Shadowing Practice: Mike Pleads Guilty to Fraud | Crime & Conviction - Learn English Speaking with Video

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64 sentences
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1
What did you do?
2
I did what I had to do.
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I pled guilty.
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Bullshit.
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You didn't plead anything.
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Harvey, look at me.
7
It was my crime, it was my choice to make, and I made it.
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It's done.
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Well, I'm going to unmake it, because the judge hasn't ratified it yet.
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Until she does, nothing's done.
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Harvey, stop.
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No, you listen to me.
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If you think I'm going to let you do this, you're out of your goddamn mind. Do what, Mike?
14
What did you do?
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I took the two years.
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No. No you didn't.
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I don't accept that.
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Please, listen.
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It was the only way that I could do this.
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No, it wasn't the only way.
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You told me that you'd wait for the verdict
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and I begged you to have faith in yourself and you told me that you would.
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That was before I begged Diaz to take a deal
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that would rat out his friend and he didn't listen to me and then I would.
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Wait a second, you're throwing away the next two years of our lives for something that some criminal said.
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Stop, listen to me.
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Hold on.
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Harvey said he wasn't gonna let this happen.
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He went to go see the judge, didn't he?
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It doesn't matter, he can't stop it.
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Why not?
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Because it's not up to him, it's up to me and I've made my decision.
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Rachel, where are you going?
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Anywhere else.
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Because if you're gonna rob us of the next two years of our lives, I am not gonna stand here and watch you do it.
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Miss Gibbs, I don't appreciate being kept waiting once the jury's informed us they've reached a verdict.
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I'm sorry, Your Honor, Mr. Ross and I were finalizing a plea agreement.
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I'm sorry too, Your Honor, but they haven't finalized .
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What did you just say in my courtroom?
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You heard what I said.
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My chambers right now.
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I don't give a shit about that deal.
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She took advantage of my client.
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She coerced him, and you have the power to stop it.
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I have had enough of your language, Mr. Spector.
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It wasn't coercion.
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It was negotiated by a competent attorney.
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It's rock solid, and there's no basis to stop it.
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He's not a competent attorney.
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He's cutting a deal to plead guilty to fraud.
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You want to cut a different deal with me?
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I'm all ears.
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Yeah, the only problem with that is you can't sign a different deal because you already signed your rights to that away.
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God damn it, Mike.
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Don't do this.
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We can go to verdict.
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Don't give me that.
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You weren't racing over to her office to tell her that the jury was back.
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You were going to jump on the grenade, and I beat you to it.
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Now, I told you it's done.
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And it's done.
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Are you absolutely sure, Mr. Ross?
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I am, Your Honor.
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Mr. Ross, you have 72 hours to report to Danbury Federal Prison.

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Why This Video Clip Is Great for English Speaking Practice

Learning English with videos like this one offers a unique chance to practice real-world conversation. The dialogue is charged with emotion—frustration, urgency, and resolve—making it perfect for mastering natural tone and rhythm. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to sound more fluent, the raw, unscripted feel of the exchange helps you pick up on how native speakers stress words and pause for effect. Plus, the mix of casual and formal language (like "Bullshit" vs. "Your Honor") gives you a broad range of expressions to add to your toolkit.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: Key Phrases to Notice

Let’s look at a few lines that make this dialogue sound authentic. First, "I did what I had to do." The contraction "I did" and the casual phrasing "had to do" show how people simplify speech under pressure—no need for complex sentences here. Next, "You’re out of your goddamn mind." The strong adjective "goddamn" adds intensity, a common way to emphasize emotion in informal settings. Finally, "It’s rock solid, and there’s no basis to stop it." The phrase "rock solid" is a vivid idiom meaning "unbreakable," a great example of how native speakers use metaphors to make points. These details are what make speech sound natural, not just correct.

A Simple Shadowing Routine to Try

The shadowing technique is a proven way to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use this video: Start by watching the clip once to understand the context. Then, play a short 5-second segment, pause, and repeat it out loud, mimicking the speaker’s tone, speed, and stress. Focus on matching the way words like "plead guilty" or "coerced" are pronounced—notice how "coerced" has a soft "s" sound at the end. Record yourself, then compare it to the original. Did you catch the rising intonation in "Why not?"? Keep practicing this loop until the words flow naturally. Over time, this will help you speak more like a native, whether you’re using it for everyday conversations or IELTS speaking practice.

Shadowspeaks—repeating and imitating—isn’t just about memorizing lines; it’s about training your mouth and brain to use English in real time. This video, with its dynamic dialogue, is the perfect tool to make that practice engaging and effective.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhasn't ratified · I've made · they've reached
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itbeing kept · was negotiated

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →