Shadowing Practice: Learn English with PRISON BREAK — The Beginning - Learn English Speaking with Video
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201 sentences
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That's it.
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Can I just, you know, look at it for a minute?
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You're an artist, Sid.
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You're telling me you're just going to walk out of here and I'm never going to see it again?
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There's a good chance of that, yes.
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Most guys, you know, for the first one, they start with something small.
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Mom, girlfriend's initials, something like that.
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not you you get a full set of sleeves all in a couple of months
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it takes guys a few years to get the ink to
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that i don't have a few years oh yeah welcome to learn english with tv series
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i'm ksenia your real life english fluency coach
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and today we're learning english with the critically acclaimed tv show prison break in the short scene
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you just watched michael schofield the protagonist of the series is getting a tattoo this dialogue
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which is the first one in the entire show is full of enigma why is she telling him
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that she'll walk out of the place
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and that'll be the last time they'll be seeing each other
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by the way the phrasal verb to work out means to leave suddenly to get them and go.
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Well, Michael is getting the blueprints of the prison facility tattooed on his body,
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which will help him break his falsely accused brother out of jail.
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Every week we create lessons just like this one to help you understand your favorite movies and TV series without getting lost,
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without missing the jokes and without subtitles.
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So subscribe and hit
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that bell down below not to miss a single new lesson
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our lessons come with exclusive decks of flashcards featuring all the vocabulary covered
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so new vocabulary like walkout blueprints
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and others are already waiting for you as soon as you
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finish watching the lesson using your phone click on the link in the description under this video
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and if you have the app installed on your phone you will be redirect it to our real -life english
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and start your vocabulary practice right away i will show you how it works later in the lesson
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and now let's watch the clip with the subtitles learn some great words
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and expressions and then test your comprehension by watching the clip one more time without subtitles this time
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and answering some of our quiz questions in the scene michael's about to get himself into some serious trouble
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but not everything is at its seams he's got it all carefully planned.
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Let's watch it.
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games open it sir you have a half a million dollars cash in your bag don't
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you think it would be better
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this is the police you are completely surrounded put down your weapon
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Put down your weapons now
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Rarely in the case of armed robbery
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Do we hear a plea of no contest
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Are you sure about this, Mr. Schofield?
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I'm sure, Your Honor Your Honor, we'd like to recess if we could
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My client's a bit confused at the moment I'm not, Your Honor He is, Your Honor Perhaps you should heed your representation's advice
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Take some additional time to consider your response I've already done that, Your Honor
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A vault refers to a secure room usually found in banks where money,
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valuables or important documents are stored.
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It's designed to be highly secure, usually with thick reinforced walls, a strong door and advanced locks.
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not here.
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a branch refers to a part
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or division within a larger organization like a bank in this
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case a branch manager is the person responsible for overseeing the operations of a specific bank location
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they ensure the branch runs smoothly make key decisions manage the stuff
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and address customer service issues where is he it's lunchtime he's at white castle
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white castle it's a fast food restaurant they serve those little square burgers
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i know what it is white castle is an american fast
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food restaurant chain famous for small square hamburgers known as sliders
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it has a nostalgic reputation in the united states since it
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was one of the first fast food burger chains founded in the country has it happened to you
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that you got a chance to practice your English speaking by having a real conversation online
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or face -to -face and that word
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that you know you've learned before just doesn't come to you at the moment when you need it the most.
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I know how frustrating that feels to be in a conversation
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and find yourself pausing frequently because you're just forgetting all the useful words you know. That sucks.
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This feeling when you know what you want to say
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and just want to be able to express your thoughts as
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easily as you can do it in your native tongue let me tell you
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that is exactly what the real life english app can help
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you with as i mentioned every lesson comes with a deck of flash cards
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and by practicing with them just 10 -15 minutes daily
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you'll be able to transfer these new words from your short term into your long -term memory.
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Plus, with the Space Trip Edition software that we've built into our app,
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you'll retain vocabulary more effectively by reviewing new words at carefully timed intervals, just when you're about to forget them.
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I highly recommend you check it out.
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The app is free to download.
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Just look for Real Life English in the App Store or Google Play, or simply click the link link in the description below.
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It's free to get started, so go and download it now!
