Shadowing Practice: Don’t Underestimate Yourself | Graded Reader | Learn English Through Story Level 3 🔥 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello everyone, welcome to our channel English Avenue.
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Today's story is about a very powerful topic.
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Don't underestimate yourself.
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Many people are more talented than they believe.
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They have ideas.
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They have skills.
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They have dreams.
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They have the ability to grow.
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But they stop themselves because they think too small about their own life.
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They say, I am not ready.
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I am not special.
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I am not talented enough.
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Other people are better than me.
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This kind of thinking can quietly destroy your confidence.
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It can make you reject opportunities before the world even rejects you.
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It can make you hide your talent.
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It can make you stay in the same place for years.
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That is why this topic is important.
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Because sometimes the biggest problem is not that people underestimate you.
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The biggest problem is that you underestimate yourself.
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Today's story will show you how one quiet person slowly discovers his own value.
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This story is simple, realistic, and inspiring.
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It will also help you improve your English listening and understanding. So, listen carefully.
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Try to understand every sentence.
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Learn useful words like confidence, opportunity, talent, effort, fear, growth, and self-belief.
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And if you enjoy meaningful stories that improve your English and your mindset, please like this video, subscribe to the channel,
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and keep learning with me.
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Part 1.
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The Man Who Thought He Was Ordinary In the city of Vancouver, Canada, there was a young man named Lucas Reed.
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He was 26 years old.
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He worked in a small printing shop near a busy street.
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Every day, people came to the shop for posters, business cards, restaurant menus, flyers, labels, and banners.
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Lucas was not the owner of the shop.
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He was not the manager.
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He was not the person who made big decisions.
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He was just the person who checked orders, printed designs, packed them carefully, and gave them to customers.
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Most people did not notice him.
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They came into the shop quickly.
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They gave their files.
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They waited for their prints.
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Then they paid and left.
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For them, Lucas was just the quiet man behind the counter.
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But Lucas noticed everything.
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He noticed when a flyer looked too crowded.
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He noticed when the colors did not match.
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He noticed when a menu was hard to read.
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He noticed when a business card looked unprofessional.
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He noticed when a small business had a good product but weak branding.
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Deep inside, Lucas loved design.
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He loved clean layouts.
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He loved good color combinations.
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He loved simple logos.
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He loved posters that could catch attention quickly.
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At night, after work, he watched design tutorials on his old laptop.
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He learned about fonts.
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He He learned about spacing.
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He learned about colors.
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He learned about how people look at advertisements.
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He learned how a good design can help a small business look more professional.
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But even after learning so much, Lucas never called himself a designer.
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He always said, I am just learning.
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He always said, I am not ready yet.
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He always said, real designers are much better than me.
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This was his biggest problem.
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He did not lack interest.
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He did not lack effort.
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He did not lack observation.
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He lacked belief in himself.
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Every day he helped customers print their designs.
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Sometimes he could see the mistakes clearly.
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He knew the design could be better.
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He knew the text could be cleaner.
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He knew the colors could be stronger, but he stayed quiet.
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He thought, who am I to give advice?
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He thought, I only work in a printing shop.
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He thought, they will not listen to me.
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So he kept his ideas inside, and slowly, his silence became a habit.
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One evening, after closing the shop, Lucas sat alone near the printer.
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The street outside was wet because it had rained.
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Cars passed by.
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The reflection of city lights shone on the road.
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Lucas opened his notebook.
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Inside that notebook he had many design ideas.
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Logo sketches, flyer ideas, menu layouts, business card styles.
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He looked at them for a long time.
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Then he whispered to himself, maybe in the future.
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But he had been saying the same sentence for three years.
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Maybe in the future.
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The truth was simple.
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Lucas was not waiting for the right time.
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He was waiting to feel good enough.
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And that feeling never came.
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Because confidence does not grow when you keep hiding.
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Confidence grows when you try.
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Part 2.
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The First Chance One afternoon, a woman named Rachel Moore came into the printing shop.
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She looked tired but serious.
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She owned a small coffee truck near a business area.
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Every morning she sold coffee, sandwiches, and muffins to office workers.
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Her business was not famous.
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She did not have a big team.
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She did not have a large budget.
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But she worked hard.
