Shadowing Practice: Learn English with The DEVIL WEARS PRADA — The Harry Potter Manuscript - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Thank you.
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Okay.
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Miranda, about last night, I have-- I need the new Harry Potter book for the twins.
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Okay.
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Okay, I'll go down to Barnes & Noble right now.
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Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?
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Not that I can recall.
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We have all the published Harry Potter books.
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Twins want to know what happens next.
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- Okay.
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You want the unpublished manuscript?
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Well, we know everyone in publishing.
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It shouldn't be a problem, should it?
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And you can do anything, right?
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Ooh, and it's got a big problem there.
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How can someone get access to a book like Harry Potter before it's even released?
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This is Xenia, your Real Life English Fluency Coach, and today we're learning English with Devil Wears Prada.
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Listen to the word she uses here.
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If you want the unpublished manuscript.
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A manuscript in this case refers to an early version of a book that only the author and editors can access.
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Because it hasn't been published yet.
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So today's lesson is packed with advanced expressions like this.
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We'll go through more than 30.
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And to help you not only learn the most useful ones, but also remember them forever.
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I want to give you as a gift access to the smart flashcards from this lesson for free.
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You can practice with them in our app by clicking the link below.
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Thousands of learners just like you are already doing this and actually getting more fluent every day while having fun.
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But make sure to give it a try if you want to level up your English from intermediate to advanced.
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Now let's get started by learning the other advanced words we saw in
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that first part of the scene before we continue with the story.
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For example, listen to this.
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What is Andy talking about here?
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I need the new Harry Potter book for the twins.
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Okay.
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Okay, I'll go down to Barnes & Noble right now.
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Barnes & Noble is the largest and most famous bookstore chain in the United States.
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It's kind of a cultural landmark where people go to browse books, drink coffee, and spend hours reading.
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So Andy suggests going there to buy the latest published Harry Potter book for Miranda's twin daughters.
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By the way, notice how Miranda calls them the twins.
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this: "The twins need new shoes" or "I'm taking the twins to school".
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Okay, now listen to Miranda's response.
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"Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?" To smack means to hit something hard, making a sharp sound.
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Like a person could get smacked across the face, or you could smack your hand on the table.
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And by pavement, Miranda is referring to the walking path on the side of a road.
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Americans call it sidewalk, Brits call it pavement.
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You may also hear people say, "Did you heat your head?" "Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?" Not that I can recall.
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Recall is another way of saying remember.
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It just sounds a bit more formal.
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Check out this example from The Lost City.
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I don't know if you recall, but you only said translate it.
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I translated it.
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Memories get lost or fractured.
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Most of them return, although it's unlikely you'll ever fully recall the events around your accident.
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Okay, so as we learned, Miranda was actually referring to the manuscript of the last Harry Potter book.
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She then explains why getting this manuscript shouldn't be a difficult task.
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We know everyone in publishing, it shouldn't be a problem, should it?
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When she says in publishing, she means in the publishing industry, the business of creating and selling books, magazines, newspapers.
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For example, she works in finance.
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She's an indication.
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They work in healthcare.
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I'm in marketing.
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Alright, now let's watch the next part of the scene and learn other useful advanced expressions with it.
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I could call freaking J .K.
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Rowell or something.
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I'm not gonna get a copy of that book.
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My girls are leaving on the train for their grandmothers at four, so the book better be here.
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No later than three. Of course.
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And I would like my steak here in 15 minutes.
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No problem James Hall's party at Miranda Priess's assistant.
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Harry Potter manuscript?
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No, you're kidding.
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Sorry to ask, but I am desperate.
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Just tell her it can't be done.
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You'll have to come up with a plan B.
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Well, this is Miranda Priessly we're talking about.
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There is no plan B.
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There's only plan A.
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Take a look at what Andy said here.
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I can call freaking JK Rowling.
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I'm not going to get a copy of that book.
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First, you should know that freaking, is a softer way of saying the F word.
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It's used to add emphasis and sometimes to express frustration, like: "This freaking computer won't work !"
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or "It's freaking freezing outside !" You may also see this spelled as "freaking" or "freaking".
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And when Andy says she could call JK Rowling herself, the word "herself" here is also adding emphasis.
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For example, "the president himself called me," which means like "the president," not someone else.
