Shadowing Practice: Business Partner B1+ Unit 4.3.1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
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Good morning.
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51 sentences
1
Good morning.
2
How are you?
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Yeah fine thanks.
4
You alright?
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Life is very busy at the moment.
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There's just so much to do and coordinate.
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Here, Germany, Mexico, Japan.
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I spend half my time on the phone these days, dealing with the project.
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It's like my workload just doubled overnight.
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Plus, as project lead, I have to host the regional managers when they come to London.
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We had Paola in from Mexico recently and now Kenji's over from Japan.
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It must be tough on Paola and Kenji.
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They're completely new to international projects.
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Knock knock.
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You're not answering your phone today.
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Jack, sorry.
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Was that you a few minutes ago?
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You look a bit tired mate.
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What's up?
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Oh, having fun with the New Markets Project.
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No.
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I mean, yes.
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Overall, so far so good.
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I've just got loads of work and I'm getting more and more concerned about what's going on in Japan.
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What do you mean concerned?
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Isn't Kenji here at the moment?
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They're running about three weeks behind schedule and I just don't see how we're going to make up the time.
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Three weeks is not a concern, it's a disaster.
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What's going on?
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Well, hold on.
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It's complex.
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Kenji doesn't have a great deal of experience, and Stephanie's busy with Mexico so no time for Japan and yeah, we're behind.
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Three weeks behind.
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I'm going to talk to Kenji about it later.
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I suggest you go over there and have some strong words, sooner rather than later.
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Tell him that he needs to perform or he's out.
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A bit of straight talking wouldn't do any harm.
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I know, I know, but it's Japan.
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You can't do straight talking or you'll offend everyone.
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Matt, you can't stereotype like that.
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Kenji's a professional.
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You need to tell him to his face what you expect and when you expect it.
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Look, you may be right, but the guy's trying.
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Shouting at him isn't my style.
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I think I'd prefer to take a more gentle approach.
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Yeah, but being gentle often gets you nowhere.
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If you don't fix this soon, you're going to have senior management complaining.
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Anyhow, it's your call.
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You know what I would do.
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Fuck it.
51
playing class music
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Why practice speaking with this video?

This video excerpt provides a realistic conversational scenario that many professionals may encounter while working on international projects. Engaging in such dialogues is crucial for developing fluency and confidence in speaking English. By practicing with this video, learners can enhance their ability to communicate complex ideas, address concerns, and negotiate effectively in a business context. Shadow speaking through this dialogue enables learners to not only mimic pronunciation and intonation but also to understand the nuances of tone and expression when discussing sensitive issues, such as project delays and team dynamics.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The conversation between the speakers offers a range of useful grammatical structures and expressions that can enhance your business communication skills:

  • Question Forms: "How are you?" and "What's up?" These informal questions are vital for initiating conversations and checking in with colleagues.
  • Complex Sentences: The phrase "Kenji doesn't have a great deal of experience," highlights how to express exceptions and limitations effectively.
  • Conditional Sentences: "If you don't fix this soon, you're going to have senior management complaining" is an example of a condition that implies a warning, showcasing how to communicate urgency and potential consequences.
  • Stereotypes and Assertions: The dialogue explores the idea that not all professionals conform to stereotypes, as seen in “you can’t stereotype like that.” This is essential for fostering an inclusive workplace environment.

Integrating these structures into your own speaking practice will help improve your IELTS speaking practice skills, enabling you to express concerns and expectations clearly.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice shadow speech with this video, pay close attention to the following tricky words and phrases:

  • "Concerned": This word can often be mispronounced due to its initial consonant blend. Focus on enunciating the "con" clearly.
  • "Project lead": Make sure to stress the word "lead" correctly to convey your role and responsibilities in a project accurately.
  • "Japan": The pronunciation can vary by accent, so ensure you listen carefully and practice it to sound natural.

Pronunciation can greatly influence communication clarity, so remember that mastering these can enhance your overall performance in speaking contexts. Through shadowing, you can refine these nuances, making your speech more effective and engaging.

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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