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She woke up early every day.
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She prepared everything herself.
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She served customers with a smile.
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She believed in her small business.
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That day, Rachel came to print a menu board and some flyers.
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She gave Lucas a design file and said, Can you print this by tomorrow morning?
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Lucas opened the file on the computer.
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He looked at the design.
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The menu had too many colors.
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The font was difficult to read.
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The prices were not clear.
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The coffee names were too close to each other.
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The flyer had too much text and no empty space.
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Lucas immediately understood the problem.
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If customers looked at this menu quickly, they would feel confused.
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And in a busy morning line, confused customers do not buy fast.
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They walk away.
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Lucas wanted to say something, but his old fear returned.
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A voice inside his mind said, Stay quiet.
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You are not a professional designer.
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So he said, Yes, I can print it.
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Rachel looked at his face carefully.
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She asked, Is something wrong with the design?
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Lucas became nervous.
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He said, No, it is okay.
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Rachel did not move.
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She said, Please be honest.
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I already paid someone to make this, but I am not sure if it looks good.
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Lucas paused.
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For a few seconds, he fought with himself.
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One part of him wanted to stay safe.
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Another part of him wanted to speak the truth.
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Finally, he said slowly, The information is good, but the design is not easy to read.
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Rachel listened carefully.
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Lucas continued, For a coffee truck, people need to understand the menu quickly.
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The prices should be clear.
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The names should have more space.
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The colors should make the menu look warm and professional.
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Rachel looked at the screen again.
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Then she asked, Can it be improved?
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Lucas said, Yes, I think so.
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Rachel asked, Can you fix it?
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Lucas immediately stepped back.
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He said, I am not a real designer.
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I just know a little.
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Rachel smiled and said, Sometimes the person who says, I know a little, knows more than the person who says, I know everything.
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Lucas did not know what to say.
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Rachel said, Just try.
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If I don't like it, we will print the original design.
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That sentence opened a small door.
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Not a big door.
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Not a life-changing door yet.
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Just a small door.
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But sometimes one small door can lead to a completely different life.
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That night, Lucas stayed in the shop after closing time.
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The printers were silent.
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The lights were soft.
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The city outside was calm.
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Lucas opened Rachel's menu design and started working.
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He changed the font.
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He made the coffee names easier to read.
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He arranged the prices clearly.
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He removed unnecessary text.
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He used warmer colors.
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He added proper spacing.
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He made the flyer simple, clean, and useful.
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For three hours, he worked without checking his phone.
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For the first time in a long time, Lucas did not feel like a normal shop worker.
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He felt focused.
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He felt alive.
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He felt like he was using a part of himself that had been sleeping for years.
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The next morning, Rachel came back.
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Lucas showed her the new design.
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She looked at it silently.
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Lucas became worried.
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He thought, maybe she doesn't like it.
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But then Rachel looked at him and said, this is much better.
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Lucas smiled a little, but he still said, it is not perfect.
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Rachel replied, maybe not perfect, but it is clear, professional, and useful.
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That is exactly what I needed.
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She printed the new menu board and flyers.
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Before leaving, she said, Thank you, Lucas.
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You understood my business.
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Lucas stood there quietly.
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That sentence stayed in his mind.
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You understood my business.
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For the first time, he felt that maybe his small skill was not so small.
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Maybe his quiet observation had value.
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Maybe his years of learning were not wasted.
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But he still did not fully believe it.
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Not yet.
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Two weeks later, Rachel walked into the shop again.
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This time she looked excited.
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She said, Lucas, people are ordering faster now.
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They can read the menu easily.
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Some customers even said the truck looks more professional.
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Lucas felt surprised.
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Rachel placed a small notebook on the counter and said, Now I need a loyalty card for my customers.
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Lucas nodded and said, I can print it.
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Rachel looked at him and said, No, Lucas.
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I want you to design it.
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Lucas became silent.
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His old fear returned again.
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But this time, something inside him was different.
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For the first time, he did not immediately say no. Part 3.
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The Work Nobody Saw Rachel looked at Lucas and said, No, Lucas.
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I want you to design it.
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Lucas did not answer immediately.
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His heart started beating faster.
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A loyalty card was a small thing for many people.
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But for Lucas, it felt like a big step.
