Shadowing Practice: Business Partner C1. Unit 1. Video 1.1.1. - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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My name is Haiyan Jung.
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I'm Innovation Director at Microsoft Research in Cambridge.
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And I get my best ideas when I'm geeking out with some of the amazing people that I work with.
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So we're in this beautiful lab in Cambridge and we have a number of different research areas, all the way from hardcore computer science,
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programming languages, to looking at holograms new technologies,
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reading up on what new developments are happening in the world, and how do we apply that into people's lives and make impact to really help people.
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Digital is so important, it's all about driving everything towards the future of computing, whether that computing might be silicon chips or it might be biological in nature,
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but it's all thinking about computations.
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I started out studying
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is think more broadly about how technology can really impact people's lives
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and that's when I started on this journey to thinking about innovation.
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My life and my job has taken me all over the world.
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So I was born in China, my family moved to Australia where I studied computer science
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and from there I became a software engineer in Toronto
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and then I decided to go over to Italy to study design
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which took me to San Francisco to be an innovation consultant and now I'm in Cambridge. in the UK.
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I've always loved technology and computing ever since I was a little kid.
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I'd sit at home and program on my old XT and I'd be writing little pieces of music on my
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PC sound card.
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So it's been a lot of fun and I've just kind of chased that that love and
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I've got three of my favourite projects to show you.
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So this is Project Torino, they're a set of physical blocks that teaches sight impaired kids how to code.
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And this is Project Physio, where we've got a cystic fibrosis breathing device and a gadget that turns your breath into controllers for a video game.
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And finally we have a prototype for the Emma watch, so this was developed for the Big Life Fix and it's a vibrating watch that helps Emma overcome her Parkinson's symptoms.
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I think I love everything about playing with technology, all the way from just tinkering with it, putting, you know, soldering wires together,
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writing code, to having someone try out a prototype for the first time and seeing that reaction.
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If you want to get into my world, I've got three top tips for you.
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play with technology So get into coding, tinkering with electronics, just start getting your hands dirty.
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Find like -minded people
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So find the people that you can talk with
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that share your interests and maybe you can brainstorm together and create even bigger, better ideas.
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Go tackle the big challenges.
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So go find the big problems to solve in your community.
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There are lots of them right now and in the future and try to make a difference.
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I think it's every innovator's dream to have something
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that they've dreamt up to be realised in the world
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and have people using it if it's one person or ten people or a million people.
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When I'm faced with a new challenge, this is how I go about tackling it.
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Gain insight.
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So really get into the heart of the problem, either through reading, papers, articles or talking to the real people who are facing this problem.
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You might find that they're already using a workaround to solve for their challenges.
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Create prototypes Start trying out your ideas on paper, with drawings or cardboard, or even with electronics.
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But try out your ideas early with the people that the problem affects.
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How can you best deploy your idea into the world and create the biggest impact in someone's life?
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Given the resources that you have, how can you create the biggest bang for your buck?
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I definitely found it challenging being one of a few women studying computer science.
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But what I found that I needed to do was really over geek, so really get into technology, get passionate about it and start showing that passion to the people around me
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so that they would come along with me on this journey.
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You know, I think it's so important for women to speak up and voice their opinions in meetings, in group settings.
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You know, I still find that challenging, but I think it's so important to say something than not say anything at all.
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It's such an exciting time for young people to get into digital technology.

Boost Your English Speaking with This Engaging Clip

This video is a goldmine for IELTS speaking practice and everyday fluency. It targets conversational confidence, especially when sharing personal stories, explaining professional roles, and discussing ideas—key skills for exams and real-world interactions. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS or just want to speak more naturally, the dialogue’s mix of personal anecdotes and practical advice makes it perfect for shadowspeak (repeating aloud to mimic rhythm and tone) and building comfort with extended speech.

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions to Elevate Your Speech

  • "get my best ideas when I'm geeking out with..." – Great for describing creative moments.
  • "chased that love" – A warm way to talk about pursuing passions.
  • "get your hands dirty" – Encourages taking action (e.g., "Start coding—get your hands dirty!").
  • "create the biggest bang for your buck" – Useful for discussing impact vs. resources.
  • "voice their opinions in meetings" – Essential for professional or group settings.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Pronunciation & Rhythm Tips

This clip helps with improve english pronunciation of connected speech, like "geeking out" (soft "g" and blended "out") and "tinkering with" (short "i" and smooth "with"). Notice how the speaker stresses key words in phrases like "really get into technology"—this rhythm keeps your speech natural. Try shadow speak (repeating lines immediately after the speaker) to master the flow. Pay attention to pauses after commas in long sentences, which prevents rushing—critical for clear communication in english speaking practice.

Why This Works for IELTS & Beyond

The video’s mix of personal stories and advice mirrors IELTS speaking tasks, where you’ll share experiences and discuss solutions. Practicing with it builds the ability to speak at length, use idiomatic phrases, and convey passion—all scoring criteria. Plus, the speaker’s honest tone makes shadowspeak feel less like practice and more like a chat, boosting confidence. So grab your device, hit play, and start shadowing—your fluency will thank you!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas taken · I've always loved · they've dreamt
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwas born · was developed · be realised

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →