Shadowing Practice: Business Partner B1+ Unit 4.3.2 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
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Kenji, I need to have a word.
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44 sentences
1
Kenji, I need to have a word.
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Yes?
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I'll come directly to the point as we need to find a solution.
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I've been going over our schedules this morning and the Japan side of this project is running more than three weeks late.
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It's a major delay.
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I'm not happy about it.
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Aha.
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Okay.
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I understand it is not ideal, but I'm working very hard to put things right.
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It's not necessary to worry.
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I do worry, Kenji, and no, it's not simply not ideal.
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It's a serious problem.
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As I'm sure you've seen since you've been over here, we have a lot of resources dedicated to helping Japan.
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If you delay, there's a planning impact here.
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OK, I understand your concern, but we don't have all the required resources in Japan.
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I don't agree at all.
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We discussed resources in detail at the start of the project.
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And it's very late in the day to be having this kind of discussion.
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I've had a word with Stephanie, and I'm going to send her over to Tokyo for a couple of weeks.
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I think that you could benefit from her experience.
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If we don't resolve this now, we're risking the whole project.
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Okay.
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Right.
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Stephanie has been briefed and she will talk to you about this tomorrow and make arrangements.
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Okay.
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And thank you.
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See you later.
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Hey.
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Oh, hi.
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How are things?
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I was thinking about you.
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How did that Japan business go?
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It wasn't easy.
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I took your advice and was pretty tough on Kenji.
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Tough guy.
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And?
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He was pretty quiet actually.
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Didn't say much.
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I sent Stephanie over there last week and I've spoken to him since then.
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He seems very grateful.
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Said it was strong feedback but that he'd learned from it.
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He said he tried to be more open about issues going forward.
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Good stuff.
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What did I tell you?
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Context & Background

The video segment revolves around a business conversation between two colleagues grappling with project delays. The speaker, likely a project manager, confronts Kenji about significant setbacks on a project tied to Japan, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues. The conversation highlights the importance of clear communication and effective problem-solving in a professional environment, serving as a crucial lesson for English learners. This context sets the stage for understanding realistic business dialogues and the communication strategies involved.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I need to have a word." - A polite way to initiate a discussion.
  • "Let's get straight to the point." - This phrase emphasizes the need for directness in conversation.
  • "I understand your concern." - Acknowledges the other person's feelings, promoting a collaborative atmosphere.
  • "We're risking the whole project." - Highlights the seriousness of a situation, fostering urgency.
  • "I think you could benefit from her experience." - Suggests leveraging skills and resources to resolve problems.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Utilizing the shadowing technique can significantly enhance your English speaking practice and improve your pronunciation. Here’s a structured approach to tackle the dialogue in this video:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video and listen to the conversation without interruption. Focus on the tone and emotion in the speakers’ voices, as this enhances comprehension.
  2. Follow the Transcript: Read along with the transcript. This will help connect the spoken words with their written form, making it easier to understand pronunciation and style.
  3. Pause and Repeat: Use the shadowing site by pausing the video after each phrase. Repeat it aloud, imitating the intonation and rhythm of the speakers. This practice is essential for refining your English pronunciation.
  4. Record Yourself: After shadowing a segment, record your voice. Compare it with the original dialogue to identify differences in clarity and fluency.
  5. Practice Regularly: Incorporate this dialogue into your daily routine, aiming to practice it along with your IELTS speaking practice. Regular repetition will build confidence in using business vocabulary and phrases in conversations.

By following this guide, you can effectively tackle the challenges presented in the video, improving your overall communication skills in a business context.

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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