Shadowing Practice: Business Dinner with a Client: Small Talk and a Toast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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32 sentences
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1
Graham, welcome to Chicago! I hope you found the place okay.
2
I did, thank you. What a lovely restaurant!
3
It's one of my favorites. The steaks here are amazing.
4
Brilliant. After that flight, I could eat a horse.
5
So, have you decided what you'd like?
6
I think I'll have the burger with chips.
7
Ha, careful! Here, chips come in a little bag.
8
Wait, really? So what do I ask for?
9
Just say fries. Chips are what you call crisps.
10
Fries it is, then! Lesson learned.
11
So, is this your first time in the States?
12
No, but it's my first time in Chicago.
13
Actually, I walked along the river this morning. Stunning!
14
Oh, I'm so glad! You picked a sunny day.
15
So, um, about the delivery dates in the contract...
16
Oh, let's not talk shop just yet!
17
Tell me, how's your family? Did your daughter start university?
18
Yes, in Edinburgh! She's studying marine biology.
19
Wow, that's impressive! You must be so proud.
20
I am. And what do you do to relax?
21
Believe it or not, I've just started the cello.
22
No way! My wife plays in an orchestra.
23
Really? Oh, I'd love to hear her play sometime.
24
Well, next time you're in London, you're invited.
25
Okay, now that we've got dessert, about those dates...
26
Ha! I wondered when you'd bring that up.
27
Honestly, I'm confident we'll sort it out tomorrow.
28
Me too. I think we're on the same page.
29
Before we go, I'd like to propose a toast.
30
To a long and successful partnership!
31
Hear, hear! And to fries, not chips!
32
Ha! I'll drink to that. Cheers, Graham!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Business Dinner with a Client: Small Talk and a Toast”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: chips, fries, hear. This video has 32 sentences and 267 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:54. The speaker talks at a steady 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 8 of its 32 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| chip noun | /t͡ʃɪp/ | A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material. |
| fry verb | /fɹaɪ/ | To cook (something) in hot fat. |
| partnership noun | /ˈpɑɹtnɚʃɪp/ | The state of being associated with a partner. |
| impressive adjective | /ɪmˈpɹɛsɪv/ | Making, or tending to make, a positive impression; having power to impress. |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| biology noun | /baɪˈɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ | The study of all life or living matter. |
| sometime adverb | /ˈsʌmˌtaɪm/ | At an indefinite but stated time in the past or future. |
| burger noun | /ˈbɝ.ɡɚ/ | A hamburger. |
| sunny adjective | /ˈsʌni/ | Featuring a lot of sunshine. |
| orchestra noun | /ˈɔː.kɪs.tɹə/ | A large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, usually including some from strings, woodwind, brass and/or percussion; the instruments… |
| propose verb | /pɹəˈpəʊz/ | To suggest a plan, course of action, etc. |
| steak noun | /steɪk/ | Beefsteak: a slice of beef, broiled or cut for broiling. |
| toast noun | /toʊst/ | Bread that has been toasted (cooked lightly by browning). |
| dessert noun | /dɪˈzɝt/ | The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- It's one of my favorites.
- So, have you decided what you'd like?
- I think I'll have the burger with chips.
- Tell me, how's your family?
- Did your daughter start university?
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 you decided · I've just started |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll have · we'll sort · I'll drink |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 14 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'd, I'll, I'm. 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 chip, fry, partnership.
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.