Shadowing Practice: My Laptop Won't Turn On: Calling Tech Support - Learn English Speaking with Video
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27 sentences
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1
Hi, you're through to tech support. How can I help?
2
Hi. My laptop won't turn on, and I'm panicking!
3
I've got a big presentation at nine tomorrow.
4
Okay, don't worry. We'll sort it out together.
5
First, is the charger plugged in?
6
Ugh, yes! Of course it's plugged in.
7
Sorry, I have to ask. Is there a light on the charger?
8
A light? Hmm... no, there isn't.
9
Could you try a different socket, please?
10
Okay, give me a second.
11
Oh! The light's on now. It's orange!
12
Great. So the socket was the problem.
13
Oh no, wait... the screen's still black.
14
Hmm. Has it ever done this before?
15
Well... I spilled a little coffee on it last week.
16
Ah. That might explain a lot.
17
Let's try a reset. Hold the power button for thirty seconds.
18
Thirty seconds? Okay, I'm counting.
19
Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty... Nothing.
20
Now let go and press it once, normally.
21
Wow, it beeped! It's turning on!
22
Excellent! Can you see your desktop?
23
Yes! All my files are here. Thank you so much!
24
You're welcome. Just one more thing, though.
25
Please back up your presentation tonight.
26
I will, I promise. And no more coffee near it!
27
Ha, good plan. Good luck tomorrow!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “My Laptop Won't Turn On: Calling Tech Support”. This video has 27 sentences and 203 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:33. The speaker talks at a steady 131 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. 8 of its 27 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 |
|---|---|---|
| thirty noun | /ˈθɝti/ | A commercial lasting 30 seconds. |
| presentation noun | /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ | The act of presenting, or something presented. |
| plug noun | /plʌɡ/ | A pronged connecting device which fits into a mating socket, especially an electrical one. |
| charger noun | /ˈt͡ʃɑɹd͡ʒɚ/ | A device that charges or recharges. |
| socket noun | /ˈsɑkɪt/ | An opening into which a plug or other connecting part is designed to fit (e.g. a light bulb socket). |
| panic noun | /ˈpænɪk/ | Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; (countable) an instance of this; a fright, a scare. |
| laptop noun | /ˈlæp.tɑp/ | A laptop computer. |
| desktop noun | /ˈdɛsktɒp/ | The top surface of a desk. |
| spill verb | /spɪl/ | To drop something so that it spreads out or makes a mess; to accidentally pour. |
| reset verb | /ɹiːˈsɛt/ | To set back to the initial state. |
| beep noun | /biːp/ | The sound produced by the horn of a car, or any similar sound. |
| twenty noun | /ˈtwɛnti/ [-ɛɾ̃i] | The numbers twenty (20) to twenty-nine (29). |
| tech noun | /tɛk/ | Technology. |
| orange noun | /ˈɒɹɪnd͡ʒ/ | An evergreen tree of the genus Citrus such as Citrus sinensis which yields oranges (the fruit). |
| normally adverb | /ˈnɔː.mə.li/ | Under normal conditions or circumstances; usually; most of the time |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| back up verb | To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Hi, you're through to tech support.
- How can I help?
- My laptop won't turn on, and I'm panicking!
- Could you try a different socket, please?
- Can you see your desktop?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm panicking · I'm counting |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | won't turn · We'll sort |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 9 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don'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 thirty, presentation, plug.
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.