Shadowing Practice: Mike Ross' Interview with Harvey Specter | Suits - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Episode tertiary PHP So, Chip, what makes you think that I'm gonna let the whitest man that I have ever seen interview for our firm?
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129 sentences
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Episode tertiary PHP So, Chip, what makes you think that I'm gonna let the whitest man that I have ever seen interview for our firm?
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Because I have an appointment.
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Hmm.
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Thanks.
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You can do this.
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I don't know if you see no one.
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Kid, what is wrong with you?
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You look like you're 11 years old.
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I was late to puberty.
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OK.
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Thank you.
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Let me smack you.
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I'm not going to do that.
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I'm not going to do that.
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Uh, excuse me.
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I was thinking about going for a swim.
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Are the pool facilities here nice?
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Of course, sir.
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It's the Chilton Hotel.
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Best in the city.
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Why is the pool closed?
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And, uh, do you have the time?
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Uh...
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It's, uh...
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10 o'clock.
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Thanks.
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I saw your gun.
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Oh, you think that's him?
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I don't know.
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I'll know.
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That's his description, but he didn't go in the room.
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It's 10 exactly.
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He's just walking by.
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Go after him.
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Stay on the radio.
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Rick Sorkin.
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Rick Sorkin.
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Rick Sorkin.
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Rick Sorkin?
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Excuse me, Mr.
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Sorkin, you are five minutes late.
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Is there a reason why I should let you in?
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Look, I'm just trying to ditch the cops, okay?
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I don't really care if you let me in or not.
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Mr.
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Spector will be right with you.
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What?
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Can I get you anything?
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A coffee or a bottle of water?
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I don't mind that same way.
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Hi, uh, Rick Sorkin.
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Hi, Spector.
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Nice to meet you.
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Why don't you have a seat here?
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Whoa!
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What's this?
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Can I help you?
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No.
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Excuse me, Mr.
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Tate.
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Who are you?
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My name's Louis Slit.
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I work for Pearson Hartley.
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I have some information that I think will lead you to the conclusion that you're better served at Pearson with me as your lead counsel.
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I'm listening.
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How the hell did you know they were to the police?
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I read this novel in elementary school.
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Cops are staking out a hotel.
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One of them dresses as a bellhop, the other is a man in a suit.
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It was the exact same thing.
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You read a novel in elementary school?
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What?
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I like to read.
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And why'd you ask them what time it was?
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Throw them off.
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I mean, what kind of drug dealer asks a cop what time it is when he's got a briefcase full of pot, right?
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We should hire you.
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Jesus, I'd give you the 25 grand as a signing bonus.
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I'll take it.
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Unfortunately, we only hire from Harvard.
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And you not only did not go to Harvard Law School, you haven't even gone to any law school.
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What if I told you that I consume knowledge like no one you've ever met, and I've actually passed the bar?
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I'd say you're full of crap.
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That's a Barbary legal handbook right there, right?
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Open it up.
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Read me something.
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Anything.
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Civil liability associated with agency is based on several factors, including the deviation of the agent from his path, the reasonable inference of agency on behalf of the plaintiff, and the nature of the damages themselves.
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How did you know that?
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I learned it when I studied for the bar.
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Okay, hotshot.
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Fire up this laptop.
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I'm gonna show you what a Harvard attorney can do.
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Pick a topic.
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Stock option backdating.
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Although backdating options is legal, violations arise related to disclosures under IRC section 409A.
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You forgot about Sarbanes-Oxley.
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The statute of limitations renders Sarbanes-Oxley moot post-2007.
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Well, not if you can find actions to cover up the violation as established in the Sixth Circuit, May 2008.
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It's impressive, but you're sitting at a computer.
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Playing hearts.
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Sorry.
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If you want to beat me, you're gonna have to do it at something else.
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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.
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And once I understand it, I never forget it.
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Why take the bar?
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This dickhead bet me I couldn't pass it without going to law school.
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Okay, look.
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This is all pretty fascinating stuff, Pretty fascinating stuff, but I'm afraid I gotta get back to work.
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I'll make sure that Serpico isn't around waiting for you.
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You want this job so much, why don't you just go to law school?
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When I was in college, it was my dream to be a lawyer.
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I needed some money, and Trevor convinced me to memorize this math test and sell it.
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Turns out we sold it to the dean's daughter.
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I lost my scholarship, I got kicked out of school, I...
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I got knocked into a different life.
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And I have been wishing for a way back ever since.
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Let me tell you something.
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This isn't elementary school.
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This is hard work, long hours, high pressure.
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I need a grown goddamn man.
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You give me this, and I will work as hard as it takes to school those Harvard douches and become the best lawyer you have ever seen.
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I'm inclined to give you a shot, but what if I decide to go another way?
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I'd say that's fair.
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And sometimes I like to hang out with people who aren't that bright, you know, just to see how the other half lives.
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Move over.
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I'm emailing the firm I just found our next associate.
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Context & Background

The dialogue from the Suits interview between Mike Ross and Harvey Specter reveals the intense and often humorous dynamics of a high-stakes legal environment. Mike, showcasing his nervousness, is characterized as youthful and inexperienced, which leads to some light-hearted banter about his age. Meanwhile, Harvey, exuding confidence and authority, underscores the competitive nature of their profession. This exchange not only sets the tone for their relationship but also highlights common social interactions in a professional setting.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

In mastering English, especially in a professional context, learning key phrases can significantly enhance your communication skills. Here are five phrases extracted from the transcript that are essential for daily interactions:

  • “What makes you think…” - A polite way to question someone’s assumption or judgment.
  • “I don’t know if you see no one” - Expressing uncertainty; a common conversational turn.
  • “Can I get you anything?” - A courteous offer that is useful in both personal and professional settings.
  • “Is there a reason why I should let you in?” - A confrontational yet professional way to establish boundaries or rules.
  • “I was just trying to…” - A phrase that reflects an attempt to clarify intentions in a conversation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English pronunciation and conversation skills using this video, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide designed to implement the shadowing technique, which is especially effective for language learners:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by viewing the clip without any subtitles to acclimate your ear to the dialogue’s rhythm and intonation.
  2. Listen for Key Phrases: Rewind and focus on the identified phrases. Pay attention to how pronunciation and tone convey meaning. This engages your auditory skills, crucial in the shadow speech technique.
  3. Practice Repetition: Use a shadowing app to repeat after the characters. Mimic their pronunciation, stress, and emotions. This step is crucial to improve your fluency and diction.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your practice sessions. Playback will help identify areas that need adjustment, thereby refining your pronunciation.
  5. Engage with a Language Partner: If possible, practice these dialogues with a partner. This will not only provide real-time feedback but also boost your confidence in using English in a conversational setting.

Utilizing this shadowing site and applying these techniques consistently will help enhance your English speaking skills, giving you the ability to communicate more effectively in both everyday and professional situations.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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