Shadowing Practice: Learn English Through Conversations | Mystery At Workplace - Learn English Speaking with Video
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162 sentences
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1
So, what
2
do you have for lunch today?
3
Seriously, Terry.
4
You just ate a big hamburger for breakfast.
5
Now it's only 9am and you're already thinking about lunch.
6
You know I love food.
7
So what will you eat for lunch?
8
Hmm, maybe a sandwich or something.
9
I'm not too picky.
10
You have the flu.
11
I think you should have hot soup for lunch.
12
I'm craving sushi.
13
Sushi sounds good, but I could go for a big salad too.
14
Trying to eat healthier this week, huh?
15
Yeah, salads are always a safe bet.
16
Morning, everyone!
17
Morning, sir.
18
Sorry to interrupt, just a quick announcement.
19
Sure, sir, we're listening.
20
Starting today, there's a new rule.
21
Between 10 and 10.30, no one can use the emergency exit.
22
Uh, why, sir?
23
Is everything okay?
24
Don't worry, it's just a new rule.
25
So remember, between 10 and 10.30, no one can use the emergency exit.
26
Except for emergencies like fire or power outage, of course.
27
All right, back to work, everyone.
28
Have a good morning. Did you catch that?
29
What's up with the boss and his weird role?
30
I know, right?
31
Not using the emergency exit between 10 and 10.30.
32
Seems odd.
33
Yeah, like, why specifically during that time?
34
And why announce it out of nowhere?
35
Hey, Mark, how do you feel about the boss's strange announcement?
36
Um, we were just wondering what you make of it.
37
Any thoughts?
38
Honestly, I have no clue.
39
Seems odd, but maybe there's a reason behind it. Who knows?
40
He's trying to keep us in the dark about something.
41
Well, whatever it is, it's definitely stream.
42
I guess we'll have to wait and see if anything comes of it.
43
Agreed.
44
But I'm keeping an eye out for any more oddities from now on.
45
Get back to work!
46
Harry, Boston seemed all that different after the announcement.
47
Yeah, maybe we're just overthinking things.
48
Probably.
49
Let's just focus on our work for now.
50
Agreed.
51
It's probably nothing.
52
Do you see what I see?
53
I see what you see.
54
That black bag.
55
Boss just went toward the emergency exit with a black bag.
56
Yeah, that's strange.
57
I thought he said no one's allowed to use the emergency exit during this time.
58
And he changed his clothes.
59
He's wearing a white shirt now,
60
but this morning he wore a black shirt. So weird.
61
Hey, Mark!
62
How's the preparation for the launch of our new product at the end of the month going?
63
Oh, it's going well, sir.
64
We're finalizing the marketing strategy and ensuring everything is on track.
65
Excellent to hear.
66
Keep up the good work. Will do.
67
Thank you, sir.
68
Boss changed into a black shirt.
69
Yeah.
70
Should we say something or investigate?
71
I'm not sure.
72
I just remembered that I need to work to a deadline tomorrow.
73
True.
74
I also have to submit a report to the boss tomorrow.
75
I can't stop thinking about it, Gwen.
76
What do you think the boss is up to with all this secretive behavior?
77
Honestly, I have no idea, but it's driving me crazy.
78
Why the black bag?
79
Why did he change his shirt?
80
Do you think he's secretly practicing some weird ritual or something?
81
Or maybe he's involved in some kind of mystery operation.
82
You know, like a spy or something.
83
What's in that bag?
84
It's like a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
85
I know, let's make a guess.
86
Maybe it's filled with classified documents, or diamonds, or chocolate bars.
87
What if he's hiding a beautiful mistress somewhere?
88
Oh, please.
89
Maybe that's why he's always changing his shirt, trying to impress her or something.
90
Or maybe he just spills coffee on himself.
91
But seriously, I'm so curious.
92
Should we take a peek and see what he's really up to? Are you serious?
93
That's risky business.
94
Come on, Terry.
95
We'll never know unless we try.
96
Plus, think of the thrill of uncovering a secret.
97
Okay, fine.
98
But if we get caught, I'm blaming you.
99
Such a good friend.
100
Let's go.
101
Let's go.
102
Boss just went to the emergency exit.
103
I see.
104
Let's try to catch him in the act.
105
Agreed.
106
But let's be discreet, though.
107
I'll pretend to panic and you play your phone's emergency alarm.
108
Got it.
109
Get your phone ready.
110
Oh my gosh, what's going on?
111
Is there a fire?
112
What are you two doing here?
113
We heard the alarm and got worried.
114
What were you doing in here?
115
Why did you worry when that alarm is a false alarm? Is that a cat?
