Shadowing Practice: Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United head coach - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Yeah, it's the news we've been expecting and we can bring it to you now.
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Michael Carrick has been sacked as the head coach of Manchester United.
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Here we go.
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News has just reached us.
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Confirmation that we've been discussing right now.
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We can actually go live to Carrington right now to our reporter, Peter Stevenson.
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Peter, what can you tell us?
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the news
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that I guess the worst kept secret in football confirmed a few minutes ago with the announcement by United
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that Michael Carrick has been dismissed as head coach of the club, he arrived this morning at quarter to eight looked very very
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relaxed for a man who as we now know was making
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his last drive in as head coach left here a few minutes Segosa only in today for two or three hours.
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We know that
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Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, has been in with him as well as Omar Barada, the Chief Executive.
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Those were the three main personalities that we knew would have to come together after that meeting in Monte Carlo yesterday.
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But clearly the review of the season carried out with Sir Jim Radcliffe yesterday has concluded
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that things just simply had to change.
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United obviously struggling in the bottom three.
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30 goals conceded and just generally a really miserable first 10 games of the season.
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And unfortunately for Michael Carrick, a really accomplished midfield player, but sadly not able to translate that into his managerial career so far.
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And his time at Manchester United is over.
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Peter, stay there for us.
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Charlie, what's your reaction?
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Obviously, we've been discussing it at Lemp already this morning, but what's your immediate reaction?
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We're not surprised by it, of course.
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You've got to feel sorry for my coach.
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We've been spoken about since Sunday, the finalist was gone, that he's going to leave.
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The way he's been dragged out is appalling, really.
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He's left now.
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He's come and done a fantastic job the second half of last season.
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He got given the job, and I don't think he should have.
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And then he's done this 10 games.
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But has anything changed?
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Notice these players.
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I've got to pick up what Peter says.
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30 goals they've conceded, right?
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Let's not forget about the back four and defensive players they've got there.
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They've had no change in that position other than when it was in 2022, other than the goalkeeper.
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So the club have left Michael Carrick short.
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They haven't helped him.
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They haven't progressed him going into the Champions League.
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So they've put him in this position as well.
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I feel sorry for Michael Carrick.
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I really do.
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Yeah, look, let's see.
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Hopefully Peter Stevens is still there with us listening.
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Peter, look, what will happen now, Peter?
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Obviously, Michael Carrick's now, the news has come out what will happen now
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and how quickly are we expecting news of Mauricio Pochettino's arrival?
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Well, my understanding of the situation was
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that Michael Carrick was still the head coach up until a few minutes ago
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and he was being kept on as head coach because until they had the Pochettino deal in the bag,
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they couldn't really afford to let Carrick go.
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There might have been a last minute change of heart, there might have been issues with the timing of Pochettino's arrival or the compensation being paid.
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I guess what we have to assume now is
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that all those issues have been ironed out and that the Pochettino deal has been signed and sealed.
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Not announced as yet but they clearly wouldn't have let Carrick go unless they had that part of the arrangement all sorted.
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That was how it was laid out at the start of the week
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so no reason to suggest that has changed but the fact
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that one head coach has departed now we imagine paves the way for a new head coach to arrive and it
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It has to be towards the end of this week and bearing in mind what a huge start, a nice Sunday afternoon out at Anfield.
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Yeah, it's going to be all eyes on that one as well.
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Just to add as well, Peter, you mentioned the fact of Mauricio Potosino and staff coming in as well.
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We understand Johnny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate are also expected to leave Manchester United alongside Michael Carrick.
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Now, Charlie, we talked previously about the fact
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that Mauricio Potosino always brings his backroom staff in and he's got his trusted core that travel around with him.
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Is that inevitable that the coaching staff would also leave the club?
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I think so.
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I've got to be honest with you, James.
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If they're part of Manchester United's culture bit, and a part of the manager,
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them two have been put in that position because Michael Carrick brought them in there.
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What would I be interested to see what happens with Steve Holland?
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Will he stay at the football club in a different capacity, or will he move on?
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But ultimately, Manchester United are at the bottom, and they need a completely fresh start,
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They need a completely different mindset coming in and someone that's got the trust of...
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I'd say the trust of the football club when it comes in.
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He's got to be given the reins.
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If them other two keep continuing to be in charge, then Man United are only going one way.
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Yeah, I was going to say, do you think he will be given the reins, though?
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Do you think he will be given...
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The keys to Old Trafford, so to speak.
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Almost like, right, there you go, Mauricio.
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We need you to rescue us.
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Whatever you need, we will do.
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Instead of, say, a Michael Catt, which you could understand why.
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Because for him, being back at Manchester United was a huge honour.
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Loves that football club.
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He was willing to do anything they wanted.
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But by doing that, obviously, he let others control certain other aspects.
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Well, Mauricio Poitino's not that guy, is he?
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No, so he's got to be given the reins.
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He's got the managerial experience.
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Michael Carrick hasn't.
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He's got to go in there.
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He'll be saying, listen, I'll come and take that job
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if you trust me and allow me to do things how I want to.
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Man United have got nowhere else to turn because the powers
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that be that are making decisions at the moment are not doing the right job for the club.
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They're not bringing the right signs in.
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They're not progressing the football club going forward.
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So when Mitch Pocino comes into the football club, blank sheet of paper, there you go,
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you're in full control because they've got nowhere else to turn.
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They really haven't got nowhere else to turn.
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And when you look at it in general, the only way they were going to attract a manager of that ilk or of that standard,
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et cetera, is to be given the keys.
