Shadowing Practice: Disputing an Electricity Bill: The Meter Readings Don't Add Up - Learn English Speaking with Video
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34 sentences
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1
Good morning, you're through to Brightwell Energy. Tom speaking.
2
Hello. I'm calling about my latest bill, which frankly can't be right.
3
Okay, let's get to the bottom of it. Could I take your account number?
4
It's MNH-58392.
5
Sorry, was that M for Mike, or N for November?
6
M for Mike, then N for November. M-N-H.
7
Got it, thanks, Ms. Hughes. I've got your account up now.
8
Good. So why on earth am I being charged £386.42?
9
I normally pay about £92 a month.
10
Hmm, let me see... Ah. This bill was based on an estimated reading.
11
Estimated? And what reading did you estimate, exactly?
12
We've got 04517 on file.
13
04517? No way! I read the meter myself yesterday!
14
Could you read me the current figure, then?
15
It's 04157. Zero, four, one, five, seven.
16
Oh! So the 1 and the 5 have been swapped round!
17
Exactly. That's 360 kWh I never actually used!
18
I'm so sorry. That's clearly our mistake, not yours.
19
Would you mind sending us a photo of the meter?
20
Well... I suppose so. Will that actually sort it out?
21
It should. Once it's verified, I'll reissue the bill straight away.
22
And the money I've already paid? It went out by direct debit.
23
You'd get a credit of £294.42 on your account.
24
I'd rather have it refunded, if it's all the same to you.
25
Of course! That's no problem at all.
26
I've also logged a complaint. Your reference is CMP-7206.
27
C-M-P, 7206. And how long will the refund take?
28
I'm afraid it can take up to 8 weeks.
29
8 weeks? Seriously? For your mistake?
30
Leave it with me. I'll flag it as urgent, so it should be much quicker.
31
Right. Well, thank you, Tom. I do appreciate your help.
32
My pleasure. And sorry again for all the hassle!
33
Just make sure someone actually reads the meter next time!
34
Ha, I'll pass that on. Have a lovely day!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This C1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Disputing an Electricity Bill: The Meter Readings Don't Add Up”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: meter, bill, account. This video has 34 sentences and 310 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:42. The speaker talks at a steady 115 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 14 of its 34 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| estimate noun | /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/ | A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something. |
| metre noun | /ˈmiːtəɹ/ | The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités), equal to the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in… |
| refund noun | /ɹɪˈfʌnd/ | An amount of money returned. |
| log noun | /lɔɡ/ | The trunk of a dead tree, cleared of branches. |
| complaint noun | /kəmˈpleɪnt/ | The act of complaining. |
| urgent adjective | /ˈɜː.d͡ʒənt/ | Requiring immediate attention. |
| frankly adverb | /fɹæŋkli/ | In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt. |
| swap verb | /ˈswɑp/ | To exchange or give (something) in an non-normal exchange (for something else). |
| verify verb | /ˈvɛɹɪfaɪ/ | To substantiate or prove the truth of something. |
| debit noun | /ˈdɛb.ɪt/ | In bookkeeping, an entry in the left hand column of an account. |
| hassle noun | /ˈhæsl̩/ | Trouble, bother, unwanted annoyances or problems. |
| reissue noun | Something that has issued, or been issued again. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Could I take your account number?
- I've got your account up now.
- Could you read me the current figure, then?
- That's clearly our mistake, not yours.
- Would you mind sending us a photo of the meter?
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 | have been swapped · I've already paid · I've also logged |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being charged · was based · have been swapped |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | Will that actually sort · I'll reissue · will the refund take |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 14 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I'm, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 estimate, metre, refund.
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.