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Or you could say, "I met Beyonce herself." So Andy thinks it's impossible to get a copy of the book.
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A copy means one reproduction of the book.
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Like publishers make thousands of copies of a book to sell.
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- My book better be here, no later than three.
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This is a strong construction Miranda used here to express a command or serious expectation.
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For example, you could hear "You better be on time." This better work.
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The report better be ready by Monday.
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It's more forceful than "should be" because it suggests there will be consequences if the expectation isn't met.
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See this other example from Limitless.
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You better be prepared.
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I better be going.
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And no later than simply means before this exact time.
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And by the way, are you like me and sometimes you just can't recall new expressions soon after learning them?
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Yeah, I thought so.
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That's why it's so important to review the words you are learning today.
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I know this not only from my own experience learning English, but also because we've taught millions of English learners like you.
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That's what led us to create the perfect solution.
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A set of flashcards for this lesson with the Devil Wears Prada that is available for free.
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on our app.
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These will help you remember the new words from this lesson forever.
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And the reason this works is that we put the science and the right technology behind it.
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Basically, the app knows the exact expressions you've learned from all the lessons, and just when you're about to forget one, we bring it back to you to practice.
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All you need is 10 -15 minutes daily for more natural English speaking.
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Super easy.
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the real -life app right now for free and start getting a bit more fluid every day.
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So, Andy goes on the impossible quest to get this book and starts calling a bunch of people she knows in publishing.
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Yes, yes, yes, I've been on hold.
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Well, it's for Miranda Priestly, it's very important.
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She's speaking quite fast and she's literally running, so it might be difficult to hear, but she just said she's being on hold.
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When you're on hold on the phone, you're waiting for someone to answer while listening to music or silence.
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Like in this example.
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I have Paddy Fenn on hold.
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What should I tell her?
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She'll call back.
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We also use it figuratively for plans or projects that are paused.
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You're gone for weeks at a time.
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So it's like I'm peering into other people's lives because my own is just temporarily on hold.
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Yeah, I'm pulling with the Harry Potter manuscript.
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Uh, no, unpublished.
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Not a chance.
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Oh, okay.
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The phrase "not a chance" is a common way to say something is impossible.
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In this case, it's a firm definitive rejection.
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Like in this example from Molly's Game.
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Not a chance.
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I think we got a good chance.
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No, not a chance.
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I'm letting you make that argument.
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Why not?
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It's not true.
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Tell her that it's for Miranda Priestly because I think it makes a difference.
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Let me call you back.
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Hi.
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"Let me call you back" is a standard phone expression, meaning "I'll hang up now and call you again later".
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Like, if you are in a meeting or driving and receive a phone call, you could say this to the other person.
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And pretty much any native will pronounce this like "lemmy", not "let me", but "lemmy".
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"Lemmy call you back".
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You probably don't remember me, but we met at James Cates' party.
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I'm our enterprise's assistant.
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The Harry Potter manuscript?
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Oh, you're kidding.
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Uh, sorry to ask, but I am desperate.
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Just tell her it can't be done.
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You'll have to come up with a plan B.
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What?
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To come up with something, usually an idea, plan, or solution, means to think of it or create it.
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It suggests creative thinking or problem solving.
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I needed to go away, sever myself from reality, and come up with a new plan.
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I've been sitting out there for the last half hour trying
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to come up with a story that would explain my being here dressed
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Now let's watch the final part and see how this impossible situation turns out.
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you Hello?
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I'm brilliant.
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No, really.
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Monuments should be erected in my honor.
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You didn't.
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Oh, yes.
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A friend of a friend does the cover art and she happens to have the manuscript.
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Oh, no. Because that would mean that I actually did something right.
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It's just, the thing is, Christian, I was just...
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Look, you want this thing, you better hurry.
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I'll meet you at the St. Regis.
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You have one hour.
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One copy.
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What are my twins gonna do with that?
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Share.
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No, no, I made two copies.
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And had them covered, reset, and bound so that they wouldn't look like manuscripts.
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This is an extra copy to have in file.
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You know.
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Just in case.
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Well, where are these fabulous copies?
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I don't see them anywhere.
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There was a twins.
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Now on the train on the way to Grandma's.
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Is there anything else I can do for you?
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Mm -mm.
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That's all.
