Shadowing Practice: Asking a Colleague for Help with a Report - Learn English Speaking with Video
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28 sentences
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1
Excuse me, Martin. Have you got a minute?
2
Of course, Sophie. What can I do for you?
3
I'm having some trouble with the sales report.
4
It's my first one, and I'm a bit lost.
5
Don't worry, everybody finds the first one hard.
6
Which part are you stuck on?
7
I'm not sure where to find last month's figures.
8
They're all in the shared folder, under Finance.
9
Oh, I've looked there, but I couldn't open the file.
10
Ah, you probably need permission from the manager.
11
I'll send her a quick message for you.
12
That's really kind of you. Thank you.
13
While I'm here, could I ask something else?
14
How long should the summary be?
15
Keep it short. One page is usually enough.
16
Managers don't have time to read much more.
17
That makes sense. Should I include any charts?
18
Yes, one or two simple charts help a lot.
19
If I were you, I'd compare this month with last month.
20
Good idea. I hadn't thought of that.
21
Would you mind checking it before I send it?
22
Not at all. When do you think you'll finish?
23
I should have a first draft by tomorrow lunchtime.
24
Perfect. Just drop it on my desk.
25
Thanks again, Martin. You've saved me hours.
26
Happy to help. We've all been new once.
27
I'll bring you a coffee tomorrow, I promise.
28
Now that's an offer I can't refuse.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 28 sentences and 227 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:32. The speaker talks at a steady 148 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| chart noun | /t͡ʃɑɹt/ | A map illustrating the geography of a specific phenomenon. |
| compare verb | /kəmˈpɛɚ/ | To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things [“to compare X with Y”]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it… |
| desk noun | /dɛsk/ | A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a… |
| refuse verb | /ɹɪˈfjuːz/ | To decline (a request or demand). |
| summary noun | /ˈsʌm.ə.ɹi/ | An abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material. |
| folder noun | /ˈfoʊldɚ/ | An organizer that papers are kept in, usually with an index tab, to be stored as a single unit in a filing cabinet. |
| lunchtime noun | /ˈlʌnt͡ʃtaɪm/ | The time or hour at or around which lunch is normally eaten. |
| draft noun | /dɹæft/ | A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle. |
| excuse verb | /ɪksˈkjuz/ | To forgive; to pardon; to overlook. |
| permission noun | /pəɹˈmɪʃ.ən/ | authorisation; consent (especially formal consent from someone in authority) |
| manager noun | /ˈmæn.ə.dʒəɹ/ | A person whose job is to manage something, such as a business, a restaurant, or a sports team. |
| message noun | /ˈmɛs.ɪdʒ/ | A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed. |
| drop noun | /dɹɑp/ | A small quantity of liquid, just large enough to hold its own rounded shape through surface tension, especially one that falls from a source of liquid. |
| minute noun | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | A unit of time which is one sixtieth of an hour (sixty seconds). |
| quick adjective | /kwɪk/ | Moving with speed, rapidity or swiftness, or capable of doing so; rapid; fast. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've looked · You've saved |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should the · Should I include · should have |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll send · you'll finish |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: permission /pəɹˈmɪʃ.ən/, finish /ˈfɪnɪʃ/
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 chart, compare, desk.
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.