Shadowing Practice: Handyman Went Wild with Credit Card - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Judge Judy: MS. KITTRELL, ACCORDING TO YOUR COMPLAINT, YOU HAD KNOWN THE DEFENDANT FOR SOME TIME.
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HE DID SOME HANDIWORK FOR YOU IN THE PAST.
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YOU HIRED HIM TO DO SOME RENOVATION OF A RENTAL PROPERTY THAT YOU BOUGHT.
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HE DID IT, AND, ACCORDING TO YOU, YOU GAVE HIM A CREDIT CARD TO USE FOR SUPPLIES, ET CETERA.
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AND WHEN THE JOB WAS DONE, YOU FOUND THAT SOME OF THE BILLS REFLECTED ITEMS THAT WERE CLEARLY NOT USED FOR YOUR PROPERTY.
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CORRECT.
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Judge Judy: YOU WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE ITEMS.
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NO, MA'AM, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME OTHER WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THE YARD, ALSO, PRESSURE-WASHING THE HOUSE, PUTTING SOME BLINDS UP, AND SOME OTHER STUFF.
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Judge Judy: SO, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THERE WAS NEVER A WRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAD OUTLAYING WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO FOR THAT $2,500.
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THERE WAS OTHER STUFF ADDED TO IT.
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Judge Judy: AFTER YOU HAD ALREADY STARTED.
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YES. Judge Judy: AND THE OTHER STUFF WAS PUTTING UP BLINDS, POWER-WASHING THE HOUSE.
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RIGHT. Judge Judy: WHAT ELSE?
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REPLACE SOME PAVERS IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
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Judge Judy: PAVERS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE THAT WERE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL WALK-THROUGH.
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RIGHT. Judge Judy: WHAT ELSE?
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PAINTING THE CLOSETS.
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Judge Judy: DID YOU PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE?
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I PAINTED THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, BUT IT WAS JUST TO PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE, NOT THE INSIDE OF THE CLOSETS.
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THEN, SHE'D COME BACK AND WANTED ALL THE CLOSETS PAINTED.
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Judge Judy: WELL, WHEN YOU WENT INSIDE AND LOOKED AT THE HOUSE, AND YOU SAID, "I CAN PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE," THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE INCLUDES CLOSETS.
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MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT.
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Judge Judy: WELL, THEN, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU'RE THE CONTRACTOR.
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SO, SO FAR, WE HAVE POWER-WASHING THE HOUSE THAT WASN'T PART OF THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.
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RIGHT. Judge Judy: IS THAT RIGHT?
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THAT'S CORRECT.
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Judge Judy: AND PAVERS.
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RIGHT. Judge Judy: IS THAT CORRECT?
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: AND PUTTING UP BLINDS.
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THAT WAS INCLUDED IN HIM REDOING THE HOUSE.
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Judge Judy: YOU PURCHASED THE BLINDS.
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NO, HE HAD MY CREDIT CARD.
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HE PURCHASED ALL OF THE SUPPLIES.
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Judge Judy: OKAY.
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SO, YOU PURCHASED THE BLINDS.
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: OKAY, SO, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAVERS AND POWER WASHING, AND HOW MUCH IS THAT?
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I WOULD PROBABLY SAY A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
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Judge Judy: WELL, YOU CAN'T SAY A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS.
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THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS.
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SAY $200.
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Judge Judy: THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS.
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: SO, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PAID $2,500.
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SO, NOW YOU SAY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID $2,700.
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: AND HOW MUCH DID YOU ACTUALLY GET FROM THE PLAINTIFF?
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$2,500 AND I BELIEVE IT WAS $300 ON THE OTHER HOUSE THAT I HAD REPLACED -- Judge Judy: NO, NO, NO.
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WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOTH HOUSES TOGETHER.
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: HOW MUCH DID -- $2,500.
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Judge Judy: IS THAT WHAT YOU GOT?
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: GAVE HIM $2,500.
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: WHAT DO YOU THINK HE STOLE FROM YOU?
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WHEN I RECEIVED MY CREDIT-CARD BILL, THERE WERE CASH-ADVANCE CHARGES WITH A FEE TO IT.
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Judge Judy: LET ME SEE THAT, PLEASE.
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THE UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES ARE IN PINK.
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Judge Judy: WHAT'S BEACH EXPRESS, ORANGE BEACH?
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THAT WAS THE TOLL BRIDGE.
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Judge Judy: FOR WHAT?
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TO GO ACROSS THE TOLL BRIDGE BECAUSE I HAD TO GO GET SOME MATERIALS THAT WAY, AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CASH ON ME, AND I DID DO THAT.
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Judge Judy: WHAT'S $300 WELLS FARGO?
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THAT LOOKS LIKE A CASH ADVANCE.
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I HAVEN'T A CLUE.
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Judge Judy: THEN, THERE'S ANOTHER CASH ADVANCE, ALSO IN DECEMBER, FOR $300.
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AND ANOTHER CASH ADVANCE FOR $300.
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AND ANOTHER CASH ADVANCE FOR $200.
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ANOTHER CASH ADVANCE FOR $200.
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NOW, THESE CASH ADVANCES WERE MADE ON THE SAME DATE THAT YOU WERE DRIVING OVER AND PAID WITH HER CREDIT CARD TO GET OVER AT THE TOLL BRIDGE.
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SO, THEN, THESE CASH -- I HAVEN'T A CLUE.
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Judge Judy: WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I'M GONNA SHOW THEM TO YOU, MR. WYCOFF...
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YES, MA'AM.
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Judge Judy: ...BECAUSE ORDINARILY WHAT YOU SAY IS, YOU GAVE HER BACK HER CREDIT CARD.
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YOU TOOK IT JUST FOR THE DAY, WHEN YOU NEEDED TO GO BUY SUPPLIES.
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SO, YOU NEVER REALLY HAD IT.
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BUT THAT'S A LIE, BECAUSE ON DECEMBER 13th, YOU MADE A CASH WITHDRAWAL FOR $300.
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THE DAY BEFORE, YOU HAD THE CARD BECAUSE YOU WERE ON THE TOLL BRIDGE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE CASH FOR.
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NOW, THE NEXT TIME YOU WERE ON THE TOLL BRIDGE WAS THE 18th OF DECEMBER, AND ON THAT SAME DATE THERE'S ANOTHER CASH WITHDRAWAL, OF $300.
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NOW, ON THE 19th, YOU WERE AT THE BUILDERS, BECAUSE YOU BOUGHT SUPPLIES FOR $49.58.
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THE VERY NEXT DAY, THERE'S ANOTHER CASH WITHDRAWAL.
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HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN ALL OF THOSE?
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I CAN'T.
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Judge Judy: YEAH, YOU CAN'T.
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I CAN. WHAT'S BALDWIN EMC WINE?
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I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.
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Judge Judy: WELL, THAT WAS THE SAME DAY THAT YOU TOOK OUT A CASH ADVANCE, SAME DAY YOU WENT OVER THE TOLL BRIDGE WITH HER CARD.
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
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I BELIEVE THAT'S THE POWER COMPANY.
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Judge Judy: THE POWER COMPANY?
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MM-HMM. BALDWIN EMC.
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Judge Judy: DID YOU PAY YOUR POWER BILL?
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NO. Judge Judy: YEAH, NO.
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JUDGMENT FOR THE PLAINTIFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,487.
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THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL.
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THANK YOU.