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Okay.
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Hello!
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I'm brilliant.
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No, really.
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Monuments should be erected in my honor.
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To erect something means to build it or make it stand up.
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We use it especially for large structures: erect a building, erect a statue, erect a monument.
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In casual speech, natives usually just say "build" or "put up".
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Christian is joking here, but let's see what he's talking about.
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"Oh yes, friend of a friend does the cover art
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and she happens to have the manuscript." So it looks like they do know everyone in publishing after all, even if indirectly.
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Christian is saying he has a friend who has another friend
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and this person did the cover art of the Harry Potter book.
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album or magazine.
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Now, This person, who did the cover art of the book, happens to have the manuscript.
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This is a common phrase meaning by chance, like it's a lucky coincidence.
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Check out this other example.
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Well, I happen to have a fiancé who's smart enough to leave everything to me.
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Look, you want this thing?
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You better hurry.
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I'll make sure this ain't regis.
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When you hurry, you're rushing to get something done fast because time is limited.
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You can also use the phrasal verb hurry up often as a command.
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Thank you.
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Dad, there's another one!
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Hurry up!
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Hurry up and get dressed.
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So Andy gets it done and now she's back in Miranda's office to deliver the impossible.
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Let's look at this final exchange.
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Oh no, I made two copies.
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And had them covered, reset and bound so that they wouldn't look like manuscripts.
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And is saying she transformed the loose manuscript pages into books that look professionally published.
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Covered means she added covers to them.
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Reset means she reformatted the pages to look more professional.
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Bound means she had the pages fastened or tied together.
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You know, like in a binder.
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Bound is actually the past form of the verb to bind.
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This is an extra copy to have in the file.
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Just in case.
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When you have something on file, you keep it in storage or in records, in case it's needed.
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That's what the common expression "just in case" means.
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Just in case you need it.
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So, for example, companies keep your resume on file, doctors keep medical records on file.
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By the way, this is a good line for practicing connected speech.
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You know, when natives reduce, cut, and link words together.
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Listen to how she says it.
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This is an extra copy to have on file.
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You know, just in case. in three parts.
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First, let's link the words "this" and "is".
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this is.
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Then an extra copy becomes
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an extra copy this is an extra this is an extra copy
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and finally to have on file sounds like to have on
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file to have in file this is an extra copy to
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have in file fun right all we did was link the words together
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and it already sounds much faster and more fluid but it's not actually fast It's just connected speech.
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Now let's try to repeat the whole line after Andy.
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This is an extra copy to have in the file.
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Well, where are these fabulous copies?
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I don't see them anywhere.
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Fabulous means wonderful or excellent, maybe with a touch of glamour or style, like we'll see in the example from Hunger Games.
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However, Miranda uses it here with her typical sarcastic tone.
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Fabulous food, fabulous wine, massages, spa treatments, I told them, nothing but the best for my two victors.
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It all needs to be...
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Fabulous!
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Alright, now let's move on to the final and most important step of the lesson.
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We're gonna take everything you've just learned, the new vocabulary and the advanced pronunciation, and put it all into practice.
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You'll watch all the scenes again, this time without any subtitles and answer sound quiz questions.
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Are you ready?
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Let's do it!
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Miranda, about last night, I have-- I need the new Harry Potter book for the twins.
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Okay.
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Okay, I'll go down to Barnes & Noble right now.
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Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement?
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What is pavement and what's the word Americans use to refer to it?
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Bye.
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you - Bye.
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Americans call this sidewalk.
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British people call it pavement.
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Bye.
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Not that I can recall.
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We have all the published Harry Potter books.
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Twins want to know what happens next.
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- Okay.
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You want the unpublished manuscript?
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Well, we know everyone in publishing.
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It shouldn't be a problem, should it?
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And you can do anything, right?
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What does herself emphasize here?
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Rowling is the only person who could help.
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Even calling Rowling wouldn't help.
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Andy knows JK Rowling personally.
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My girls are leaving on the train for the grandmothers at 4 :00, so the book better be here.
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No later than 3 :00. Of course.
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And I would like my steak here in 15 minutes.
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No problem Let me call you back.
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What does Andy mean by this?
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She's asking if she can call back later.
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She's asking the other person to call her back, politely ending the conversation to continue later.