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Charles, is the right man gone here?
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With everything going on at that football club, is he the full guy?
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100 % he's the full guy.
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100 % he's the full guy.
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But unfortunately, like I said, for him, how can he turn that down in the summer, right?
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The opportunity to be a manager of Manchester United.
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He can't.
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He's played there.
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He's a legend, all that kind of stuff.
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But Man Utd's hierarchy is strong enough.
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They don't give him the job.
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And they go and appoint Pochettino if they wanted him in the summer.
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He's the full guy.
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The wrong person's gone.
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And now you've really got to start looking at Jason Wilcox and Barada.
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Are they doing enough for Manchester United?
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Really, are they doing the best for Manchester United?
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Absolutely not.
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Look, Jeff's message said it's tragic how they've treated Carrick.
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He deserves better.
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It's such a shame.
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The messages just keep coming.
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He deserves so much more, says Jeff.
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Let's just focus on Michael Carrick right now.
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Look, he's held his head high.
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His reputation will still be high.
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What next for him?
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Do you know what?
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He leaves Manchester United and he had a tough job to do.
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He wasn't backed in the summer with players coming in, let's be honest.
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And, by the way, did an exceptional job at the back end of last year.
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When he took over, I think the state Manchester United was in, when he took over, he got them back playing, the experience of the fans,
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etc and that's
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when they should have been brave enough to stop it in the summer not him the powers
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that be but for him now he's conducted himself first class look you just see
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that even though he's coming this morning he acknowledges the the media that's there we don't have
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so many times we've just seen people looking out the other window not even acknowledge them
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that that's that just shows kind of what kind of guy he is
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so for me i feel like manchester i've really let him down i think he wants to
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if i'm honest he'll go home pack his stuff
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and get get away he's got to get away from the
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noise he's been he's played for the biggest club in world football he's managed them
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he needs to get away from the noise now he really does
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because for the last five days it's been non -stop yeah look
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this is uh Manchester United since Michael Carrick's appointment uh at the start of January
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and their record is third I mean we know they've had a really disappointing campaign
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this campaign but last season
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when he joined towards to the end of the season Manchester
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Manchester United has actually the best record out of all top five leagues in Europe, which is the remarkable job that he's done.
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So, has he got a future in the Premier League, Michael Carrick?
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Has he got a future in this management game?
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The hard bit is you have to get rid of Manchester United a little bit
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and think about what he's done at Middlesbrough.
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It's all the learning curve and the way he's going.
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It's if he wants to.
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Manchester United might have just turned him away
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and turned his face out ever being a manager again for I'm not being treated in that way.
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The hard bit is the upside of what they did in the last six months last season was phenomenal
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and they couldn't continue that this season.
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But Man United didn't improve or help Michael Carrick at all in this season.
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Right, we'll continue this chat and continue reflecting on the breaking news
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that Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as their head coach.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United head coach”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: manchester, Carrick, Michael, club, coach. This video has 167 sentences and 1792 words to shadow. The speech runs for 9:09. The speaker talks fast, about 196 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 89% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| nowhere adverb | /ˈnoʊ.(h)wɛɹ/ | In no place. |
| arrival noun | /əˈɹaɪ.vl̩/ | The act of arriving (reaching a certain place). |
| arrive verb | /əˈɹaɪv/ | To reach; to get to a certain place. |
| acknowledge verb | /əkˈnɑ.lɪd͡ʒ/ | To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in. |
| sack noun | /sæk/ | A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with… |
| managerial adjective | /ˌmænɪˈd͡ʒɪəɹi.əl/ | Of or relating to a manager or management; involving management-like duties. |
| rescue verb | /ˈɹɛs.kjuː/ | To save from any violence, danger or evil. |
| reputation noun | /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/ | What somebody or something is known for. |
| alongside | /əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/ | Side by side with. |
| legend noun | /ˈlɛd͡ʒ.ənd/ | The life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend). |
| aspect noun | /ˈæspɛkt/ | Any specific feature, part, or element of something. |
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| sheet noun | /ʃit/ | A thin bed cloth used as a covering for a mattress or as a layer over the sleeper. |
| reflect verb | /ɹɪˈflɛkt/ | To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface. |
| defensive adjective | /dɪˈfɛn.sɪv/ | Intended for defence; protective. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| take over verb | To assume control of something, such as a business or enterprise, and sometimes by force. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| come together verb | /ˈkʌm tʊˈɡɛðɚ/ | To assemble; to congregate; to combine. |
| drag out verb | To extend or lengthen excessively; to draw out. | |
| face out verb | To carry off by bold looks; to see something unpleasant through with courage and spirit. | |
| get away verb | To move away (from). | |
| going forward adverb | In the immediate future and beyond. | |
| look out verb | To be vigilant and aware often as an imperative to alert a person to danger. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Confirmation that we've been discussing right now.
- Peter, what can you tell us?
- Charlie, what's your reaction?
- We're not surprised by it, of course.
- You've got to feel sorry for my coach.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | we've been expecting · we've been discussing |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been sacked · has just reached · has been dismissed |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | has been sacked · has been dismissed · We've been spoken |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | man who as · Europe, which is |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 42 contractions and reduced forms, such as they've, we've, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, sheet /ʃit/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/, confirmation /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, accomplish /əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: managerial /ˌmænɪˈd͡ʒɪəɹi.əl/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/, confirmation /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, inevitable /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like nowhere, arrival, arrive.
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.