Shadowing Practice: How to Start a Professional Presentation in English | Real Business Meeting Listening & Speaking - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hello everyone and welcome to EnglishPod.

My name is Marco.

My name is Catherine and today we have the beginning of a very long series on giving a presentation.

So this series is at the intermediate level, right Marco?

That's right.

It's part of our business series.

We previously took a look at how to go upon an interview.

Now we're going to talk about presentation.

So everything about a presentation.

How to give a presentation, language you can use in a presentation, and a lot of other things like this this.

That's right.

So today we're going to talk about the very beginning of a presentation.

Let's take a listen to this dialogue and we'll be back in a moment.

Hi everyone.

Can everyone hear me?

Can you guys at the back hear everything?

I think all of you know why we are here this afternoon.

As most of you are aware, 2010 marks an important moment for alpha computers.

We have bounced back from the recession and now we are set to launch our new line of laptop and desktop computers.

I'm really pleased to welcome Michael Ford, the global marketing manager for Alpha Computers, who has flown in from California to give all of you an overview of the marketing campaign

and to answer any questions you may have.

So please give a warm welcome to Mr. Ford.

Thank you Jonathan.

It really is a pleasure to be here today.

It has been three years since I visited Beijing

and it's clear to me that operations here are obviously going from strength to strength.

The Alpha brand continues to grow in leaps and bounds in China, and that is certainly down to the hard work of all of you here.

So congratulations to all of you!

I'd like to start by outlining the key points of my presentation this afternoon

and giving you an idea of the topics that will be discussed.

The presentation today is divided into five main parts.

First of all, I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line, how the whole concept has come about and how the new product fits into our existing brand line.

Secondly, I'd like to present data on projected sales for the X420.

We will then go on to discuss our key rivals in this sector.

Then I'd like to go on to outline the campaign concept for the X420.

Finally, I'm happy to open up the discussion for any questions or points you may have for me.

All right, we're back.

So as you can see, it's the very beginning of a presentation.

We're kind of starting to give people an idea of what we're going to talk about.

So let's take a look at some of the language Mr. Ford used on Language Takeaway.

Language Takeaway.

So the reason Mr. Ford is giving a presentation is

because he wants to talk about the company's new line of computers, right?

And so he says that they're going to launch a new line of desktop and laptop computers.

That's right.

So they want to launch a new line of laptops.

So this verb to launch means to bring out to the market.

That's right.

So instead of the word to start, which you could use in many different ways, like to start eating or to start swimming.

In this case, to launch means you're going to introduce a new product to the market, like you said, Marco.

That's right.

We are going to start selling to the market a new product.

We're going to launch a new line of laptop and desktop computers.

For example, this spring, Steve Jobs launched the iPad, which is a new product.

That's right.

So he launched the iPad and the iPhone 4.

They're always launching new things at Apple.

That's right.

All right.

So since they're launching this new line of laptop and desktop computers,

Mr. Ford first wanted to give a brief overview of the marketing campaign okay

so first of all we're going to talk about how this product is being marketed

so you want to give a general picture

or very simple picture of what's going to happen

so at the beginning this will happen then this will happen at the end this will happen

and that's what we call an overview that's right

so it's a it's a brief

or general idea of what we're talking about an overview nothing

too specific we just I just want to give you a general idea.

That's right.

After that, Mr. Ford starts talking and he's talking about the presentation, which has many parts, and he wants to talk about what each part will contain.

So he says, I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line.

So this verb, to touch on.

What does this mean?

Okay.

So when he says he wants to touch on the background of this new computer, he's basically saying I want to talk about.

Alright, so this is this is potentially very confusing

because we know the word to touch means to put your hand on something, but to touch on, this is a phrasal verb, this means to talk about or to address.

That's right, so for example a teacher at a university will touch on many topics during his lecture.

That's That's right.

Or I'd like to touch on where we're going to dinner tonight because I'm very hungry.

Okay.

So basically, it's a nice way of saying I want to talk about this topic.

Okay.

And then apart from touching on the background of the new computer, he said he also wants to talk about projected sales for this new computer.

Okay.

So projected sales.

This phrase includes two words.

Sales means how much of something you sell, obviously.

But projected means what you expect to sell.

So the projected sales have not happened yet.

They will happen in the future.

And so they're basically my guess about sales.

That's right.

So basically we are giving an estimate of what we think we will sell.

Those are projected sales.

