This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “My New Job Started Badly 😱”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: latte, foam, extra. This video has 68 sentences and 390 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:41. The speaker talks at a steady 145 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
foam noun	/ˈfɔʊ̯m/	A substance composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains, especially
homework noun	/ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/	Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class.
password noun	/ˈpæs.wɜɹd/	A word relayed to a person to gain admittance to a place or to gain access to information.
memorable adjective	/ˈmɛm.(ə)ɹə.bl̩/	Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable.
latte noun	/ˈlɑ.teɪ/	A drink of coffee made from espresso and steamed milk, generally topped with foam.
blueberry noun	/ˈbluˌbɛ.ɹi/	An edible round berry, belonging to the cowberry group (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus), with flared crowns at the end, that turns blue on ripening.
café noun	/ˌkæˈfeɪ/	A coffee shop; an establishment selling coffee and sometimes other non-alcoholic beverages, simple meals or snacks, with a facility to consume them on the…
cappuccino noun	/ˌkæpəˈt͡ʃinoʊ/	An Italian coffee-based beverage made from espresso to which milk that has been steamed or frothed is added.
embarrass verb	/ɪmˈbæɹəs/	To disrupt someone's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely.
muffin noun	/ˈmʌf.ɪn/	A type of flattish bun, usually cut in two horizontally, toasted and spread with butter, etc., before being eaten.
button noun	/ˈbʌtən/	A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener.
mistake noun	/mɪˈsteɪk/	An error.
customer noun	/ˈkʌs.tə.mə/	A person or company who purchases or receives a product or service from a business or merchant or intends to do so.
noise noun	/ˈnoɪ̯z/	Various sounds, usually unwanted or unpleasant.
prepare verb	/pɹɪˈpɛ(ə)ɹ/	To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
come back verb	To return to a place.
look forward to verb	To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.
sign over verb	To transfer (property or rights) to somebody else by signing a document.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

I've been looking forward to meeting you.
It's very nice to meet you too.
I'm happy to be here.
I'm glad to hear that.
Can I have a large latte with extra foam, please?

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 16 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, can't, 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 foam, homework, password.

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 →

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson