Shadowing Practice: Learn English with SUITS - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey.
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Didn't I tell you to get some better suits?
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I spent $500.
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How many suits?
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Five.
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What?
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In today's lesson you're gonna learn some nice expressions, vocabulary, pronunciation and legal English with the TV series Suits.
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In the scenes we're watching today, Harvey tries to fire Mike on his first day at work.
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after he was denied a promotion.
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But then Mike gives him an idea.
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But before we get started, make sure you hit that subscribe button and bell down below, because every week we put out lessons like this, to help you understand your favorite movies and TV series.
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We're now getting lost.
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without missing the jokes and without subtitles.
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So hit that subscribe button and bell down below in order not to miss a single new lesson.
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Mike Ross is an extremely clever young man who lands a
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job as a lawyer even though he's never been to law school.
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Harvey Specter, a top lawyer at the firm, is so impressed with Mike's intelligence that he gives him the job.
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How can you know all that?
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I told you, I like to read.
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and once I read something, I understand it, and once I understand it, I never forget it.
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However, after losing his promotion for having lied to a client, Harvey tries to fire Mike on his first day of work.
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Let's see what happens Mike.
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Hey!
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Who's ready for a great first day?
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I'm gonna have to let you go.
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What?
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I just got reamed for lying to a client, and if they find out that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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You what?
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Not now, Donna.
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I have to put my own interests above yours.
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It's nothing personal.
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You're fired.
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Wait, so you're...
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worried that if I stay, then they might find out that you lied about me and you'll lose your license.
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But if you fire me, then I could Tell them that you lied about me, and you definitely lose your license.
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Are you telling me that if I throw you under the bus, you're gonna drag me with you?
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You put your interests above mine, and I'm just putting mine back up.
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Next to yours.
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You're rehired.
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Who's ready for a great first day?
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I'm gonna have to let you go.
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So in this context to let someone go means to fire someone.
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Another nice word in this context of business and work is downsizing.
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Downsizing is when a company has to fire people,
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or let people go because the company is cutting down on costs or reducing in size.
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Check out this clip from The Office.
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As you know, there's going to be downsizing.
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And you have made my life so much easier in that I am going to have to let you go first.
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What?
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Why?
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What?
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I just got reamed for lying to a client.
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When a person gets reamed, this person is reprimanded or criticized for their bad behavior.
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And that's exactly what Jessica, Harvest Boss, does to him earlier in this episode.
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Other possible words here could be: scold, You know, to scold someone or to lecture someone.
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In this case, you behave badly, you do something bad, and then somebody gives you a lecture or somebody scolds you.
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Check out these examples.
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You're scolding me. Am I?
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You are silent, eh?
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What about her?
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Emily.
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You can't even say your name, can you?
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Don't lecture me.
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And if they find out that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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When you find out about something, you discover or learn the truth about it.
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For example, she divorced him because she found out he had been going out with another woman.
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And if they find out that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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"Going to Harvard." Did you hear how Harvey pronounces this phrase?
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The preposition to is reduced to a "n", Na.
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So he says, "Goina." going to Harvard.
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going to Harvard.
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that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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that I lied about you going to Harvard.
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Let's do it.
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- Thank you.
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And if they find out that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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Here we can see the first conditional being used.
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We can use the first conditional when making a prediction about the future or making a threat.
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Now the structure goes if + simple present Plus, will.
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For example, If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'll go to the beach.
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That's a prediction.
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If you do that one more time, you won't play video games for a month.
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That's a threat.
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You can also use might or could instead of will.
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Check it out.
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Wait, so you're-- worried that if I stay, then they might find out that you lied about me and you'll lose your license.
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In this case, "might" means 50 % possibility.
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they might find out Maybe they will find out.
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There is a 50 /50 chance.
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But if you fire me, then I could tell them that you lied about me, and you'd definitely lose your license.
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Now, could here gives this idea of imaginary possibility.
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"Look, if you fire me, then I could tell them." that you lied about me.
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You see?
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That's a possibility that I'm imagining right now.
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Are you telling me that if I throw you under the bus you're gonna drag me with you?
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Also remember that you can use "going to" instead of "will" just like in this case.
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You're going to drag me with you.
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Check out these examples where the first conditional is being used.
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But if you don't love this, then we'll do it any other place, any other time, really.
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Ross, you know what?
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If you tell me, I might do it.
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"If you don't do it, I will." You know, just learning random words,
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like many people do, without studying the proper context in which those words are being used, is not a good strategy.
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I mean, Think about it: why do you learn English or any other language?