We think we will sell a thousand computers.

Those are our projected sales.

Right.

100

And after that, we have one more key word.

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This word comes to the very end of the speech.

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Mr. Ford says, we will then go on to discuss our key rivals.

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Now, who is a rival, Marco?

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Okay.

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So a rival is basically your competitor or maybe kind of your enemy.

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All right.

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So in computers, who is Apple's rival?

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Maybe HP or IBM or Dell.

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Very good.

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So a rival is someone you compete with.

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That's right.

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So he's going to talk about his key rivals.

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So basically, the word key is your most important rivals.

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All right.

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So, for example, who is one of Batman's key rivals?

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Because we have rivals not just in business, but also in life.

117

That's right.

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So, for example, I think maybe Batman's key rival might be the Joker.

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Or the Penguin.

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Or the Penguin.

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All right.

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So let's take another listen to today's dialogue, and we'll be back in a moment with some very important phrases.

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Hi, everyone can everyone hear me can you guys at the

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back hear everything I think all of you know why we

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are here this afternoon as most of you are aware 2010

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marks an important moment for alpha computers we have bounced back from the recession

127

and now we are set to launch our new line of laptop

128

and desktop computers I'm really pleased to welcome Michael Ford the global marketing manager for alpha Computers,

129

who has flown in from California to give all of you an overview of the marketing campaign

130

and to answer any questions you may have.

131

So please, give a warm welcome to Mr. Ford.

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Thank you, Jonathan.

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It really is a pleasure to be here today.

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It has been three years since I visited Beijing, and it's clear to me that operations here are obviously going from strength to strength.

135

The Alpha brand continues to grow in leaps and bounds in China, and that is certainly down to the hard work of all of you here.

136

So congratulations to all of you!

137

I'd like to start by outlining the key points of my presentation this afternoon

138

and giving you an idea of the topics that will be discussed.

139

The presentation today is divided into five main parts.

140

First of all, I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line, how the whole concept has come about and how the new product fits into our existing brand line.

141

Secondly, I'd like to present data on projected sales for the X420.

142

We will then go on to discuss our key rivals in this sector.

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Then I'd like to go on to outline the campaign concept for the X420.

144

Finally, I'm happy to open up the discussion for any questions or points you may have for me.

145

Alright, so we've prepared three phrases for you.

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Let's take a look at those now on Fluency Builder.

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builder.

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So this first phrase is really important because it's about the part of the speech that happens before the speech begins.

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You know, usually you have a person who's going to talk about something, but you also have someone who introduces that person.

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That's right.

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This is John.

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He's going to talk about computers.

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He's very smart.

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Listen to everything he says.

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So we usually hear the phrase, let's give a warm welcome to.

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Yes, this is a very nice way of presenting someone.

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So So obviously this person is talking to a group of people, and he's introducing Mr. Ford.

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So he says, let's give a warm welcome to Mr. Ford.

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So that's saying, let's clap, let's say hello to him.

160

That's right.

161

So like you said, this is an invitation to clap.

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You have to clap when you hear this.

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Warm welcome means let's be nice to him, let's all smile and encourage him.

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You know, you think about it.

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Someone who's going to give a speech is probably nervous, and so this helps them feel comfortable.

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That's right.

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So it's a very nice way if you're maybe presenting someone who's going to talk, you can say, let's give a warm welcome to whoever you're presenting.

168

Okay, now when Mr. Ford was talking, he mentioned this very interesting phrase about operations.

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He said, it's clear to me that operations here are obviously going from strength to strength.

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Okay, so that means things are going well.

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You do one thing, you do it well.

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You move on to another thing, you do that well as well.

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Okay, so that's what it means from strength to strength.

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So we're saying that things are going from good to better.

175

That's right.

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And getting better.

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Okay.

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And what about our last phrase?

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Our last phrase is kind of similar to the last one.

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The alpha brand continues to grow in leaps and bounds.

181

All right.

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So you can have a company that grows.

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It grows a little.

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You can have a company that grows quite a bit.

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Then you have a company that grows in leaps and bounds.

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That means a lot.

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Okay.

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So to leap is to jump, right?

189

That's right.

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And so this is what we're saying we're just jumping higher

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and higher we're getting bigger and bigger or better

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and better that's right so this is a an exaggeration it's like saying

193

that it's not going quickly it's going the speed of light you know it's just

194

so fast all sudden just really growing okay a lot of

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interesting phrases there a lot of key vocab I think we can listen to this dialogue again

196

and we'll be back in a bit Hi everyone, can everyone hear me?

197

Can you guys at the back hear everything?

198

I think all of you know why we are here this afternoon.

199

As most of you are aware, 2010 marks an important moment for Alpha Computers.

200

We have bounced back from the recession and now we are set to launch our new line of laptop and desktop computers.

201

I'm really pleased to welcome Michael Ford, the global marketing manager for Alpha Computers, who has flown in from California to give all of you an overview of the marketing campaign

202

and to answer any questions you may have.

203

So please, give a warm welcome to Mr. Ford.

204

Thank you, Jonathan.

205

It really is a pleasure to be here today.

206

It has been three years since I visited Beijing, and it's clear to me that operations here are obviously going from strength to strength.

207

The Alpha brand continues to grow in leaps and bounds in China, and that is certainly down to the hard work of all of you here.

208

So congratulations to all of you!

209

I'd like to start by outlining the key points of my presentation this afternoon

210

and giving you an idea of the topics that will be discussed.

211

The presentation today is divided into five main parts.

212

First of all, I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line, how the whole concept has come about and how the new product fits into our existing brand line.

213

Secondly, I'd like to present data on projected sales for the X420.

214

We will then go on to discuss our key rivals in this sector.

215

Then I'd like to go on to outline the campaign concept for the X420.

216

Finally, I'm happy to open up the discussion for any questions or points you may have for me.

217

All right, so as we mentioned, this is the first part of a 10-part series all about public speaking, giving a presentation.

218

We're going to talk about many aspects of a presentation like charts and graphs and using PowerPoints, all these really modern ways of giving a presentation.

219

That's right, and we're going to try

220

and talk to you about some of the places in presentations that English learners tend to struggle with.

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You know, it's sometimes very hard to know what to say, especially like in today's lesson.

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How do you introduce someone in a presentation?

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It's not very common to learn how to say that.

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So we hope that through these podcasts, you'll be able to learn some really important phrases and become more comfortable while you're giving presentations in English.

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That's right.

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And of course, if you have any questions about these lessons or any of our lessons,

227

you can always find us at EnglishPod.com or you can send us also your suggestions about any lesson topics you may have.

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That's right.

229

So we hope to hear from you.

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Please let us know what you're thinking.

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And until next time, everyone.

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Bye.

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The EnglishPod audio review.

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Listen to the meaning, then say the vocabulary word.

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A quality or feature that makes someone or something.

236

Strength.

237

Phrase used to introduce a series of ideas, starting with the first one.

238

First of all, continue, go forward, go on, at last.

239

Finally, to begin with, launch,

240

a general explanation, overview, more and more successful.

241

Strength to Strength Let's try that faster.

242

A quality or feature that makes someone or something.

243

Strength At last Finally Continue,

244

go forward Go on More and more successful Strength to Strength To begin with Launch

245

A general explanation.

246

Overview.

247

Phrases used to introduce a series of ideas, starting with the first one.

248

First of all.

249

Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.

250

I'm sorry you've been so sick.

251

I'm sure you'll bounce back in no time.

252

Our sales in Q3 were disappointing, but we hoped to bounce back by the end of the year.

253

We were unable to bounce back from the global recession like we'd hoped.

254

Strength to Strength Your English has improved so much.

255

You're just going from strength to strength.

256

Strength to strength

257

The new office we opened in Sydney just goes to show how our company is moving from strength to strength

258

Strength to strength You've got the department off to a good start,

259

Sarah, and I'm sure you'll continue to move from strength to strength Frank's presentation was awful.

260

It really demonstrated the importance of signposting.

261

You should begin almost every presentation by signposting the major points to discuss.

262

If you don't signpost in your introduction, your audience may feel lost as the presentation moves on.

263

First of all, what are you wearing?

264

That is completely inappropriate for office attire.

265

First of all, Thanks for the kind introduction, Sherry.

266

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for attending.

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First of all, There are three points I'd like to make.

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First of all, Launch.

269

NASA scheduled the rocket launch at 3 p.m.

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Launch.

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We are going to launch a series of changes to the Q&A procedure this September.

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Launch.

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Techzone has just launched a new sales platform.

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.

Shadowing Practice: How to Start a Professional Presentation in English | Real Business Meeting Listening & Speaking - Learn English Speaking with Video

Context & Background

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

What is the Shadowing Technique?