Shadowing Practice: Explaining Your Job To Your Boomer Boss | Mr. Robot - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Explaining Your Job To Your Boomer Boss”. This video has 43 sentences and 280 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:29. The speaker talks at a steady 112 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. 8 of its 43 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pipe noun | /ˈpaɪp/ | A wind instrument consisting of a tube, often lined with holes to allow for adjustment in pitch, sounded by blowing into the tube. |
| breach noun | /ˈbɹiːt͡ʃ/ | A gap or opening made by breaking or battering, as in a wall, fortification or levee / embankment; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by violence. |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| terminal noun | /ˈtɚmɪnəl/ | A building in an airport where passengers transfer from ground transportation to the facilities that allow them to board airplanes. |
| agenda noun | /əˈd͡ʒɛn.də/ | A temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to. |
| laptop noun | /ˈlæp.tɑp/ | A laptop computer. |
| technically adverb | /ˈtɛk.nɪˌkəl.i/ | Based on precise facts, which, however, may be contrary to common belief or casual terminology. |
| configuration noun | /kənˌfɪɡ.əˈɹeɪ̯.ʃən/ | The form of a thing, as depending on the relative placement of the parts of a thing's shape. |
| packet noun | /ˈpæk.ɪt/ | A small pack or package; a little bundle or parcel |
| savvy adjective | /ˈsæv.i/ | Shrewd, well-informed and perceptive. |
| decrypt verb | /dɪˈkɹɪpt/ | To convert (an encrypted or coded message) back into plain text. |
| gait noun | /ɡeɪt/ | A manner of walking or stepping; a bearing or carriage while moving on legs. |
| instruct verb | /ɪnˈstɹʌkt/ | To teach by giving instructions. |
| rootkit noun | A set of software tools used by a third party to gain unauthorized access to a computer system and control the system while concealing itself from the user. | |
| technicals noun | Technical details. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| leave off verb | To omit. |
| look through verb | To take a view of the contents of; search in, either with the eyes or by hand. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What do we got?
- You're the one who stopped the hack.
- Why didn't anyone pipe in from their laptops?
- She's not gonna work out for us.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as you'll, can't, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: technically /ˈtɛk.nɪˌkəl.i/, configuration /kənˌfɪɡ.əˈɹeɪ̯.ʃən/
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 pipe, breach, arrive.
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.