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to communicate Right? and communication happens through sentences phrases, not individual isolated words.
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That's exactly why we created the Fluent with Friends course, so that you can include the vocabulary in English in context.
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I wish I had something like this back in the day, when I was still at an intermediate level.
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I would watch a lot of TV series to practice my English.
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but I had to learn English pretty much by myself.
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If I had something like the Fluent with Friends course back then, my English would have improved much faster.
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Our course guides you through every episode of the first two seasons of Friends.
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contextualizing and teaching you the most important vocabulary,
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pronunciation, grammar, and cultural aspects you need to know in order to take your English to the next level.
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Even academic studies say that Friends is the best TV series out there to learn English with.
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So don't wait any longer to start developing your English fluency and having a ton of fun.
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You can get started today for free by joining our three -part masterclass.
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is really simple.
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All you gotta do is click up here, or down in the description below to sign up and get started with the course today.
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Alright?
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Now let's get back to the lesson on suits.
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Wait, so you're...
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Worried that if I stay, then they might find out that you lied about me and you'll lose your license.
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Check it out!
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lied about me.
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So here we have the D for lied that connects with the A for about.
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So we hear lighter.
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Lá, rá, with a flap sound.
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lighter And then we say lie it about.
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The T for about is a stop T. about.
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about So, lied about me.
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that you lied about me, that you lied about me.
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you Are you telling me that if I throw you under the bus, you're gonna drag me with you?
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Now this is a nice expression.
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to throw someone under the bus.
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When you throw someone under the bus, you cause this person to suffer, in order to save yourself or gain some sort of personal advantage.
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And that's exactly what Harvey is doing to Mike here in the scene.
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By firing Mike, Harvey is throwing Mike under the bus.
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Here's another example from Suits.
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Which image shows a person being dragged?
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you Oh Now the word "drag" is an interesting word.
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Imagine you have a very heavy bag.
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but it's so heavy that you can't pick it up.
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You can't carry it.
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So what do you usually do?
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You have to drag it, right?
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You drag the bag by moving it across the floor, because you can't pick it up.
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That's the meaning of drag.
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But the verb drag in this context has more of a figurative meaning.
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Harvey is saying If I throw you under the bus, you're going to drag me with you?
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In other words, if I fire you and make you lose your job, you're going to make me lose my job as well?
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You're gonna hire me as well?
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That's what he's asking.
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You put your interests above mine and I'm just putting mine back up.
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Thanks to yours.
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We have a nice connected speech pattern here.
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When you see the situation of T + Y, the sound that we make is usually "ch".
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Check.
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So here we hear Put your Put your...
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You put your interests above mine.
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You put your interests of mine.
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you You rehired.
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When you are rehired, you are hired again.
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The simple fact that you are using the prefix re means again or repeat.
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For example, "re -do." You see?
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To do again.
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Replay.
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"to play again." Re -hire to hire Again.
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Got it?
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What you just saw could be called blackmail.
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Blackmail is the act of demanding benefits in return for not revealing damaging information, about someone.
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Mike blackmails Harvey into not firing him.
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But if you fire me, then I could tell them that you lied about me and you'd definitely lose your license.
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Now Harvey does the same with his boss Jessica.
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Let's watch it.
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Here's what's going to happen.
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You're going to give me back my promotion, and that's the last we're going to talk about this.
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And why is that?
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Because if you don't, I'm gonna go across town and join Rick Peterson.
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I'm going to approach every client I've ever closed, and I'm going to take them with me.
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You do that, and you'll force me to put you in front of the ethics board.
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I don't think you will.
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And why not?
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Because you are obligated to notify them the second I lied to Gerald, but you didn't.
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You put me in front of the board right now, I'll put you right up there with me.
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Mm -hmm.
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- I'll I'll give you your promotion.
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But you have to do something for me.
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Anything.
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Ah.
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Pro bono.
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Anything but that.
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Harvey, pro bono cases are how we as a firm show that we care about more than just ourselves.
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I'm not saying we shouldn't do them.
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I'm saying I shouldn't do that.
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And it's how you can show me that you care about more than justice.
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Yourself.
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You'll handle this yourself.
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You will not pass it off.
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Absolutely.
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Here's what's gonna happen.
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This is a great phrase to preface what you are about to say.
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To preface is a verb.
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It means to introduce or begin a speech by doing something.
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This phrase here's what's gonna happen is a nice way to
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prepare the other person for what you are about to say and Check out this example.
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Here's what's going to happen.
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The police will arrest you and I'm sorry but I will be pressing charges.