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Oh You probably don't remember me,
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but we met at James Holt's party at Miranda Priess' assistant.
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The Harry Potter manuscript?
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Oh, you're kidding.
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Uh, sorry to ask, but I am desperate.
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Just tell her it can't be done.
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You'll have to come up with a plan B.
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Well, this is Miranda Priessly we're talking about.
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There is no plan B.
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There's only plan A.
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Hello?
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I'm brilliant.
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No, really.
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The monument should be erected in my honor.
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You didn't.
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Oh yes, friend of a friend does the cover art and she happens to have the manuscript.
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Christian's friend happens to have the manuscript.
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What does this mean?
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By coincidence, this person has the needed manuscript.
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This person is happy to have all the manuscripts of the author.
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This person will probably get the manuscript soon.
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Oh no,
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because that would mean that I actually did something right.
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It's just...
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the thing is Christian, I was just...
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Look, you want this thing, you better hurry.
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I'll make sure this ain't Regis.
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You have one hour.
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Okay.
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Thank you.
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One copy.
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What are my twins going to do with that?
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Share.
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"Oh no, I made two copies and had them covered, reset and bound so that they wouldn't look like manuscripts." Bound is the past form of what verb?
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Oh Bound is the past form of bind.
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It means to fasten or tie things together.
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and had them covered, reset and bound so that they wouldn't look like manuscripts.
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This is an extra copy to have in file, you know.
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Just in case.
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Well, where are these fabulous copies?
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I don't see them anywhere.
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There was a Twins.
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Now on the train on the way to Grandma's.
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Is there anything else I can do for you?
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Mm -mm.
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That's all.
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Okay.
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oh yeah amazing job guys now
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if you are new to this youtube channel you should know
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that every single week we make new lessons just like this
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one with celebrities movies tv series to help you understand fast speaking natives without getting lost without missing the jokes
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and without subtitles so if that sounds like something you want to be able to do hit the subscribe button
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Remember to go and practice what you learned today on the RealLife English app.
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You'll find a special link right in the description below that'll take you straight to this lesson over there.
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In today's lesson, we'll watch the scene where Randy turns to Nigel, the magazine's art director, for support.
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She just wants someone to give her credit for how hard she's working.
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But instead of sympathy, Nigel tells her that Miranda isn't picking on her.
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She's just doing her job.
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About This Lesson
In this engaging lesson, we dive into the dynamic dialogue from "The Devil Wears Prada," where advanced expressions and idiomatic phrases come to life. By focusing on scenes that feature key vocabulary related to everyday situations, you will not only enrich your English vocabulary but also enhance your listening and speaking capabilities. This lesson is designed for learners who wish to move from intermediate to advanced English fluency, with a particular focus on applying these expressions in real-life conversations.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Manuscript: An early version of a book that is not published yet.
- Pavement: In American English, it refers to the sidewalk; a path for walking alongside a road.
- Smack: To hit something hard, often producing a sharp sound. For example, "He smacked the table in frustration."
- Recall: To remember something; a more formal way of saying "remember." For instance, "I can't recall the exact details."
- Twins: Children born at the same time from the same pregnancy; often used informally as "the twins" in conversation.
- Go down: A phrase meaning to physically go to a place, often used in the context of a location, such as "go down to the store."
Practice Tips
To maximize your learning from this lesson, consider using shadowing techniques with the speed and tone of the video. Shadowing involves listening to a speaker and repeating what they say, mimicking their pronunciation and intonation. As you watch the video, pause after each sentence to practice shadow speaking. Since the dialogue is quick yet clear, focus on the cadence and rhythm of the speech to improve your fluency.
Here are some detailed tips for effective shadowing:
- Listen to a short segment and repeat immediately, trying to match the speaker's tone and emotion.
- Use a shadowing app to record your voice and compare it with the original audio, identifying areas for improvement.
- Practice each key vocabulary item and the phrases in your own sentences to solidify your understanding and usage.
- Engage with shadowspeak by discussing your progress or questions regarding the scene with another learner or tutor.
By consistently incorporating these techniques into your English speaking practice, you will find yourself becoming more confident and fluent in using advanced expressions naturally in your conversations.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | been published · can't be done · isn't met |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | hasn't been published · we've taught · you've learned |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | friend who has · person who could |
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.