Shadowing Practice: Job Interview: Tell Me About a Time You Failed - Learn English Speaking with Video
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34 sentences
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1
Thanks for coming in. Did you find us okay?
2
Yes, thanks! The view from your lobby is amazing.
3
Glad to hear it. Today I'll focus on real examples.
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So, tell me about a time you failed.
5
Hmm... that's a tough one. Let me think.
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Okay. Last spring, I led a product launch campaign.
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We had six weeks and a very demanding client.
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I'll be honest — I promised them far too much.
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Two days before launch... we simply weren't ready.
10
That sounds stressful. So what did you do?
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I called the client and told them the truth.
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Luckily, a smaller version launched on time, and it went well!
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And what did you take away from it?
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Now I always build in extra time. Always.
15
Good. Now, have you ever clashed with a colleague?
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Yes. A designer and I disagreed about a campaign.
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He wanted bold visuals, and I wanted clear messaging.
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So I... well, actually, I went straight to our manager.
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Sorry — can I start that answer again?
20
Of course. Take your time, there's no rush.
21
Okay. Going to the manager first was a mistake.
22
It made things worse, so I invited him for coffee.
23
We tested both ideas, and funnily enough, his version won!
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Ha! I really appreciate that honesty.
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Okay, the classic one. What's your biggest weakness?
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Well... I find it hard to delegate.
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I used to think doing everything myself was faster,
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but honestly... I was burned out every Friday.
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So now I hand off tasks and check in weekly.
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That's practical. So, do you have any questions for me?
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Yes, actually! What would success look like in six months?
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Wow, nobody's asked me that yet!
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Mainly, a smooth spring launch and a happy client.
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That's exactly the kind of challenge I love!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Job Interview: Tell Me About a Time You Failed”. This video has 34 sentences and 295 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:15. The speaker talks at a steady 131 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 34 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 |
|---|---|---|
| practical adjective | /ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/ | Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis. |
| rush verb | /ɹʌʃ/ | To hurry; to perform a task with great haste, often not properly or without thinking carefully. |
| designer noun | /dɪˈzaɪnɚ/ | A person who designs something, or who designs things as a profession. |
| smooth adjective | /smuːð/ | Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough. |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| bold adjective | /ˈbəʊld/ | Courageous, daring. |
| weakness noun | /ˈwik.nɪs/ | The condition of being weak. |
| disagree verb | /dɪsəˈɡɹi/ | To fail to agree; to have a different opinion or belief. |
| lobby noun | /ˈlɑ.bi/ | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| honesty noun | /ˈɑ.nɪ.sti/ | The act, quality, or condition of being honest. |
| colleague noun | /ˈkɒliːɡ/ | A fellow member of a profession, staff, academic faculty or other organization; an associate, a workmate. |
| clash noun | /ˈklæʃ/ | A loud sound, like the crashing together of metal objects; a crash. |
| luckily adverb | /ˈlʌk.ɪ.li/ | In a lucky manner; by good fortune; fortunately. |
| stressful adjective | /ˈstɹɛsfəl/ | Irritating; causing stress. |
| delegate noun | /ˈdɛlɪɡət/ | A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| burn out verb | To destroy by fire. |
| hand off verb | To pass (the ball) to a teammate. |
| take away from verb | To subtract a quality from; make something seem not so good or interesting. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Did you find us okay?
- Today I'll focus on real examples.
- I'll be honest — I promised them far too much.
- Sorry — can I start that answer again?
- What's your biggest weakness?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, weren't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rush /ɹʌʃ/, clash /ˈklæʃ/
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 practical, rush, designer.
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.