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You're gonna give me back my promotion.
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In speech, the words you and your are also often reduced.
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You is reduced to "ya" while "your" is reduced to "yer".
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That's the sound we hear here.
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You're gonna you're gonna.
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You're gonna give me back my promotion.
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You're gonna give me back my promotion.
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you - I'm gonna approach every client I've ever closed, and I'm gonna take them with me.
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You do that, and you'll force me to put you in front of the ethics board.
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Another common reduction here: in front of.
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What happens here is the T for front is dropped, and then we just pronounce the in,
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which then connects with the preposition of, which sounds like a schwa sound.
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Uh. So, Frauna.
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You do that and you'll force me to put you in front of the ethics board.
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Put you in front of the ethics board.
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You do that and you'll force me to put you in front of the Ethics Board.
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The Ethics Board, also known as the Ethics Committee, is responsible for ensuring professional conduct and ethical behavior among lawyers.
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It issues formal opinions on what is considered ethical, when practicing law.
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Also, they have the power to take on lawyer's license.
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- I don't think you will.
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- And why not?
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Because you are obligated to notify them the second I lied to Gerald, but she didn't.
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When you are obligated to do something, You must do it.
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You could do it.
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You might do it.
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you When you are obligated to do something, you must do it.
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Alright?
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It's mandatory.
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You are obliged.
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But there is also a nice expression with this word obliged, which is Much obliged.
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If you say: much obliged, this is a way of saying thank you, but it's really formal.
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Check out this example from Sherlock Holmes.
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I'm sure I can find my own way if you have other beauties to perform.
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Much obliged, sir.
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Thank you, sir.
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I don't think you will.
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And why not?
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Because you were obligated to notify them the second I lied to Gerald, but you didn't.
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When you notify someone, you inform that person of something.
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And this word is usually used in a more formal, let's say official, way.
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Check out this example from the Big Bang Theory.
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Here we have the T +Y combination again.
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Remember, this combination sounds like "ch".
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-Chu!
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Puccio.
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And then we have right up there.
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The T for right has this flap T sound, this rarara, which connects with up.
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Right up.
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So putting it all together, put you right up there.
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Put you right up there with me.
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Put you right up there with me.
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you Allah I'll give you your promotion.
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But you have to do something for me.
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The preposition 4 is also often reduced in speech.
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It gets reduced to a fur.
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Fur.
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So here we hear from me, But you have to do something for me.
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But you have to do something for me.
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Thank you.
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you you Anything.
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Um.
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- Pro bono.
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- Anything but that.
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In this context of law, pro bono refers to legal representation for low -income clients.
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In other words, no charge.
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It's when a lawyer represents a client who doesn't have enough money
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or can't afford to pay for that lawyer's time and service.
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So the lawyer represents that client, for free that's a pro bono case.
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Check out this example from Better Call Saul.
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Why would you risk the best job you've ever had for some pro bono case?
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I was doing a favor for a friend.
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Anything.
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Um.
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anything but that the phrase anything but that could be the same as anything except that.
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This is a nice way of using the word "but".
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In this context, again, but means except.
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For example, They watched all the sequels, but the last one.
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In other words, they watched all the sequels except the last one.
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And it's how you can show me that you care about more than just yourself.
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You'll handle this yourself.
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You will not pass it off.
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Absolutely.
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In this context, when Jessica says to Harvey, "You will not pass it off," she's telling him
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that he won't give these pro bono cases to someone else he will have to do them himself Mike.
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Hey!
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Who's ready for a great first day?
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I'm gonna have to let you go.
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The phrase "to let you go" in this context means: to abandon you, to allow you to leave, to fire you.
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Oh .
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What?
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I just got reamed for lying to a client, and if they find out that I lied about you going to Harvard, they'll take away my license.
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Which sentence is not in the first conditional?
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If they go there, They're going to have a lot of fun.
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If they went there, they would go sightseeing.
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If they don't travel next year, they'll go to the country club.
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I You what?
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Not now, Donna.
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I have to put my own interests above yours.
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It's nothing personal.
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You're fired.
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Wait, so you're-- worried that if I stay, then they might find out that you lied about me and you'll lose your license.
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But if you fire me, then I could tell them that you lied about me, and you definitely lose your license.
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Are you telling me that if I throw you under the bus, you're gonna drag me with you?
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You put your interests in above mine, and I'm just putting mine back up Next to yours.
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You're rehired.
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Here's what's gonna happen.
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You're gonna give me back my promotion, and that's the last we're gonna talk about this.
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And why is that?