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Because this time, Rachel was not asking him to fix a design.
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She was asking him to create something from zero.
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Lucas looked at the counter.
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Then he looked at Rachel.
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He wanted to say, I can't.
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He wanted to say, maybe you should ask a real designer.
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He wanted to hide behind the same old sentence again.
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But something stopped him.
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He remembered the menu board.
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He remembered Rachel's words.
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He remembered how customers were ordering faster because of his design.
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So he took a slow breath and said, Okay, I can try.
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Rachel smiled and said, That is enough, just try.
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That night, Lucas went home and started working on the loyalty card.
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He did not have an expensive computer.
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He did not have a perfect office.
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He did not have a big design studio.
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He had a small desk, an old laptop, a notebook, and a tired mind.
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But he also had something stronger now.
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He had a little belief.
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Not full confidence.
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Not complete courage.
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Just a small belief.
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And sometimes a small belief is enough to begin.
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He started by thinking about Rachel's coffee truck.
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He did not only think about colors and fonts.
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He thought about her customers, office workers, busy people, people who bought coffee quickly in the morning,
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people who wanted something simple.
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So he made the card clean and easy to understand.
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On the front, he placed the coffee truck name.
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On the back, he made ten small empty circles.
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Every time a customer bought coffee, Rachel could stamp one circle.
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After ten stamps, the customer would get one free coffee.
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Simple, clear, useful.
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The next day, Lucas showed the design to Rachel.
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She looked at it and said, This is exactly what I wanted.
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Simple but professional.
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Lucas smiled.
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This time he did not say, it is not perfect.
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He only said, I'm glad it helps.
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That was a small change.
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But small changes are powerful.
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Before, Lucas always rejected his own work before anyone else could appreciate it.
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But now, he was learning to accept a compliment.
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He was learning to respect his effort.
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A few days later, Rachel started giving the loyalty cards to customers.
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People like them.
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Some customers even came back more often because they wanted to complete all 10 stamps.
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Rachel's coffee truck became more organized.
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Her menu looked better.
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Her flyers worked better.
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Her loyalty cards helped her business grow.
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Then something unexpected happened.
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Rachel recommended Lucas to another business owner.
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His name was Daniel Brooks.
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He owned a small bakery.
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The bakery made amazing bread and cakes, but the shop window looked dull.
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The posters were old.
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The price cards were messy.
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The menu looked confusing.
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Daniel came to the printing shop and said, Rachel told me you helped her coffee truck.
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Can you help me make a new flyer?
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Lucas felt nervous again, but this time he did not run away.
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He asked Daniel questions.
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What do you sell the most?
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Who are your main customers?
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What do you want people to notice first?
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Do you want the flyer for daily customers or new customers?
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Daniel was surprised.
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He said, The last designer only asked me for the text and photos.
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You're asking about the business.
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Lucas said, Because the design should solve a problem, not just look nice.
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When Lucas said that sentence, he surprised himself.
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For the first time, he sounded like someone who understood his work.
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He made a flyer for Daniel's bakery.
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It was simple.
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It showed the best products clearly.
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It had a clean offer.
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It had the bakery address.
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It had a warm and friendly feeling.
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Daniel printed 500 copies.
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After one week, he came back and said, People actually brought this flyer to the shop.
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They asked about the offer.
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It worked.
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Lucas felt something inside him becoming stronger.
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Not ego, not pride, belief.
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Real belief.
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The kind of belief that comes from proof.
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After that, more small projects started coming.
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A dog grooming shop needed a price list.
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A fitness coach needed a simple logo.
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A small restaurant needed a new menu.
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A music teacher needed a class poster.
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A local cleaning service needed business cards.
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Lucas did all these projects after his normal work.
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He would finish his shift at the printing shop.
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Then he would go home, eat something simple, open his laptop, and work late into the night.
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Some nights, he felt tired.
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Some nights, his eyes hurt.
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Some nights, he wanted to sleep.
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Some nights, he thought, maybe I'm doing too much.
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But then he would remember something.
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For years, he had underestimated himself.
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For years, he had waited.
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For years, he had watched other people do the work he secretly wanted to do.
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Now he finally had a chance.
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And he did not want to waste it.
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But growth is not always exciting.
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Sometimes growth is boring.
