Shadowing Practice: Calling a Client to Explain a Project Delay - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Hello, this is Mark Davis speaking.
2
Hi, Mr. Davis! It's Emily from Brightline.
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Oh, Emily! Good to hear from you. How's it going?
4
Well... I'm afraid I'm calling with some bad news.
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Oh no. What's happened?
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We're going to miss the deadline for the second milestone.
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Our supplier has delayed the delivery of the parts.
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What? But the launch is in three weeks!
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Ugh, this is the second delay this year, Emily.
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I know, and I'm really sorry about that.
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Honestly, sorry doesn't help me much right now!
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I understand. Let me explain what we're doing about it.
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We've found a second supplier as a backup.
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They can deliver the parts by next Thursday.
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Next Thursday? So how long is the delay, exactly?
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About ten days. I've prepared a revised timeline for you.
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Hmm. Will we still be ready for the launch?
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Yes, if we finish the testing in one week.
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We've made your project our top priority.
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Okay... that sounds possible, I suppose.
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But my boss won't be happy about this.
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That's fair. We'd also like to offer you a discount.
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Ten percent off the next invoice, to say sorry.
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Oh, really? Well, that's very kind of you.
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Can you send me the new timeline by email?
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Of course! I'll send it this afternoon.
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And I'll keep you posted every Monday until delivery.
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Great! Thanks for being honest with me, Emily.
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Thank you for understanding, Mr. Davis. Talk soon!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Calling a Client to Explain a Project Delay”. This video has 29 sentences and 240 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:45. The speaker talks at a steady 137 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 29 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 |
|---|---|---|
| delay noun | /dɪˈleɪ̯/ | A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity. |
| timeline noun | /ˈtaɪmˌlaɪn/ | A graphical representation of a chronological sequence of events (past or future). |
| supplier noun | /səˈplaɪə/ | One who supplies; a provider. |
| priority noun | /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/ | An item's relative importance. |
| discount noun | /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ | A reduction in price. |
| backup noun | /ˈbækˌʌp/ | A reserve or substitute. |
| deadline noun | /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/ | A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed. |
| milestone noun | /ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ | A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of… |
| invoice noun | /ˈɪnˌvɔɪs/ | A bill; a commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer indicating the products, quantities and agreed prices for products or services that the seller has… |
| revise verb | /ɹɪˈvaɪz/ | To review, alter and amend, especially of written material. |
| launch verb | /lɔːnt͡ʃ/ | To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force. |
| delivery noun | /dɪˈlɪv.(ə.)ɹi/ | The act of conveying something. |
| email noun | /ˈiˌmeɪl/ | A system for sending messages and datas by means of a computer network, primarily the Internet, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and the Internet… |
| suppose verb | /səˈpoʊz/ | To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe. |
| deliver verb | /dɪˈlɪv.ə(ɹ)/ | To set free from restraint or danger. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I'm afraid I'm calling with some bad news.
- I know, and I'm really sorry about that.
- Honestly, sorry doesn't help me much right now!
- Will we still be ready for the launch?
- Can you send me the new timeline by email?
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 | has delayed · We've found · I've prepared |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | Will we · won't be · I'll send |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm calling · we're doing |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: priority /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/, delivery /dɪˈlɪv.(ə.)ɹi/
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 delay, timeline, supplier.
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.