Shadowing Practice: Card Blocked Abroad: Calling the Bank - Learn English Speaking with Video
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37 sentences
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1
Good morning, you're through to Harbor Bank. How can I help?
2
Hi. Ugh, my card was just declined at a restaurant in Lisbon!
3
Oh dear. Okay, let's sort that out.
4
What are the last four digits of the card?
5
It's 3826.
6
Thanks. First, I need to run a quick security check.
7
Could you confirm your date of birth?
8
Sure. April 9, 1991.
9
And the ZIP code on the account?
10
Um, 60614... no, wait, we moved last year. It's 60657.
11
That's it, 60657. Thanks for confirming.
12
So, your card was blocked automatically last night.
13
Blocked? Why? I haven't done anything unusual!
14
Our system flagged a payment of €1,250 on October 17.
15
€1,250? No way! I'd never spend that much!
16
Hold on... are you sure it wasn't €12.50? That was my taxi.
17
Hmm, let me look again. Ah, there are actually two payments.
18
€12.50 to a taxi company, and €1,250 to an online shop.
19
Oh no. I didn't buy anything online. Someone's stolen my card details.
20
Don't worry. The payment was stopped before it went through.
21
I'm going to send a 6-digit code to your phone.
22
Okay... got it. It's 904 117.
23
Was that 904 711?
24
No, 117 at the end. One, one, seven.
25
Perfect, you're verified. I'll cancel the old card now.
26
But I'm here for 10 more days. How will I pay?
27
We can arrange emergency cash, up to $500.
28
You can pick it up at a partner bank tomorrow morning.
29
Great. And when will the new card arrive?
30
I'm afraid it usually takes 5 to 7 working days.
31
Oh. So probably after I've flown home...
32
Well, we could send it to your hotel in Lisbon instead.
33
Really? That would be amazing!
34
Of course. Your reference number is HB-7742-Q.
35
HB-7742... sorry, was the last letter Q or U?
36
Q, as in Quebec. I'll text it to you as well!
37
Thank you so much. You've saved my trip!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Card Blocked Abroad: Calling the Bank”. This video has 37 sentences and 297 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:52. The speaker talks slowly, about 104 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 13 of its 37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| taxi noun | /ˈtæksi/ | A vehicle that may be hired for single journeys by members of the public, particularly one with an automated meter to calculate the fare. |
| digit noun | /ˈdɪd͡ʒɪt/ | A position in a sequence of numerals representing a place value in a positional number system. |
| unusual adjective | /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/ | Not usual, out of the ordinary. |
| steal verb | /stiːl/ | To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it. |
| decline verb | /dɪˈklaɪn/ | To move downwards, to fall, to drop. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| cancel verb | /ˈkæn.sl̩/ | To cross out something with lines etc. |
| arrange verb | /əˈɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ | To set up; to organize; to put into an orderly sequence or arrangement. |
| verify verb | /ˈvɛɹɪfaɪ/ | To substantiate or prove the truth of something. |
| litter noun | /ˈlɪt.ɚ/ | Straw, grass, and similar loose material used as bedding for people or animals. |
| payment noun | /ˈpeɪmənt/ | The act of paying. |
| restaurant noun | /ˈɹɛst(ə)ˌɹɑnt/ | An eating establishment in which diners are served food, usually by waiters at their tables but sometimes (as in a fast food restaurant) at a counter. |
| flag noun | /flæɡ/ | A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol. |
| detail noun | /ˈdi.teɪl/ | A part small enough to escape casual notice. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How can I help?
- Could you confirm your date of birth?
- I haven't done anything unusual!
- I'd never spend that much!
- I didn't buy anything online.
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 | haven't done · I've flown · You've saved |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was just declined · was blocked · was stopped |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll cancel · will I pay · will the new card arrive |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 14 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: unusual /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/, automatically /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪ.k(ə.)li/
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 confirm, taxi, digit.
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.