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Sometimes growth means correcting the same design again and again.
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Sometimes growth means hearing feedback you do not like.
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Sometimes growth means realizing that your first idea is not the best idea.
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One evening, Daniel from the bakery called Lucas and said, The flyer is good, but the logo you made for the cake boxes is not working.
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It looks too small when printed.
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Lucas felt embarrassed.
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His first thought was, See, I am not good enough. But then he stopped.
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He asked himself, Is this failure, or is this feedback?
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That question changed his reaction.
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Instead of feeling destroyed, he opened the file again.
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He adjusted the logo.
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He made it simpler.
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He tested it in small size.
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He printed a sample.
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Then he sent the corrected version to Daniel.
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Daniel replied, Yes, this is much better.
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Lucas learned a powerful lesson that day.
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A mistake does not mean you are fake.
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A correction does not mean you have no talent.
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Feedback is not an attack.
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Feedback is training.
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Slowly, Lucas became better.
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He learned how to speak with clients.
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He learned how to ask better questions.
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He learned how to explain his design choices.
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He learned how to handle criticism without breaking inside.
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He learned how to charge fairly for his work.
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At first, he charged very little.
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He felt guilty asking for money.
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He thought, I am still learning.
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How can I charge more?
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But one day, Rachel said to him, Lucas, your work helps people earn money.
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You should respect your own work.
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That sentence stayed with him.
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You should respect your own work.
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Many people want the world to respect them, but they do not respect themselves first.
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Lucas was beginning to understand this.
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One evening, his manager Peter saw him working after closing time.
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Peter was a calm man in his 40s.
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He did not speak too much, but he noticed everything.
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He looked at Lucas's screen and said, You are getting better.
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Lucas said, I am just doing small projects.
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Peter shook his head.
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He said, Stop using the word just for everything.
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Lucas looked confused.
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Peter said, I am just learning.
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I am just helping.
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I am just trying.
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I am just a shop worker.
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You keep making yourself smaller with your own words.
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Lucas became silent.
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Peter continued, Small projects are still projects.
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Learning is still progress.
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Trying is still courage.
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And working in a printing shop does not mean you cannot become a designer.
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Lucas did not know what to say.
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Peter said, the main office is opening a junior designer position next month.
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You should apply.
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Lucas laughed nervously.
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He said, no, that position is for real designers.
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Peter looked at him seriously and said, Lucas, stop insulting your own effort.
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Those words hit him deeply.
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Stop insulting your own effort.
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Peter continued, I have seen your work.
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You are not perfect, but you are serious.
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You observe.
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You listen.
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You solve real problems.
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Many people have degrees, but they do not care like this.
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Lucas looked down.
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He wanted to believe Peter, but a part of him was still afraid.
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Peter said, You do not need to be the best designer in the world to apply for a junior position.
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You only need to show that you are ready to grow.
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That night, Lucas walked home slowly.
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The city lights were shining.
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People were walking past him.
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Cars were moving.
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The world looked normal.
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But inside Lucas, something was changing.
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For years, he had believed that confidence meant feeling fearless.
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But now he understood something different.
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Confidence does not mean you have no fear.
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Confidence means you stop allowing fear to make every decision.
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When he reached home, he opened his laptop.
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He collected all his design work.
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Rachel's menu board, Rachel's loyalty card, Daniel's bakery flyer, the dog grooming price list,
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the fitness coach logo, the restaurant menu, the music class poster, the cleaning service business cards.
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He looked at all of them.
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Before, he saw them as small side projects.
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But that night, he saw them as evidence.
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Evidence that he had started.
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Evidence that he had improved.
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Evidence that he could help people.
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Evidence that he was not nothing.
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He opened a blank document and wrote, Portfolio.
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Then he wrote the first project.
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Rachel Moore Coffee Truck.
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Problem.
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The menu was hard to read.
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Solution.
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Made the layout cleaner, improved spacing, and made prices clear.
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Result?
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Customers ordered faster, and the business looked more professional.
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Then he wrote about the bakery.
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Problem.
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The old flyer did not attract people.
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Solution.
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Made a simple offer, clear product section and warm design.
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Result.
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Customers visited the bakery with the flyer.
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Lucas kept writing.
