediately.
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Let me check and I'll get back to you.
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I need a little time to review this.
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I'll confirm this and let you know.
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These phrases protect you from stress.
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They also sound very professional and responsible.
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And that brings us to the end of today's episode.
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Today, you practiced a daily routine conversation at the workplace using simple, real, and professional English.
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You listened to common work phrases, learned how to talk about priorities,
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tasks, deadlines, and how to ask questions politely and confidently.
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You also learned important vocabulary and cultural tips that help you understand how people really communicate at work, not just what they say.
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Remember, you don't need to speak perfectly.
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You need to speak clearly.
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Every time you listen, every time you repeat, every time you try, you are improving.
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Now, we'd like to ask you a few questions.
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Which phrase from today's episode do you think you can use tomorrow at work?
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Was there a sentence that made you think, yes, I can say that?
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Share your thoughts in the comments.
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We love reading your experiences and learning about your work life.
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And don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you can keep practicing English for real work situations.
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Study English every day, even a little.
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Keep going.
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You're doing great.
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You can do this.
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Thank you for listening.
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See you in the next episode.
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Bye for now.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “A Daily routine conversation at workplace”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: phrase, English, professional, task, deadline. This video has 362 sentences and 2903 words to shadow. The speech runs for 19:41. The speaker talks at a steady 148 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| priority noun | /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/ | An item's relative importance. |
| deadline noun | /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/ | A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed. |
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| workplace noun | /ˈwɝkˌpleɪs/ | The place where someone works. |
| polite adjective | /pəˈlaɪt/ | Well-mannered, civilized. |
| clarify verb | /ˈklæɹ.ɪ.faɪ/ | To make or become clear or bright by freeing from impurities or turbidity. |
| dialogue noun | /ˈdaɪəˌlɑɡ/ | A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals. |
| 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. |
| format noun | /ˈfɔːɹ.mæt/ | The layout of a publication or document. |
| explanation noun | /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/ | The act or process of explaining. |
| colleague noun | /ˈkɒliːɡ/ | A fellow member of a profession, staff, academic faculty or other organization; an associate, a workmate. |
| respectful adjective | /ɹɪˈspɛkt.fl̩/ | Marked or characterized by respect |
| tone noun | /ˈtəʊn/ | A specific pitch. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get back to verb | Return to (an activity) | |
| follow up verb | To take further actions remaining after an event; to continue, revisit, or persist; especially, to maintain communication or verify. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| go over verb | To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What are you working on right now?
- Another way to say this is, how's your day going?
- Could you explain that again?
- You can also say, sorry, could you repeat that?
- You might also hear, what's the priority for today?
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 | must be finished · was extended · are structured |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've earned · you've listened · we've explained |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best · my best · the most useful |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | love reading · start working · Keep practicing |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 73 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'll, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: smooth /smuːð/, breathe /bɹiːð/, theoretical /ˌθi.əˈɹɛt.ɪ.kəl/, smoothly /ˈsmuːðli/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, confusion /kənˈfjuːʒən/, clarification /ˌklæɹɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, appreciation /əˌpɹiː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/, variation /ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩/
- Long words — get the stress right: priority /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, clarification /ˌklæɹɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
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 phrase, priority, deadline.
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.