Shadowing Practice: American English Intonation | Business English: Sales Meeting (part two) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today I'd like to look at the intonation in the short piece about a sales meeting.
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Let's take a look.
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I just wanted to let you know that the meeting went really well.
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I just wanted, I just wanted to.
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So two here gets reduced because it's a function word.
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And the same thing happens later on with that the.
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I just wanted to let you know that the, that the, that the meeting went really well.
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We have a rise
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and a fall right at the end of the sentence really
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well really well she said they're ready to commit to the deal we talked about in the email
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so the important part of the next sentence is the deal
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we talked about in the email the deal we talked about in the email
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so in the normally gets reduced
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because it's also function words right in the our function words
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but about in the email about in the email talked about email.
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We need to go between the rise in talked about and the fall in email.
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We're falling on email because it's the last word of the sentence, but talked about is a very important part of the sentence's meaning.
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She said they're ready to commit to the deal we talked about in the email.
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Commit to the deal is another really important part, so we stress both of those words.
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Commit to the deal.
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It's going to be a two-year contract.
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It's going to be a two-year contract.
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Two-year contract.
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So two-year modifies contract.
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And for that reason, two-year is spoken in a higher tone.
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A two-year contract, just like we were hoping for.
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Hoping for.
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Just like we were hoping for.
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That's the end of the sentence, and it's kind of good news.
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So you have a little bit more energy when you're saying this.
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Just like we were hoping for.
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Just like we were hoping for.
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A rise and a fall near the end of the sentence.
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I already wrote up the contract with the new pricing.
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New pricing.
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So new is spoken with a higher tone because it modifies pricing.
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And the rest of it is I already wrote up the contract, wrote up the, wrote up the contract.
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I already wrote up the contract with the new pricing.
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The and with the have low tones because they're not that important.
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They're just grammar function words.
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So once you take a look, I'll send it over to them.
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I'll send it over to them.
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So once you take a look, I'll send it over to them.
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There's kind of a contrast in this part of the sentence.
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Once this happens, then this happens.
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Once you take a look, I'll send it over to them.
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So we have a rise and a fall near the end of the sentence again.
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I just wanted to let you know that the meeting went really well.
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She said they're ready to commit to the deal we talked about in the email.
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It's going to be a two-year contract just like we were hoping for.
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I already wrote up the contract with the new pricing, so once you take a look I'll send it over to them.

Context & Background

In the context of American business interactions, intonation plays a crucial role in effective communication. The speaker in this video, Alex, analyses a dialogue from a sales meeting, highlighting how intonation affects the clarity and impact of the message. Understanding the nuances of stress and pitch in spoken English can significantly enhance your ability to convey meaning accurately and persuasively. By focusing on key phrases and the rhythm of speech, learners can better navigate the intricacies of professional conversations, which are often laden with function words that can be easily overlooked.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • I just wanted to let you know that the meeting went really well. - This phrase emphasizes positive outcomes, a fundamental aspect of effective communication.
  • They’re ready to commit to the deal we talked about in the email. - Highlighting commitments helps in ensuring clarity about agreements.
  • It's going to be a two-year contract. - Using specific details enhances transparency in business discussions.
  • I already wrote up the contract with the new pricing. - This phrase illustrates readiness and decisiveness in business dealings.
  • Once you take a look, I'll send it over to them. - This conveys a timeline and demonstrates a follow-up approach in communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively practice the intonation and pronunciation from this sales meeting dialogue, implement the following shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by watching the video without taking notes. Focus on how Alex emphasizes certain words and the pitch changes throughout the phrases.
  2. Repeat Aloud: Playback the segment multiple times and repeat sentences out loud. Pay attention to the rises and falls in intonation, especially in critical phrases such as “commit to the deal” and “new pricing.”
  3. Practice with Shadow Speech: Use the shadowing technique where you mimic Alex's delivery in real-time. This not only helps improve English pronunciation but also aids in mastering rhythm and flow.
  4. Record Yourself: Capture your practice sessions and compare your intonation with the original. It’s a valuable way to identify areas of improvement.
  5. Use Online Tools: Explore various shadowing sites that provide additional resources and examples for practicing similar dialogues. This can be a fun way to enhance your learning experience.

As you incorporate these phrases into your daily communication, remember that emphasizing key words through appropriate intonation can elevate your professional interactions. Thus, leveraging the shadowing technique enables you to develop a confident speaking style that resonates well in business settings.

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.