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For every project, he explained the problem, the solution, and the result.
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For the first time, his work looked like a real journey.
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Not perfect.
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not famous, but real.
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At the end of the document, he wrote one sentence, I am still learning, but I am not starting from zero.
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He read that sentence again and again.
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I am still learning, but I am not starting from zero.
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That night, Lucas did not become a completely different person.
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He still felt afraid.
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He still had doubts, but he also had proof.
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And sometimes, Proof is stronger than fear.
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Part 4.
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The day he stopped asking permission.
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The next morning, Lucas opened the job post for the junior designer position.
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He read it carefully.
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The company wanted someone who understood basic design, customer needs, layouts, branding, and communication.
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Lucas read the list of requirements.
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With every line, his mind tried to discourage him.
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You are not ready.
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You did not go to a famous design school.
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Other people will have better portfolios.
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They will laugh at your small projects.
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But this time, Lucas did not close the page.
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He looked at the requirements again.
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Then he looked at his portfolio.
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He had learned layouts.
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He had worked with customers.
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He had improved real designs.
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He had helped small businesses.
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He had solved real problems.
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Maybe he did not have everything.
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But he had something.
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And something is enough to begin.
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He filled out the application.
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His hands were cold.
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He checked every detail three times.
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Then he placed his finger on the submit button.
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For a moment, he stopped.
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This was not only about a job.
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This was about the story he believed about himself.
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If he did not apply, he could stay safe.
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No rejection, no embarrassment, no risk, but also no growth, no new life, no proof of what he could become.
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Lucas whispered, I have underestimated myself long enough.
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Then he clicked submit.
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For the next few days, he checked his email again and again.
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Nothing came.
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On the first day, he felt hopeful.
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On the second day, he felt nervous.
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On the third day, he started doubting himself again.
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By the fifth day, he thought, maybe they ignored my application.
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But on the sixth day, an email arrived.
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Subject, interview invitation.
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Lucas stared at the screen.
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For a few seconds, he did not move.
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Then he opened the email.
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The company wanted to interview him on Thursday morning.
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Lucas felt excited and terrified at the same time.
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That evening, he began preparing.
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He practiced answering questions.
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He practiced explaining his portfolio.
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He practiced talking about his experience.
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He did not try to sound perfect.
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He tried to sound clear and honest.
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He practiced this answer again and again.
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I started in the printing shop.
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I saw many small businesses struggling with unclear designs.
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I began helping them by making their designs simpler, cleaner, and more useful.
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I learned that good design is not only about beauty.
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It is about communication, trust, and clarity.
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On Thursday morning, Lucas wore a clean shirt.
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He reached the main office early.
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The building was much bigger than the printing shop.
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There were glass doors, bright lights, people walking with laptops, design boards on the walls.
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For a moment, Lucas felt small again.
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He thought, do I belong here?
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Then he remembered Peter's words.
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Stop insulting your own effort.
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He took a deep breath and walked inside.
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Three people interviewed him, a design manager, a marketing manager, and a human resources officer.
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The design manager asked, Tell us about yourself.
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Lucas said, My name is Lucas Reed.
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I have worked in the printing shop for several years.
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During that time, I learned how real businesses use designs in practical ways.
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I started helping small business owners improve menus, flyers, cards, and posters.
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I enjoy making designs that are clear, useful, and easy to understand.
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The marketing manager looked at his portfolio and asked, These are small businesses.
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Why did you choose to show these projects?
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Lucas felt nervous, but he answered honestly.
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He said, Because these projects taught me real lessons.
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Small business owners need designs that work quickly.
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A customer may only look at a menu for a few seconds.
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A flyer must be clear.
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A price list must be easy to read.
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These projects helped me understand the real purpose of design.
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The room became quiet.
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The design manager nodded.
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Then he asked, Which project are you most proud of?
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Lucas showed Rachel's coffee truck menu.
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He explained the old problem.
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He explained how customers were confused.
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He explained how he changed the layout, improved the contrast, and made the prices clearer.
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Then he explained how customers started ordering faster.
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The marketing manager smiled and said, You're thinking about the customer experience.
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Lucas said, Yes.
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I think design should help people make decisions easily.
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Then came the question he feared most.
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The Human Resources Officer asked, Why should we choose you?
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Lucas felt his heart beating fast.
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For a second, his old voice returned.
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You are not special.
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You are not enough.
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Say something safe.
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But then he remembered the nights he worked alone.
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He remembered the designs he corrected.
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He remembered Rachel.
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He remembered Daniel.
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He remembered Peter.
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He remembered the sentence he wrote in his portfolio.
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I am still learning, but I am not starting from zero.
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So Lucas sat a little straighter and said, You should choose me because I am serious about growth.
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I may not know everything yet, but I know how to learn.
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I know how to listen.
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I know how to understand a problem and make something clearer.
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I care about the person behind the project, not only the design of the screen.
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Nobody spoke for a moment.
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Then the design manager said, Thank you, Lucas.
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That was a good answer.
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The interview ended.
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Lucas walked out of the building.
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He did not know if he would get the job.
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But something had already changed.
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He had spoken for himself.
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He had not hidden.
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He had not apologized for being a beginner.
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He had given himself a chance.
570
And sometimes that is the real victory before the result even comes.
571
Two days later, Lucas was working at the printing shop when his phone vibrated.
572
It was an email from the company.
573
His hands started shaking.
574
He opened it slowly.
575
The first line said, He said, We are happy to offer you the junior designer position.
576
Lucas read the line once, then twice, then again.
577
For a moment, everything around him became quiet.
578
The sound of the printer.
579
The street noise.
580
The customer voices.
581
Everything faded.
582
He sat down on a small chair behind the counter.
583
His eyes became wet.
584
Not because he had become rich.
585
Not because he'd become famous.
586
Not because all his problems had disappeared.
587
He became emotional because he finally understood something.
588
He had been more capable than he believed.
589
He had lost years waiting for permission from the world.
590
But the permission he needed most was his own.
591
Later that evening, Peter came near him and said, I heard the news.
592
Lucas smiled and said, I got the job.
593
Peter said, no, you earned the job.
594
That sentence meant a lot, because Lucas knew it was true.
595
He had earned it through quiet work, through late nights, through small projects,
596
through fear, through mistakes, through learning, through trying when he did not feel ready.
597
A few weeks later, Lucas started working in the design department.
598
At first, everything felt difficult.
599
The projects were bigger, the standards were higher, the deadlines were serious.
600
Some people were more experienced than him.
601
Some designs were rejected.
602
Some meetings made him nervous.
603
But Lucas did not break.
604
Because now he understood that being uncomfortable does not mean you are in the wrong place.
605
Sometimes it means you are growing.
606
He asked questions.
607
He took notes.
608
He learned from senior designers.
609
He improved his skills.
610
He made mistakes, corrected them, and kept going.
611
He no longer said, I am not a real designer.
612
He said, I am becoming better.
613
That one sentence changed his life.
614
One afternoon, Rachel came to the main office for a new project.
615
When she saw Lucas at his desk, she smiled proudly.
616
She said, Look at you.
617
I told you that you were more ready than you believed.
618
Lucas laughed softly and said, I think I was waiting for someone else to tell me I was good enough.
619
Rachel asked, And now?
620
Lucas looked at his desk.
621
He looked at his designs.
622
He looked at the work he had once been too afraid to do.
623
Then he said, Now I understand that I also have to believe in myself.
624
Rachel smiled and said, That is where everything begins.
625
My friends, never underestimate yourself.
626
You may not be perfect today.
627
You may not have everything figured out.
628
You may still be learning.
629
You may still feel afraid.
630
You may still make mistakes.
631
But that does not mean you are weak.
632
That does not mean you are worthless.
633
That does not mean you have nothing inside you.
634
Sometimes your talent is hidden under fear.
635
Sometimes your confidence is buried under old failures.
636
Sometimes your dreams are covered by the words you keep saying to yourself.
637
I am not ready.
638
I am not good enough.
639
I am not talented.
640
Other people are better than me.
641
But what if you are wrong about yourself?
642
What if you are stronger than you think?
643
What if your small efforts are already building your future?
644
What if your quiet practice is preparing you for a bigger opportunity.
645
What if the thing you call small is actually the beginning of your new life?
646
Do not wait until you feel perfect.
647
Do not wait until all fear disappears.