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Rarely in the case of armed robbery do we hear a plea of no contest.
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Are you sure about this, Mr. Scofield?
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I'm sure, Your Honor.
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A plea is the answer a person gives in court when they are accused of a crime.
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When a defendant enters a no contest plea, they aren't admitting guilt, but aren't disputing the charges either.
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It's treated like a guilty plea for sentencing purposes, though the defendant doesn't explicitly admit to committing the crime.
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consider your response i've already done
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that your honor he does not a very common word it means to pay close attention to
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or listen carefully to advice warnings or instructions
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so basically she's saying maybe you should listen to your representative's advice theodore heed my words
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do not try to save the archangel barney there's condoms in the drawer just take them and get out
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A chamber is typically a large room, often used for a specific purpose.
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The word also goes beyond rooms.
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In weapons, the chamber is the part of the gun where bullies are loaded, making it ready to fire.
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Now let's watch the second clip.
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This part of the story, Michael finally makes it inside the prison.
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After a few challenging days navigating the American prison system, he meets his brother Lincoln.
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They talk about their plans.
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And here's where Michael reveals his tattoo in one of the most amazing scenes of the season.
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Let's check it out.
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you mean what you said earlier i'm not here on vacation trust me
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getting outside these walls that's just the beginning you need money
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i'll have it and people on the outside people that can help you disappear
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i've already got them they just don't know it yet You Look,
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whatever you got going on, fill me in.
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Because I'm in the dark here.
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Chaprell Associates got the contract to retrofit this place in 99.
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Four million dollar contract.
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Head partner couldn't crack it.
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So we subcontracted out.
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An under -the -table sort of deal with a former associate.
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That guy was one of the partners in my firm.
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We basically ghostwrote the whole plan.
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Crossed the T's, dotted the I's, crowded the tiles.
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you've seen the blueprints better than that i've got them on me are you kidding me
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am i supposed to be seeing something here look closer
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When you fill someone in, you share some information or updates about a situation they are not aware of.
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It suggests that the person has missed some details or events and is asking for a summary or explanation to catch up.
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Lincoln here seems lost, especially with Michael's determination to get himself caught and put in prison on purpose.
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Check out this example.
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I'm in the dark is an idiom that means that someone is unaware or uninformed about a situation or issue.
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It suggests that the person lacks knowledge or understanding and feels confused or left out.
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In this context, retrofit means to modify or add new technology
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or features to an existing system
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or structure it often involves upgrading older facilities to improve their functionality safety
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or efficiency so what michael is saying here is
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that the governor of the prison tried to remodel the facility head partner couldn't crack it
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so he subcontracted out and under the table sort of deal with the former associate
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that guy was one of the partners in my firm to crack something means to break it open
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or cause a fracture in it the term can also be used metaphorically to describe solving a difficult problem
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or deciphering a code so michael is saying
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that the person in charge of getting the contract couldn't do it
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or decipher it so he hired an associate to do it this detail is very important
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because that former associate
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that michael mentions was work in michael's firm putting it together
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we understand how michael got the blueprints of the prison the
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book john the book the key to cracking the cipher sulyn used
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it to do this whilst we were running around the gallery
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she started to translate the code it must be on our desk
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we basically ghost wrote the whole plan across the t's dotted the i's grounded the tiles
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so here michael is sharing the details about his role in planning the prison retrofits with his partner
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so to ghostwrite means to write for someone else typically without
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taking credit for the work the ghostwriter creates content such as books articles
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or speeches on behalf of another person we're tired of waiting we're hiring you a ghostwriter diane nugent she's great
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and she's got a thing for horses check this out the phrase cross the t's
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and dot the i's means to complete all the details and ensure that everything is done correctly and thoroughly.
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Thanks to all this information, we understand how calculating Michael is.
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And here's one more detail that shows that Michael knows everything about the building.
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He said, we grouted the tiles.
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Hey there, honey.
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You're still there, aren't you?
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He's just dotting the I's, crossing the T's.
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Yanking your chain.
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Dump him.
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Grouting refers to the process of filling the gaps between tiles, bricks
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or stones with a paste called grout no no
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you know what he does conscientious marty he tiles
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he works in grout his portfolio looked a bit more diverse than tile
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i hope you enjoyed today's lesson now with all
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that great vocabulary you've learned today we know
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you're not gonna be in the dark as you watch the scenes once again without subtitles
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and answer some of our quiz questions so let's do it
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the vault open it we can't the branch manager's not here Where is he?
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It's lunchtime.
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He's at White Castle.
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White Castle?
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It's a fast food restaurant.
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They serve those little square burgers.
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I know what it is.
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Who's a branch manager?
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A person who oversees daily operations?
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A person who repairs computers?
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A person who drives a delivery truck?
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rarely in the case of armed robbery do we hear a
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plea of no contest are you sure about this mr schofield
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i'm sure your honor your honor we'd like to recess
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if we could my clients a bit confused at the moment
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i'm not your honor he is your honor perhaps
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you should heed your representation's advice take some additional time to consider your response i've already done
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that your honor i'll retire to my chambers to determine sentencing courts recess until 1 30.
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what is a chamber a vehicle a person a room
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You mean what you said earlier?
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I'm not here on vacation.
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Trust me.
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Getting outside these walls, that's just the beginning.
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You're gonna need money.
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I'll have it.
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And people on the outside, people that can help you disappear, I've already got them.
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They just don't know it yet.
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If you are in the dark, you don't have enough information to understand something, you're in a very noisy place,
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and you're surrounded by bright lights.
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Chapral Associates got the contract to retrofit this place in 99, $4 million contract, head partner, couldn't crack it, so he subcontracted out,
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an under -the -table sort of deal with a former associate.
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That guy was one of the partners in my firm.
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What picture shows someone grouting?
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That's it for today.
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Remember to practice new words and expressions you learned in this lesson with the flashcards on our RealLife English app.
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You'll find a special link right in the description below.
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Just use your smartphone to get started.
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It's the easiest way to make these words stick with you forever.
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And if you're staying with us on YouTube, check out this lesson next.
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I always thought my brother was my best friend.
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Like we just knew everything about each other.
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except everybody thought he was their best friend you know he was that he was that magnetic and um
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i didn't know my brother was using drugs
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn English with PRISON BREAK — The Beginning”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: honor, michael, word, lesson. This video has 201 sentences and 2259 words to shadow. The speech runs for 19:11. The speaker talks at a steady 118 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| plea noun | /pliː/ | An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty. |
| tile noun | /ˈtaɪ.əl/ | A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile, etc. |
| castle noun | /ˈkɑːsəl/ | A large residential building or compound that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabited by a nobleman or king. Also, a house or… |
| crack noun | /kɹæk/ | A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material. |
| associate noun | /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/ | A person united with another or others in an act, enterprise, or business; a partner or employee. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| chamber noun | /ˈt͡ʃeɪ̯mbɚ/ | The private room of an individual, especially of someone wealthy or noble. |
| confused adjective | /kənˈfjuːzd/ | unable to think clearly or understand |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| refer verb | /ɹɪˈfɜː/ | To direct the attention of (someone toward something). |
| rarely adverb | /ˈɹɛəɹli/ | Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. |
| clip noun | /klɪp/ | Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another. |
| tattoo noun | /tæˈtuː/ | An image made on a body part, usually the skin with ink and a needle. |
| burger noun | /ˈbɝ.ɡɚ/ | A hamburger. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| put down verb | To insult, belittle, or demean. | |
| catch up verb | To pick up suddenly. | |
| get out verb | To leave or escape. | |
| leave out verb | To omit, to not include, to neglect to mention. | |
| run around verb | To be very busy doing many different things. | |
| work out verb | /ˌwɝk ˈaʊt/ | To calculate. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Can I just, you know, look at it for a minute?
- Because I'm in the dark here.
- You're still there, aren't you?
- You mean what you said earlier?
- I'm not here on vacation.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've already done · you've learned · we've built |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are completely surrounded · are stored · are accused |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people that can · person who oversees · person who repairs |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most amazing · the easiest · my best |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 64 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thick /θɪk/, thoroughly /ˈθʌɹ.ə.li/, smoothly /ˈsmuːðli/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, vacation /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, flash /flæʃ/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/
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 lesson, plea, tile.
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.