Shadowing Practice: Mike's First Case in Housing Court | Suits - Learn English Speaking with Video
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69 sentences
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1
Carvarello versus Kerinsky properties.
2
So how does this usually work?
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Well, usually the trial starts and there's a judge and then You know, people say - You've never done this before, have you?
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I never drove a car before the first time I drove one, and I'm still here, aren't I?
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Oh, this is your first time?
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I'm your first.
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Don't worry, I promise not to be gentle.
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Frank.
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Nice to see you.
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One last time.
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If it pleases the court...
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- It pleases the court to decide who speaks and when.
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Well, sit down.
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We're talking about $4 ,000 in withheld rent payments?
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Yes, Your Honor, but we have receipts for repairs, lost clothing as well as.. as $4 ,000, yes, Your Honor.
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She was talking to me.
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Ah.
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Why hasn't he paid, Counselor?
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Uh, that one was for you.
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Uh, bed bugs, Your Honor.
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I have receipts that show my client's financial outlay to rectify the problem far exceeds the amount.
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Housing department certified the presence of bed bugs?
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Uh, yes, Your Honor.
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Batement?
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Let's get you.
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I'll do it.
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Yep.
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Your Honor, This is an eviction hearing.
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The pertinent question is not habitability, but whether or not rent has been paid.
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Actually, city code states that rent may be withheld if the warranty of habitability is breached.
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In that case, we request to see the checks Mr. Ross's client has placed in escrow.
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the Checks. In escrow.
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Pending the outcome of a rent abatement hearing?
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That's not in the code.
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It is the accepted practice.
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And therefore binding in this courtroom.
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Your client did put money in escrow, I assume.
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I didn't have any money left.
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I had to pay for it.
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Your Honor...
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Eviction upheld.
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But your Honor, he...
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Did you see me bang the gavel?
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That means step aside.
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Next kid.
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You never forget your first.
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You know what happens to pitchers when they get shelled in rookie league mine?
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You think they make it to the bigs? Or...
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Do they just end up on some sad American Legion team of has -beats?
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I get it.
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I lost.
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I'm sorry.
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- Oh.
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Well...
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You're sorry. In that case...
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- No, I am sorry.
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But right now I have some research to do for Harvey, so if you'll excuse me.
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Remember when you stole that client I had you bring in?
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It was a good time for you, wasn't it?
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See, I gave you enough in case so that when you did win, it would still do nothing for your career.
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But I still expected you to win.
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Yeah, I guess.
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Go back to your research.
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Maybe that is your niche.
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Ha ha.
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Thank you.
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Maybe it is.
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you .
69
you
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Mike's First Case in Housing Court”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Honor, rent, escrow, client. This video has 69 sentences and 447 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:29. The speaker talks at a steady 128 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 15 of its 69 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| escrow noun | /ˈɛ.skɹoʊ̯/ | A contractual arrangement whereby money or assets are held in trust by an independent agent by the agreement of the parties, which can only be released to the… |
| eviction noun | /ɪˈvɪk.ʃən/ | The act of evicting. |
| habitability noun | The property of being habitable. | |
| withhold verb | /wɪθˈhoʊld/ | To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner. |
| receipt noun | /ɹɪˈsiːt/ | The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received. |
| abatement noun | /əˈbeɪt.mənt/ | The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening, diminution, or reduction; a moderation; removal or putting an end to; the suppression. |
| batement noun | abatement; diminution | |
| certify verb | /ˈsɜː.tɪ.faɪ/ | To attest to (a fact) as the truth. |
| outlay noun | /ˈaʊtleɪ/ | A laying out or expending; that which is laid out or expended. |
| pertinent adjective | /ˈpɚtɪnənt/ | Important with regard to (a subject or matter); pertaining; relevant. |
| rectify verb | /ˈɹɛktəˌfaɪ/ | To restore (someone or something) to its proper condition; to straighten out, to set right. |
| uphold verb | /ˌʌpˈhəʊld/ | To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate. |
| courtroom noun | The room where a judge presides over hearings and trials, sometimes with a jury. | |
| warranty noun | /ˈwɔɹ.ən.ti/ | A guarantee that a certain outcome or obligation will be fulfilled; security. |
| bind verb | /ˈbaɪ̯nd/ | To tie; to confine by any ligature. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. |
| step aside verb | To move out of the way of somebody or something. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Don't worry, I promise not to be gentle.
- I didn't have any money left.
- Did you see me bang the gavel?
- You think they make it to the bigs?
- It was a good time for you, wasn't it?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've never done · hasn't he paid · has been paid |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | has been paid · is breached |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, aren't, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like escrow, eviction, habitability.
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.