Shadowing Practice: Emily in Paris | Emily's First Day (2) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hi!
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Hello!
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Bonjour, I'm Emily Cooper from the Gilbert Group in Chicago.
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You are...
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I'm sorry I don't understand.
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I'm going to be working in this office.
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I'm going to work in this office.
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My American girl is here.
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Hello.
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I don't expect you before tomorrow.
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Yeah, I was told the American coming here spoke French.
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That was Madeline.
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Oh, so you're not Madeleine.
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I'm Emily.
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Emily Cooper.
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And I am so excited to be here.
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Well, that's very unfortunate.
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Excuse me?
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That you don't speak French.
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It's a problem.
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Well, I'm going to take a class, but je parle un peu Francais already.
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Well, perhaps it's better not to try.
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Paul, may I introduce Emily, the American girl who's come to work with us?
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This is Monsieur Brossard.
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He's the founder of Savoie.
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Emily Cooper.
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Hello.
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It is so nice to meet you, Mr. Broussard.
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It's a pleasure.
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Welcome to Paris.
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So, you've come to teach the French some American tricks?
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I'm sure we have a lot to learn from each other.
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But your experience is not with fashion and luxury brands.
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True.
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Most of my experience has been in promoting pharmaceuticals and geriatric care facilities. In Chicago?
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Yes.
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I was in Chicago once, and I ate the deep dish pizza.
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That is our specialty.
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We take a lot of pride.
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It was dégueulasse.
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How do you say it?
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Disgusting.
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Like a quiche made of cement.
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And the people are so fat.
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Why are they all so fat?
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Well, perhaps from the disgusting food.
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True.
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We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic.
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In fact, Merck was one of our biggest clients.
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They make a diabetes drug that we marketed the heck out of.
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Sales went up 63%.
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So you create the disease, then you treat the disease, and then you market the treatments of the disease.
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Well, perhaps stop eating.
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There is no money in that.
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True.
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Cigarettes cause diabetes and cancer.
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Yes.
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Well, smoking is a pleasure, and without pleasure.
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Who are we?
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German.
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Exactly right.
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All of the brands we market here, from perfume to cognac to couture, are all to do with beauty and refinement.
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Perhaps you have something to learn from us, but I'm not sure if we have much to learn from you.
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With all due respect, I have been sent here for a reason, So if you wouldn't mind, I would really like to share some of my ideas about your social media strategies.
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You mean the Twitter and the Snapchat?
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Yes, and the Instagram.
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By all means.

Context & Background

In the "Emily in Paris" scene featuring Emily Cooper, viewers witness the American protagonist's experience on her first day in a Parisian office. Emily, originally from Chicago, is assigned to a prestigious company that operates in the fashion and luxury sector. However, her lack of fluency in French creates a challenging environment, which is a central theme of the dialogue. The contrast between her American background and the French workplace culture showcases not only her excitement but also the misunderstandings that arise from language differences.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Hello, I’m Emily Cooper.” - A simple introduction that helps establish your identity.
  • “I’m going to work in this office.” - A practical phrase for sharing your professional intentions.
  • “I don’t expect you before tomorrow.” - Useful for discussing timelines and expectations with colleagues.
  • “I was told the American coming here spoke French.” - Helps to communicate about preconceptions or assumptions about language skills.
  • “It is so nice to meet you.” - A polite and universally applicable phrase during introductions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English speaking skills using the shadowing technique, follow these steps with the dialogue from this "Emily in Paris" transcript:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video and listen carefully to the dialogue. Pay attention to Emily's intonation and pronunciation, especially when she expresses excitement about being in Paris.
  2. Repeat After the Speaker: Using shadowspeak, pause the video after each phrase and attempt to repeat it as closely as possible. Focus on Emily's enthusiasm and how she conveys her message.
  3. Record Yourself: After shadowing a few phrases, record your voice. Compare your pronunciation to Emily's to identify areas for improvement.
  4. Practice in Context: Formulate your own sentences using the phrases identified. For example, introduce yourself in different scenarios or discuss your work-related experiences.
  5. Integrate Feedback: If possible, share your recordings with a language partner or teacher who can provide constructive feedback on your pronunciation and spoken fluency.

Using the shadowing technique can significantly improve English pronunciation. By practicing with authentic dialogues such as this one, you can gain confidence in your speaking abilities and sound more natural in conversations. Remember, consistency is key in mastering any language skill, so incorporate shadow speech into your daily practice.

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.