648
Do not wait until everyone believes in you.
649
Start with what you have.
650
Use your small skill.
651
Take the small chance.
652
Speak the honest word.
653
Send the application.
654
Show your work.
655
Try the first step.
656
Because confidence does not always come before action.
657
Many times confidence comes after action.
658
You do something small.
659
Then you see proof.
660
Then you try again.
661
Then you become stronger.
662
That is how growth happens.
663
So stop insulting your own effort.
664
Stop calling your progress nothing.
665
Stop hiding your talent because it is not perfect yet.
666
Respect your journey.
667
Respect your learning.
668
Respect your courage.
669
Respect the version of you that keeps trying even when nobody claps.
670
The world may underestimate you sometimes.
671
People may ignore your effort.
672
They may not see your value in the beginning.
673
But do not make their mistake your belief.
674
Do not underestimate yourself, because your beginning may be small, but your future can be powerful.
675
You do not need to be perfect to begin.
676
You only need to believe that you are worth the chance.
677
And when you finally stop treating yourself like you are nothing, you give your real-life permission to begin.
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![[B1] What Mistake Taught You an Important Lesson? | English Listening & Speaking Practice](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iIXH6A9y3wM/mqdefault.jpg)
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[B1] What Mistake Taught You an Important Lesson? | English Listening & Speaking Practice
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Don’t Underestimate Yourself”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Lucas, design, looked, Rachel, customer. This video has 677 sentences and 5058 words to shadow. The speech runs for 38:40. The speaker talks at a steady 131 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.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| menu noun | /ˈmɛn.juː/ | The details of the food to be served at a banquet; a bill of fare. |
| bakery noun | /ˈbeɪ.kə.ɹi/ | A place in which bread (and often other baked goods such as cakes) is baked and/or sold. |
| underestimate verb | /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/ | To estimate too low; to perceive (someone or something) as having a lower value, quantity, worth, etc., than what he/she/it actually has. |
| layout noun | /ˈleɪ.aʊt/ | A structured arrangement of items within certain limits. |
| portfolio noun | /pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/ | A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents. |
| loyalty noun | /ˈlɔɪəlti/ | The state of being loyal; fidelity. |
| poster noun | /ˈpoʊstɚ/ | A picture of a celebrity, an event etc., intended to be attached to a wall. |
| logo noun | /ˈloʊ.ɡoʊ/ | A visual symbol or emblem that acts as a trademark or a means of identification of a company or organization. |
| flyer noun | /ˈflaɪə(ɹ)/ | That which flies, as a bird or insect. |
| laptop noun | /ˈlæp.tɑp/ | A laptop computer. |
| notebook noun | /ˈnoʊtˌbʊk/ | A book (physical or digital) in which notes or memoranda are written. |
| font noun | /fɑnt/ | In metal typesetting, a set of type sorts in one size. |
| insult noun | /ɪnˈsʌlt/ | Action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; (countable) a particular act or statement having this effect. |
| feedback noun | /ˈfiːdˌbæk/ | Critical assessment of a process or activity or of their results. |
| printer noun | /ˈpɹɪntɚ/ | One who makes prints. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. | |
| fill out verb | /fɪl ˈaʊt/ | To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information. |
| look down verb | To lower one's eyes; to direct one's look downwards. | |
| run away verb | To flee by running. | |
| step back verb | /stɛp ˈbæk/ | To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation. |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| walk away verb | To withdraw from a problematic situation. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- He thought, who am I to give advice?
- Can you help me make a new flyer?
- What do you sell the most?
- Who are your main customers?
- What do you want people to notice first?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If I don't like it, we will print |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | Man Who Thought · person who made · person who checked |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be improved · were not wasted · were rejected |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have seen · have underestimated · have worked |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: observation /ˌɑbzɚˈveɪʃn̩/, shine /ʃaɪn/, shake /ˈʃeɪk/, combinations /kɑmbɪˈneɪʃənz/, rejection /ɹɪˈd͡ʒɛkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: underestimate /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/, portfolio /pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/, embarrassment /ɪmˈbæɹ.əs.mənt/, combinations /kɑmbɪˈneɪʃənz/, advertisement /ˈædvɚˌtaɪzmənt/
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 menu, bakery, underestimate.
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.