Context & Background

The dialogue in the video portrays a dispute between two parties, focusing on renovations made by a handyman. The plaintiff, Ms. Kittrell, claims that the handyman exceeded the agreed-upon work and expenses she had allowed, using her credit card for items unrelated to the renovated property. The exchanges highlight the importance of clear communication and written agreements in contractual relationships. This scenario is not only a lesson in handyman services but also a rich source for English learners seeking to understand negotiation, complaint resolution, and everyday interactions in business contexts.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I need you to clarify..." – A polite way to ask for more information or detail.
  • "That was not part of our agreement." – Useful for addressing misunderstandings in a conversation.
  • "How much is that?" – A straightforward way to inquire about costs, an essential part of negotiations.
  • "I believe there has been a misunderstanding." – A calming phrase that can help de-escalate a heated discussion.
  • "Can we reach a compromise?" – This phrase encourages collaborative problem-solving.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively practice your English speaking skills using the content from this video, consider employing the shadowing technique, which involves imitating the speech patterns, intonation, and pronunciation of the speakers. Follow these steps for a fruitful exercise:

  1. Listen carefully: Play the video or audio clip, focusing on the judges' and participants' voices, paying close attention to how they articulate the phrases and terms.
  2. Practice repeating: After listening to a short segment, pause and repeat what you heard, imitating the tone and rhythm. This is an effective technique for enhancing pronunciation and fluency.
  3. Use feedback: Record yourself while shadowing, then listen back to compare your attempts against the original. This self-assessment helps in recognizing areas for improvement.
  4. Apply vocabulary: Integrate the phrases you've learned into your daily conversations or written exercises. This practice reinforces memory and comprehension, essential for tests like the IELTS.
  5. Engage in role-play: With a partner or in a group setting, role-play similar disputes or negotiations to implement the conversation contextually. It’s an excellent way to practice in a realistic atmosphere.

Utilizing these strategies on a shadowing site focusing on real conversations can significantly improve your speaking abilities and prepare you for real-world interactions. Embrace the challenge and continually enhance your skills through this engaging method of 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.