Shadowing Practice: English at Work | How to Speak Confidently in Meetings - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hi friends!
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Welcome back to Daily English Talk.
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Hey everyone!
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I'm Tom and this is Lily and we are your English learning friends.
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We are so happy you found us.
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If you want to work, travel, or live abroad,
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This conversation will help you.
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And today, oh, today is a really fun one.
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It is.
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We are talking about work meetings in English.
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Yes, phrases you need, vocabulary you must know, and some very important expressions for sounding professional at work.
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And maybe some expressions for when you are not very professional at work.
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Hmm, I wonder who that could be about.
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Let's just move on.
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If you want the transcript, vocabulary, and slow audio version, check the Join button below.
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But before we start, we have a question for you.
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Really?
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Really, Tom.
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In today's episode, Tom does something at the meeting that is a little embarrassing.
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Why do you always say it like that?
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Because it's true.
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So here is the question for you.
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What do you think Tom forgot to bring to the meeting?
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Write your answer in the comments.
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I can't believe this is my life.
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So Tom, let's talk about our first big work meeting together.
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Do you remember it?
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I remember it, unfortunately.
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It was our first week at the company.
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We had a team meeting at 9 :00 AM.
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9 :00 AM, in the morning.
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Is that a problem?
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For a normal human being, no. For me?
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Absolutely yes.
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Okay, so I arrived at the meeting room at 8 .55.
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I had my notebook, my pen, my laptop.
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Okay, okay, we get it.
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You were perfect.
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I had printed the agenda.
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I had prepared questions.
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I had a highlighter.
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She had a highlighter.
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I like to be prepared.
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Meanwhile, I walked in at 9 .07.
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9 .07?
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With a cup of coffee.
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No notebook.
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No pen.
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said what did you say i said
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so what are we talking about today he said he actually
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said what are we talking about today our manager looked at me she looked at me for a very long time
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she was so quiet it was the longest five seconds of my life
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but you know what tom survived he learned and today he is going to help you learn too that's right
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Learn from my mistakes, people.
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Alright, before our main vocabulary section, let's talk about grammar.
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Today's grammar focus is the past simple tense, because we use it a lot when we talk about meetings and work events.
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The past simple.
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Very important.
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We use the past simple to talk about finished actions in the past.
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Things that happened and are now complete.
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Like, "I arrived at the meeting." Exactly!
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"I arrived." That's past simple.
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Here are the forms.
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For regular verbs, we add "ed." So, arrive, arrived.
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Prepare, prepared.
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Join, joined.
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For regular verbs, the form changes.
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For example, go, went. have, had.
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Say, said, forget, forgot.
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Forgot!
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Very relevant to today's episode.
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Very relevant.
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Now let's look at some examples from our conversation.
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I walked into the meeting at 9 :07.
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Past simple.
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Walk, walked.
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She looked at me for a very long time.
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Past simple.
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Look, looked.
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I said, "What are we talking about today?" Past simple.
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Say, said.
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Perfect!
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So when you talk about a meeting that already happened, use past simple: arrived, prepared, said, forgot, presented.
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Now let's learn some fantastic meeting vocabulary.
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If you enjoyed this video, want to support the channel, you can send a super thanks.
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Your support helps me keep making slow and easy English videos.
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Okay everyone, today we have eight essential words and phrases for work meetings.
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These are words you will hear and use again and again.
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Are you ready?
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Let's go!
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Word number one: Say it with us.
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Agenda.
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An agenda is a list of topics for the meeting.
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It tells everyone what you will discuss and in what order.
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A very useful document that some people read before the meeting.
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And some people do not.
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I did not read the agenda.
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I didn't even know there was an agenda.
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So what happened?
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So the first topic on the agenda was the new project deadline.
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And everyone looked at me and said, "Tom, what do you think?" Oh no. And I said, and I'm not proud of this,
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I said, "I think it sounds good." You didn't even know what the deadline was.
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I had no idea.
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I was just smiling and nodding like a very confident, very empty person.
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Thank you.
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Use the agenda, everyone.
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Read the agenda.
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Example sentence.
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Please read the agenda before the meeting.
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Agenda.
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Say it one more time.
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Agenda.
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Word number two, to take notes.
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To take notes.
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Repeat, to take notes.
