Shadowing Practice: Business English B1 - B2: Participating in meetings 1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Quartz Power Group is an energy company based in the UK.
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61 sentences
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Quartz Power Group is an energy company based in the UK.
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Marcus, the managing director, wants to discuss the company's sales figures.
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He is meeting Maya, the finance director, David, the sales and marketing director, and Anna, the customer services director.
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Now, you all know why I've called this meeting.
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Sales figures for our region are down and we need to address this as soon as we can.
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So I'd like to start by asking Maya to talk us through the figures.
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Okay, Maya?
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Fine.
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And then we can take a look at the products we're offering and compare them with the competition.
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So, Maya, over to you.
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Thanks, Marcus.
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Well, I've prepared some handouts to show you how the figures are looking.
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If we look at sales year to date...
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So, in order to meet budget this year, we will, in my opinion, have to start some cost-saving measures.
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What do you mean by that?
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Redundancies?
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That's one possibility.
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I can't agree with you there.
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We need a strong workforce.
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Of course.
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OK, thanks, Maya.
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Look, cost cutting is something that we need to think about, but we also need to stop the downturn in sales and regain market share.
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So can I bring you in here, David?
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Any comments?
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Well, it's hard to know what the problem is.
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Our products are competitive.
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So they're not getting better offers from the competition?
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I don't think so.
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How about I talk you through our offers at the moment?
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I've prepared some handouts.
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Yes, go ahead.
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It'll be good to look at the details.
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OK, thanks David.
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That was all useful information.
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So Anna, can we turn to you now?
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Do you have any ideas why this downturn is happening?
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Well, it's true we are seeing a decrease in custom in our region.
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There's also been an increase in customers cancelling new contracts within 14 days.
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But do you know why?
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Do the customers say why they don't like our offers?
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I personally feel that this is vital information.
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If I can finish what I was saying, I'd like to suggest we review our customer account procedures from first contact to after sales care.
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it would be a good idea to start with that and see if the sales figures improve.
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Thanks Anna.
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What do you two think of that?
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Can I make another suggestion?
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I think we need to see the whole picture from the customer's point of view.
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A customer survey perhaps?
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That would be a big project.
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It would need a project team which means taking staff from other departments.
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Actually I was thinking about hiring an external researcher get a neutral view on our position in the market and customers views on us.
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I like that idea I think it could be very useful information.
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Which department pays for it though?
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We can talk about that in a minute.
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Do you agree in principle though that we need to understand the cause of the problem?
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Yes I suppose so.
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Good.
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David could you look for a market research company we could work with on this.
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Sure.
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Great.
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Well let's move on then shall we?

Context & Background

The video titled "Business English B1 - B2: Participating in meetings 1" focuses on a meeting at Quartz Power Group, an energy company in the UK. During this meeting, four key directors discuss the company's declining sales figures. Marcus, the managing director, steers the conversation, prompting Maya, the finance director, to share insights about the financial situation. The dialogue uncovers different perspectives on the company's challenges, such as the need for cost-saving measures and understanding customer feedback. This contextual framework is essential for English learners, as it reflects real-life business discussions and gives a practical basis for learning English communication in professional settings.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I'd like to start by asking..." - A formal way to introduce a topic or person in discussions.
  • "Can you talk us through..." - A phrase used to request a detailed explanation of particular information.
  • "What do you think of that?" - Inviting feedback or opinions from others during discussions.
  • "I can't agree with you there." - Expressing disagreement respectfully, which is crucial in professional settings.
  • "It would be a good idea to..." - Suggesting potential solutions or actions in a collaborative environment.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To fully grasp the content and enhance your English speaking practice, employ the shadowing technique using the following steps:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by watching the video in its entirety to understand the context and flow of the conversation.
  2. Listen Carefully: Play the video again, this time focusing solely on the audio. Pay attention to pronunciation and intonation.
  3. Repeat Aloud: As you listen, start repeating what the speakers say. Use a shadowing app or a recording device to track your speech. This shadow speech practice will help you develop fluency.
  4. Imitate Expressions: Focus on the phrases highlighted previously. Try to incorporate them into your speech patterns as you simulate the dialogue.
  5. Record and Compare: Record your voice while practicing and compare it to the original audio. This step is crucial for identifying areas of improvement in your pronunciation and pacing.

By following these steps, you will not only enhance your vocabulary but also strengthen your speaking skills, which are essential for success in IELTS speaking practice and everyday professional interactions.

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.

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