Shadowing Practice: Effortless English - Drag - Audio - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Drag.
⏸ Paused
93 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Drag.
2
High price of mom's help is drag on family business.
3
Dear Abby, 20 years ago,
4
my sister and I bought a business from our mother.
5
We all love and respect one another and get along well.
6
We will be finished paying off the business in two years.
7
Our problem.
8
Mom who is now 77 still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business.
9
Her workload has lessened greatly as it should.
10
She could do all of her work in one day and lessen the burden of her salary.
11
However, she says she'd go crazy if she retired.
12
We don't want that.
13
She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork,
14
banking, letter writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at work on the clock.
15
If we try to discuss this,
16
mom gets hurt and says,
17
just let me know when I'm not worth the money.
18
We don't want to do that.
19
We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.
20
Business expenses are going through the roof and there are updates we should make.
21
But we can't do it as long as we are paying mom at the level we are,
22
on top of the money for the buyout.
23
Signed, Daughter's Dearest.
24
Drag.
25
High price of mom's help is drag on family business.
26
Dear Abby, Twenty years ago,
27
my sister and I bought a business from our mother.
28
We all love and respect one another and get along well.
29
We will be finished paying off the business in two years.
30
Our problem.
31
Mom, who is now 77,
32
still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business.
33
Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should.
34
She could do all of her work in one day and lessen the burden of her salary.
35
However, she says she'd go crazy if she retired.
36
We don't want that.
37
She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork,
38
banking, letter writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at work on the clock.
39
If we try to discuss this,
40
mom gets hurt and says,
41
Just let me know when I'm not worth the money.
42
We don't want to do that.
43
We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.
44
Business expenses are going through the roof and there are updates we should make.
45
We can't do it as long as we are paying mom at the level we are,
46
on top of the money for the buyout.
47
Signed, Daughter's Dearest.
48
Drag.
49
High price of mom's help is drag on family business.
50
Dear Abby, 20 years ago my sister and I bought a business from our mother.
51
We all love and respect one another and get along well.
52
We will be finished paying off the business in two years.
53
Our problem.
54
Mom, who is now 77,
55
still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business.
56
Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should.
57
She could do all of her work in one day and lessen the burden of her salary.
58
However, she says she'd go crazy if she retired.
59
We don't want that.
60
She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork,
61
banking, letter writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at work on the clock.
62
If we try to discuss this,
63
mom gets hurt and says,
64
just let me know when I'm not worth the money.
65
We don't want to do that.
66
We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.
67
expenses are going through the roof and there are updates we should make
68
but we can't do it as long as we are paying
69
mom at the level we are on top of the money for the buyout signed daughter's dearest
70
Drag.
71
High price of mom's help is drag on family business.
72
Dear Abby, 20 years ago,
73
my sister and I bought a business from our mother.
74
We all love and respect one another and get along well.
75
We will be finished paying off the business in two years.
76
Our problem.
77
Mom, who is now 77,
78
still draws a salary from us above and beyond the payment for the business.
79
Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should.
80
She could do all of her work in one day and lessen the burden of her salary.
81
However, she says she'd go crazy if she retired.
82
We don't want that.
83
She could still come in as often as she wants and do her personal paperwork,
84
banking, letter writing, reading, etc. These are all things she does at work on the clock.
85
If we try to discuss this,
86
mom gets hurt and says,
87
just let me know when I'm not worth the money.
88
We don't want to do that.
89
We would hope she would see the fairness of this and suggest it herself.
90
Business expenses are going through the roof and there are updates we should make.
91
But we can't do it as long as we are paying mom at the level we are,
92
on top of the money for the buyout.
93
Signed, Daughters Dearest.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage in a detailed discussion about family businesses, generational relationships, and the complexities that arise in such settings. The transcript highlights a heartfelt letter to advice columnists, reflecting on a family dynamic that affects both personal and professional relationships. Through this content, English learners will practice their english speaking practice by improving their vocabulary and understanding of nuanced dialogues. This lesson also serves as an excellent context for IELTS speaking practice, focusing on real-life scenarios that can appear in oral examinations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Drag: A burden or hindrance that slows down progress.
  • Salary: A fixed regular payment made by an employer to an employee.
  • Workload: The amount of work assigned to a person or group.
  • Retire: To stop working, usually because of age.
  • Fairness: The quality of treating people equally without favoritism.
  • Business expenses: The costs related to the operation of a business.
  • Updates: Changes or improvements made to enhance a situation or process.

Practice Tips

To enhance your english speaking practice using this video, implement the shadowing technique. Begin by listening closely to the audio at a slower speed, allowing yourself to absorb the tone and rhythm of the conversation. Then, play it at normal speed. While listening, repeat the sentences aloud, mimicking the speaker's pronunciation and intonation—this is effective for mastering sounds and expressions in English. Focus on phrases like "high price," "less workload," and "personal paperwork," as they are directly relevant in everyday conversations. This will enhance your understanding of the dialogue while giving you practical skills for discussions on related topics.

Finally, remember that practicing with real-world scenarios, such as this letter, can improve your confidence in speaking. Utilize learn English with YouTube for immersive practice and adaptability in various conversational contexts, making your preparation for IELTS speaking practice both engaging and effective.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee