Shadowing Practice: Job Interview Connected Reading | 英语连读 面试 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today I'd like to look at a sample question that you could ask at the end of a job interview.
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If somebody asks you, do you have any questions for us?
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Let's take a look.
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Yeah, I do have a couple of questions.
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Let's see here.
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Yeah, I do have.
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I do have a, have a couple, have a couple of questions.
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So have a, we want to link together.
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Couple of.
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You have a few different ways to do this.
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You could say couple of questions or couple of questions.
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Couple of questions, couple of questions.
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Both are totally fine.
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Let's see here.
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Let's see here.
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So the at the end of let's gets connected with the in see.
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Let's see here.
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Earlier, you touched on the The remote work policy.
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You touched on, touched on.
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That D at the end of touched links with on.
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The remote work, remote work.
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That T at the end of remote gets turned into a glottal stop.
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Remote work policy.
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You said people are free.
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Said people.
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Said people.
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That d at the end of said connects to the p in people.
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You said people are free to come and go.
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People-er.
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So here we'll never write people apostrophe re, but we pronounce it people-er.
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People are free to.. we don't say to here.
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Free to come and go.
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Free to come and go.
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Now and turns into n.
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Come and.. come and go.
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Come and go at the office.
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At the.. at the office.
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At the.. we connect the at and the together.
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At the office.
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And we say the, the office, because the next word begins with a, the office, at the office, as they please.
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And so I was curious.
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And so, again that d in and disappears.
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And so I was curious.
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What percentage, what percentage, the t in what disappears into a glottal stop.
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What percentage do you have right now at the office? Do you have?
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Do you have?
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Do you, the vowels get reduced and they both kind of connect to have.
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Do you have?
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What percentage do you have right now at the office?
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Right now.
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The T in right turns into a glottal stop.
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At the office.
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Again, we'll link those three words together.
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At the office.
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At the office.
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And are you seeing a trend?
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And are you seeing...
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So here, and could be pronounced as a full and.
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And are you seeing a trend?
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And you would do this if you want to sound a little more formal or a little more careful with your speech, because here and is introducing a whole new part of the question.
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And are you seeing a trend?
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Or you could link it together.
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And are you seeing a trend?
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Are you seeing a seeing a ng, ng?
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We'll link that last ng at the end of seeing with a.
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And seeing has kind of two syllables normally, but we'll reduce it to just one.
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Seeing a, seeing a, seeing a.
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And are you seeing a trend?
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And are you seeing a trend of more people starting to work from home?
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Starting to, starting to, again, to gets reduced.
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Starting to work from home or starting to work from the office?
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Starting to work from home or starting to work from the office?
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Now here, we'll have a contrastive intonation here.
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Starting to work from home or starting to work from the office.
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Now that they have.
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Now that they have the choice.
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That, they connects together and the vowel in that gets reduced.
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Yeah, I do have a couple of questions.
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Let's see here.
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Earlier, you touched on the remote work policy.
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You said people are free to come and go at the office as they please, and so I was curious, what percentage do you have right now at the office?
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And are you seeing a trend of more people starting to work from home
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or starting to work from the office now that they have the choice?

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice connected speech, a crucial aspect of fluent English communication often overlooked by learners. Focusing on job interview scenarios, this session will enhance your understanding of how to naturally link words together in conversation. You will learn how to articulate your questions effectively in a job interview setting, making use of natural rhythms and linking sounds to improve your English pronunciation. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident in your ability to engage in discussions, especially under the pressure of an interview, while utilizing techniques like shadow speech to replicate the nuances of native speakers.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • couple of questions - A common phrase used to express having a few inquiries during an engagement.
  • remote work policy - Refers to company regulations regarding working from locations outside of the office.
  • people are free to - A way to convey flexibility in working conditions.
  • come and go - This phrase indicates the ability to enter and exit a place freely.
  • at the office - A phrase used to specify location during discussions.
  • what percentage - Used to ask for statistical information regarding policies or practices.
  • I was curious - A way to introduce a question driven by interest.
  • do you have - A phrase commonly used to inquire about possession or current availability.

Practice Tips

To successfully improve your English pronunciation through shadowing, start by watching the video at a reduced speed. Focus on the speaker’s intonation and how they link words together. Practicing with shadow speech will help transform your speaking skills. To emulate natural speech rhythms, repeat phrases like “do you have” and “couple of questions” gently, focusing on connecting sounds rather than pronouncing each word separately. For instance, notice how the “d” in “and” often disappears or transforms to link with the next word in the flow of conversation. Pay close attention to glottal stops, especially with phrases like “what percentage”, where connected sounds help maintain fluency in speech.

You can make use of various shadowing apps to practice these techniques daily. Engage in IELTS speaking practice by using the vocabulary and phrases learned, integrating them into your daily conversations or mock interviews. This will not only assist in pronunciation but also boost your comprehension of spoken English in professional contexts. Embrace the opportunity to learn English with YouTube by utilizing this resource effectively, enhancing both your listening and speaking skills simultaneously.

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.