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Because if you don't, I'm gonna go across town and join Rick Peterson.
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I'm gonna approach every client I've ever closed, and I'm gonna take them with me.
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You do that, and you'll force me to put you in front of the ethics board.
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I don't think you will.
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And why not?
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Because you are obligated to notify them the second I lied to Gerald, but she didn't.
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You put me in front of the board right now, I'll put you right up there with me.
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Hmm.
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- I'll...
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I'll give you your promotion.
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But you have to do something for me.
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Anything.
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Ah.
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- Pro bono.
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- Anything but that.
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In legal context, a pro bono case is complex and hard to handle, long and takes many years to close?
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free of charge.
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Harvey, pro bono cases are how we as a firm show that we care about more than just ourselves.
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I'm not saying we shouldn't do them.
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I'm saying I shouldn't do that.
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And it's how you can show me that you care about more than justice yourself.
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You'll handle this yourself.
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You will not pass it off.
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Absolutely.
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Alright, so now it's time for the comment of the day.
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And we have a comment here from Alpha.
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This was on the Learn English with Rock music lesson.
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And Alpha says: I've been following your channel for about three years, and this lesson is definitely my favorite so far.
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Of course I love rock music, especially from the 70s and the 80s.
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I guess Thiago had a blast.
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making this lesson, am I right?
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Yes, you are absolutely right, I had such a blast.
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A lot of fun making that lesson.
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I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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And we also have here a nice comment about for the lesson "Testure English with Zootopia" that we released recently.
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This is from Thiago, and Thiago says "Oh, what a terrific lesson !" as opposed to "terrible".
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I used to confuse So many new words.
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I study English because I have an urge to learn new things and I think that Tiago, not me, the host, is a very articulate teacher.
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Thank you.
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Tiago, thank you so much for the wonderful comment and great job because I can see here that you are using
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the advanced words that we discussed in that lesson this utopia lesson.
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So that's awesome.
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You know, you'll learn a new word and you try to use it right away.
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amazing but now guys let me ask you a question what have you learned in today's lesson with suits and
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Do you have any questions?
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Is anything from this lesson today, any word or expression that is not clear yet,
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Ask your question in the comment section below and then I can take a look and answer for you later.
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All right?
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Thank you very much for watching.
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Don't forget to like this video and share this video with a friend who's also learning English, and subscribe to the channel in case You are not subscribed yet.
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And if you want to keep learning English while having a lot of fun, you might want to check out this next lesson.
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Here it is.
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Puppet, three, two, one...
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Context & Background
In the scene presented in the video "Learn English with SUITS," we find ourselves in a tense situation between two characters, Harvey and Mike. Harvey is a top lawyer who is grappling with the repercussions of a lie that could jeopardize his career. On Mike's first day of work, he faces the risk of being fired due to Harvey's concerns about his fabricated resume. This exchange not only highlights the nuances of workplace dynamics but also weaves in legal terminology and expressions common in business settings. For learners, understanding this context is crucial in grasping advanced conversational skills and legal English vocabulary, which can be beneficial for those preparing for exams like IELTS or engaging in professional discussions.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Let someone go: This phrase means to fire someone, often used in professional contexts.
- Throw you under the bus: To betray someone for personal gain, typically in a high-stakes situation.
- Put my own interests above yours: This phrase describes prioritizing one's own needs, often in a competitive environment.
- Rehired: Being hired again after being dismissed, crucial in understanding workplace dynamics.
- Downsizing: This term refers to reducing the number of employees, often for financial reasons.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively learn English with YouTube videos like this one, adopting a practice method known as shadowspeak can be extremely helpful. Here’s a step-by-step guide to tackle this video’s content and improve your English pronunciation:
- Watch the video: First, view the video in its entirety without pausing. Take notes on key phrases and expressions.
- Listen closely: Play the video segment by segment, focusing on the pronunciation and intonation of the characters.
- Shadow speech: Repeat after the characters in real-time, mimicking their speech patterns. Pay attention to how they emphasize certain words.
- Break it down: Isolate challenging phrases (e.g., "throw you under the bus") and practice them individually until you feel confident.
- Practice daily: Incorporate these phrases into your daily conversations or writing to solidify your understanding—ideal for improving your IELTS speaking practice!
By embracing this focused approach to shadowing, you'll not only enhance your pronunciation but also gain confidence in using complex expressions in everyday situations. Happy learning!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if + simple present Plus, will · If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I'll go · if you don't love this, then we'll do |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was denied · is reprimanded · is reduced |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have made · I've ever closed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | man who lands · obliged, which is |
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.