Shadowing Practice: B1 English Listening Practice with Test - Payment Problems - Learn English Speaking with Video
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61 sentences
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Hi everyone.
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In this video, we will listen to a business dialogue in which a client negotiates new agreements.
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Listen carefully and at the end you can take a comprehension test.
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Let's begin.
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Good afternoon.
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Mia Sanders speaking.
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What can I do for you?
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Hi Mia, it's Brian from Smart Tech Solutions.
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I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.
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Not at all.
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It's always nice to hear from you.
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How are things on your end?
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Busy as always.
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We have had a hectic week with some unexpected delays, but we are managing.
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I'm calling about our last order, actually.
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Ah, yes.
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That order was sent out two days ago.
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Everything arrived in good condition, I hope?
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definitely everything arrived right on time and perfectly packed thank you
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but i wanted to speak to you about the invoice
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and our payment schedule i was hoping to ask for a small favor
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a favor sure tell me what's going on well i feel a bit awkward bringing this up
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but we're facing a few cash flow issues
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this month would it be possible to extend the payment terms from 30 days to 60 days just
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this once hmm let's take a look
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that's a bit tricky as you know our company policy is quite strict about payments
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we rely on those terms to manage our own accounts i completely understand and i wouldn't be asking if it weren't necessary
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The situation is temporary, and we've already taken steps to fix it.
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Actually, I'm also planning to place another order, same size as the last one.
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Oh, really?
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That's great news.
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Is the new order for the same client?
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Yes, it is.
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And the best part is that they pay up front.
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So once that's done, we'll be back on track.
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That's good to hear.
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just to confirm the next order will be placed this week exactly
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i will email the full details by this afternoon okay in
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that case i think we can make a one -time exception
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but just this once brian next time no doubt we will need to stick to the usual routine absolutely i completely agree
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Thanks so much, Mia.
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This really helps us out.
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No problem.
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We value your business, and we always try to support our long -term partners when we can.
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That means a lot.
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Could you send me a quick email just confirming the 60 -day payment term? Of course.
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I will send it right after this call.
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And I'll keep an eye out for your order email too.
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Perfect.
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You've been a lifesaver today.
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Thanks again, Mia.
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You are very welcome.
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Have a great rest of your day, Brian.
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You too.
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Bye.
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Thanks for listening.
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I hope this helps you improve your English.
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Feel free to share your opinion about this conversation.
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You can also find a link to a comprehension test in the pinned comment.
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See you.
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Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “B1 English Listening Practice with Test - Payment Problems”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Mia, payment, term, brian, email. This video has 61 sentences and 487 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:41. The speaker talks at a steady 132 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| comprehension noun | /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/ | A thorough understanding. |
| temporary adjective | /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/ | Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| delay noun | /dɪˈleɪ̯/ | A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| exception noun | /əkˈsɛpʃən/ | The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion; restriction by taking out something which would otherwise be included, as in a class, statement, rule. |
| extend verb | /ɛkˈstɛnd/ | To increase in extent. |
| awkward adjective | /ˈɔk.wɚd/ | Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments. |
| dialogue noun | /ˈdaɪəˌlɑɡ/ | A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals. |
| rely verb | /ɹɪˈlaɪ/ | To trust; to have confidence in; to depend. |
| pin noun | /pɪn/ | A needle without an eye (usually) made of drawn-out steel wire with one end sharpened and the other flattened or rounded into a head, used for fastening. |
| strict adjective | /stɹɪkt/ | Strained; drawn close; tight. |
| unexpected adjective | /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/ | Not expected, anticipated or foreseen. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pay up verb | To pay in total a sum which is owed, especially when the sum has been owed for a period of time. |
| send out verb | To issue, dispatch or transmit. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What can I do for you?
- It's always nice to hear from you.
- How are things on your end?
- I'm calling about our last order, actually.
- Everything arrived in good condition, I hope?
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 | have had · we've already taken · You've been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was sent · will be placed |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will listen · we'll be · will be |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm not catching · are managing · I'm calling |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 10 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: comprehension /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/, exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/, negotiate /nəˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
- Long words — get the stress right: temporary /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/, unexpected /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/, negotiate /nəˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/
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 confirm, arrive, comprehension.
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.