116
Cat?
117
Let's talk inside.
118
So, were you two spying on me?
119
No, sir, we were just curious, that's all That false alarm was our mistake Yeah,
120
we didn't mean any harm We were just trying to figure out what was going on Yes,
121
we apologize for any inconvenience It was unprofessional of us
122
No need to apologize It's partly my fault for implementing such a weird rule Can we ask why the cat is here?
123
Yeah, let me explain.
124
Every day at 10am, a stray cat comes to the emergency exit looking for food.
125
I really love cats, so I spend time with it, feeding and playing for 30 minutes.
126
That's unexpected.
127
But what about the black bag and your changing shirts?
128
The bag contains food for the cat, and I change shirts to avoid bringing cat hair home.
129
My wife is allergic, so I can't have a cat and only bring it in.
130
That's why.
131
But why did you create that new rule when you can still feed and play with your cat whenever you want?
132
Because I prefer to keep that private to maintain my strict image at work.
133
Ah, I see.
134
That makes sense.
135
But, sir, there's nothing to be ashamed of for loving animals.
136
In fact, it's admirable.
137
Yeah, I like animal lovers.
138
You're right.
139
I suggest you consider keeping the cat in the office, sir.
140
Yeah, it creates a positive environment in our office.
141
You think so?
142
Absolutely.
143
Imagine if we all took turns caring for the cat.
144
It could be a symbol of good luck for the company.
145
It would bring us all closer together as a team.
146
You know what?
147
That actually sounds like a great idea.
148
Sorry again anyway, sir.
149
Well, next time, maybe just ask me directly if you're curious about something.
150
Yes, sir.
151
We'll keep that in mind.
152
By the way, I need to know your progress on the project.
153
As I remember, today's the deadline.
154
Yeah, sure.
155
We're almost done.
156
Yeah, we'll have it ready before the end of the day.
157
Promise.
158
us.
159
Great to hear!
160
your speaking fluency and pronunciation.
161
Don't forget to like, share, and comment on my video.
162
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn English Through Conversations”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: cat, sir, emergency, exit, shirt. This video has 162 sentences and 1120 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:48. The speaker talks slowly, about 104 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 37 of its 162 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 |
|---|---|---|
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| announcement noun | /əˈnaʊns.mənt/ | An act of announcing, or giving notice. |
| sushi noun | /ˈsuːʃi/ | A Japanese dish made of small portions of sticky white rice flavored with vinegar, usually wrapped in seaweed and filled or topped with fish, vegetables or… |
| deadline noun | /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/ | A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed. |
| salad noun | /ˈsæl.əd/ | A food consisting principally of raw vegetables (especially greens, e.g. lettuce), other savoury ingredients (typically cooked), fruit, or confectionary; often… |
| apologize verb | /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/ | To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends |
| admirable noun | /ˈæd.məɹ.ə.bəl/ | The quality, state, or an example of being admirable. |
| classify verb | /ˈklæs.əˌfaɪ/ | to identify by or divide into classes; to categorize |
| discreet adjective | /dɪˈskɹiːt/ | Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic. |
| finalize verb | /ˈfaɪ.nə.laɪz/ | To make final or firm; to finish or complete. |
| fluency noun | /ˈfluːənsi/ | The quality of smoothness of flow. |
| hamburger noun | /ˈhæmˌbɜɹ.ɡɚ/ | A hot sandwich consisting of a patty of cooked ground beef or a meat substitute, in a sliced bun, usually also containing salad vegetables, condiments, or both. |
| oddity noun | /ˈɑdɪti/ | An odd or strange thing or opinion. |
| outage noun | /ˈaʊ.tɪd͡ʒ/ | A temporary suspension of operation, especially of electrical power supply. |
| overthink verb | To think or analyze too much. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
| get back to verb | Return to (an activity) |
| keep up verb | To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you see what I see?
- Should we say something or investigate?
- Do you think he's secretly practicing some weird ritual or something?
- Should we take a peek and see what he's really up to?
- What are you two doing here?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | were just wondering · were you doing · were just trying |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should have · Should we say · Should we take |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | stop thinking · avoid bringing · consider keeping |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | you're already thinking · I'm craving · we're listening |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 23 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, we'll, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thrill /θɹɪl/, cloth /klɒθ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: sushi /ˈsuːʃi/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/, preparation /ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/
- Long words — get the stress right: apologize /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/, admirable /ˈæd.məɹ.ə.bəl/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, inconvenience /ɪnkənˈvinjəns/, unexpected /ʌnɪkˈspɛktɪd/
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 alarm, announcement, sushi.
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.