Shadowing Practice: Asking Your Manager for a Pay Rise - Learn English Speaking with Video
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30 sentences
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1
David, um, have you got a few minutes? I'd like to discuss something.
2
Of course, Priya. Come in and take a seat.
3
Thanks. I'll get straight to the point.
4
I'd like to talk about my salary.
5
Oh! Right. I wasn't expecting that today.
6
Go ahead, though. What's on your mind?
7
I've been here for three years now,
8
and my pay has barely changed since I started.
9
Meanwhile, I've taken on two major clients and trained three new hires.
10
That's true. Nobody doubts how much you've contributed.
11
I'm glad to hear that, because the numbers back it up.
12
Sales in my region have gone up by thirty percent this year!
13
Well... the thing is, budgets have been frozen across the company.
14
I see. I was afraid you might say that.
15
I'm sorry. If it were up to me, you'd have had a rise already.
16
So, is there no room for flexibility at all?
17
What figure did you have in mind?
18
Based on what similar roles are paid, I'm asking for ten percent.
19
Ten percent? That's quite a jump!
20
I understand, but I've done my research, and it's a fair figure.
21
Hmm, let me think... I can't promise ten right away.
22
What I can do is put forward six percent now,
23
and review the rest in six months.
24
Six percent... and could that review be put in writing?
25
Absolutely. I'll confirm everything by email this afternoon.
26
Then I think we have a deal. Thank you, David.
27
Thank you for raising it. I'd rather hear this than lose you.
28
Well, I wasn't going to mention the other job offer.
29
Wait, what other job offer?
30
Relax! I'm only joking. Mostly.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 30 sentences and 276 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:04. The speaker talks at a steady 134 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| meanwhile adverb | /ˈmiːnwaɪl/ | During the time that something is happening, often specifically in a different place. |
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| hire verb | /ˈhaɪɹ/ | To obtain the services of in return for fixed payment. |
| thirty noun | /ˈθɝti/ | A commercial lasting 30 seconds. |
| salary noun | /ˈsæləɹi/ | A fixed amount of money paid to a worker, usually calculated on a monthly or annual basis, not hourly, as wages. Implies a degree of professionalism and/or… |
| contribute verb | /kənˈtɹɪb.jut/ | To give something that is or becomes part of a larger whole. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| freeze verb | /ˈfɹiːz/ | Especially of a liquid, to become solid due to low temperature. |
| joking verb | /ˈd͡ʒoʊkɪŋ/ | Kidding, trying to fool. |
| flexibility noun | /ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti/ | The quality of being flexible, whether physically or metaphorically. |
| jump verb | /d͡ʒʌmp/ | To propel oneself rapidly upward, downward and/or in any horizontal direction such that momentum causes the body to become airborne. |
| email noun | /ˈiˌmeɪl/ | A system for sending messages and datas by means of a computer network, primarily the Internet, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and the Internet… |
| discuss verb | /dɪˈskʌs/ | To converse or debate concerning a particular topic. |
| client noun | /ˈklaɪ.ənt/ | A customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services. |
| barely adverb | /ˈbeɹ.li/ | By a small margin. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| go up verb | To move upwards. | |
| put forward verb | To propose for consideration. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'd, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 meanwhile, confirm, hire.
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 been · I've taken · you've contributed |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | have been frozen · are paid · is put |
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.