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To take notes means to write down important information during the meeting.
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If only I had done this.
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Tom, did you take notes at our first meeting?
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No pen?
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I borrowed a pen from my colleague Janet, but Janet's pen was purple, and I had no notebook, so I took notes on a paper coffee cup.
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On a coffee cup!
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A purple pen on a coffee cup.
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Very professional.
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Our manager saw it.
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She saw everything.
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So everyone, always bring a pen and notebook.
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Example sentence, can you take notes during today's meeting?
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To take notes.
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notes word number three to present to present to present to present means to show
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or explain something to a group at a meeting you might present your ideas your results
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or a plan lily do you remember the first time you presented at work oh yes i was nervous
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but i prepared
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so much i made slides i practiced at home i even timed myself you practiced at home three times
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and when i presented i felt Meanwhile, my first presentation, I pressed the wrong button on the computer and my screen went black.
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The whole screen?
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Black screen in front of 12 people.
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Complete silence.
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What did you do?
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I said, "And that is the end of my presentation," and I sat down.
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You just sat down.
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Sometimes you just have to commit.
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Example sentence: Tom will present the new sales numbers on Friday. To present. To present.
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Word number four: deadline.
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D -E -A -D -L -I -N -E.
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Deadline.
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Say it, deadline.
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the date or time when something must be finished.
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Very important in any job.
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Very, very important.
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Tom, do you have a story about a deadline?
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Do I have a story?
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Last year I had a report with a deadline on Friday at 5 o 'clock. And?
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I thought the deadline was next Friday.
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Oh, no!
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My manager called me at 4 :45 on Friday and said, "Tom, where is your report?" What did you say?
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I said, "It is almost finished," and then I wrote the entire report in 11 minutes.
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11 minutes?
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Was it my best work?
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No. Did it exist?
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Yes.
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Example sentence: The deadline for this project is next Monday.
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Deadline.
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Deadline.
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Word number five: To participate. To participate.
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Repeat, to participate.
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To participate means to take part in something, to be active.
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In a meeting, you participate by sharing ideas, asking questions, and giving your opinion.
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Lily, you always participate in meetings, right?
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I try to.
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I think it's important to speak up.
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Even if your idea is not perfect, it's good to share it.
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I agree now, but at first I was very quiet in meetings.
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Really?
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You seem so confident.
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I was scared.
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My English was okay, but in a big meeting with many people, I was terrified.
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Ah, that's so honest, Tom.
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But then, one day, I shared an idea, a very small idea, and my manager said, "That's a great point, Tom," and everything changed.
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You see?
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That's why you participate.
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You never know when your idea will be the best idea.
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Example sentence: Everyone should participate and share their ideas. To participate. To participate.
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Word number six, to postpone. To postpone.
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Repeat, to postpone.
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To postpone means to move something to a later time, to delay it.
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Tom, I feel like you have experience with this word.
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I do not postpone things.
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Tom, the team lunch last month.
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I postponed times.
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The first time, I had a dentist appointment.
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The second time, I forgot.
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The third time… Yes?
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I postponed it because I didn't know where to make the reservation.
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He didn't know where to book!
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It worked out!
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We went to a great pasta place eventually.
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Example sentence: The meeting is postponed.
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We will meet next Tuesday instead. To postpone. To postpone.
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Word number seven, to wrap up.
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To wrap up, Say it with us to wrap up.
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To wrap up means to finish or conclude.
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At the end of a meeting, the person in charge wraps up.
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They summarize what was discussed and what happens next.
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Is wrapping up hard?
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It can feel awkward at first.
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You have to be clear and confident.
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You say things like, "Okay, let's wrap up," or, "To wrap up, here are the next steps." The first time I tried to wrap up a meeting, nobody listened.
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What?
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I said, "Okay, let's wrap up," and two people just kept talking.
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What did you do?
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I said it again, louder.
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Let's wrap up!
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And then everyone looked at me.
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Did they stop?
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"Yes, but one person said, Are you okay, Tom?
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They thought something was wrong.
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I just wanted to go to lunch.
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Example sentence: "Okay everyone, let's wrap up.
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Our next meeting is Thursday." to wrap up, to wrap up.
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And word number eight, to follow up.
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To follow up.
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Repeat to follow up.
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To follow up means to check on something after a meeting.
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After a meeting, you might send an email or message to follow up on decisions or tasks.
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Following up is so professional.
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It shows you are organized and responsible.
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It really does.
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When you follow up, people trust you more.
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Do you always follow up now, Tom?
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I do.
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After every meeting, I send a short email.
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I write the decisions we made, the tasks for each person, and the deadline.
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Tom, you've grown so much.
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I know, I know, from coffee cup notes to professional follow -up emails.
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That is a glow up.
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Example sentence: I will follow up with everyone by email after the meeting.
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to follow up to follow up.
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Okay, let's do a quick summary of today's lesson.
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Today we talked about eight essential words and phrases for work meetings.
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Number one, agenda, the list of topics.
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Number two, to take notes, write down important information.
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Number three, to present, show or explain something to the group.
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Number four, deadline, the time when something must be finished.
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Number five, to participate, be active and share your ideas.
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to postpone, move something to a later time.
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Number seven, to wrap up, finish or conclude the meeting.
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And number eight, to follow up, check on things after the meeting.
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Practice these words, use them at work, use them with friends, use them every day.
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And remember, even if you make mistakes, you learn, right?
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Absolutely.
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Every meeting is a chance to get better.
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Now we want to hear from you.
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Have you ever been to a work meeting in English?
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Or maybe a school meeting?
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A team meeting?
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What was it like?
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Was it scary?
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Was it fun?
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Did you forget something important?
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Write your story in the comments.
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We read every single one.
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And if you learned a new word today, write it down and tell us which word was your favorite.
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Mine is agenda because I always have an agenda.
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Mine is postpone for personal reasons.
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Alright everyone, thank you so much for watching today's episode of Daily English Talk.
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If this video helped you, please give it a thumbs up.
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It really helps our channel grow.
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And don't forget to subscribe!
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We upload a brand new English lesson every single day.
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Every day!
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That's right, every day!
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So hit that subscribe button so you never miss one.
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You are doing amazing!
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Every word you learn, every video you watch, it all adds up!
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Keep going.
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Keep practicing.
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You are better today than you were yesterday.
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We'll see you in the next episode.
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Bye, everyone!
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Bye -bye!
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Context & Background
In today's globalized work environment, effective communication is paramount, especially during meetings. The dialogue between Tom and Lily highlights the importance of preparation and professionalism in work-related discussions. As they share their experiences about their first team meeting, it becomes clear how confidence in speaking English can significantly impact your work life. This transcript serves as an excellent framework for English learners looking to improve their skills in practical situations like meetings and presentations.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Can we circle back to…” - This phrase is useful for returning to a previously discussed topic, showcasing your ability to keep discussions focused.
- “To summarize…” - A great way to encapsulate discussions and ensure everyone is on the same page, reinforcing your leadership skills.
- “I’d like to hear your thoughts on…” - This expression demonstrates that you value your colleagues' opinions, fostering collaboration.
- “Let’s take that offline.” - Use this when you want to address complex issues outside the meeting, showing your preference for productive discussions.
- “Could you clarify that point?” - This phrase shows that you are engaged and seeking understanding, which is crucial in professional settings.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To master the art of speaking confidently in meetings, try the shadowing technique, which is particularly beneficial for IELTS speaking practice. Here’s how to effectively use the shadowspeak method based on the video:
- Choose a segment: Select a short portion of the video, focusing on Tom and Lily’s discussion about the meeting.
- Listen carefully: Play the segment while paying close attention to pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Understanding these nuances is key to delivering your lines confidently.
- Repeat aloud: Mimic the speakers as you listen. This shadow speech practice will help you train your mouth to form the English sounds more naturally.
- Record yourself: After practicing, record your voice. Listening to your pronunciation will help you identify areas for improvement.
- Practice regularly: Incorporate this into your daily English speaking practice. Over time, you will notice a significant improvement in your fluency and confidence.
By consistently practicing these techniques, you can enhance your communication skills in a professional environment, making you more effective and confident during meetings. Remember, the journey to fluency is gradual, but with dedication and the right practices, you will achieve your goals.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be prepared · must be finished · was terrified |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | keep making · kept talking · Keep practicing |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might present · might send |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the longest · the best |
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.