Shadowing Practice: Post Pandemic Office Behavior Tips - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey team, I wanted to address some of the recurring issues we've been having since we returned to the office a few months ago.
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I know the pandemic has been really hard on everyone, but we need to get back to normal behavior.
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Number one, if you use the restroom here at the office, you must lock the door.
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In fact, anywhere you go for the rest of your life, if you use the restroom, lock the door.
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I lock the door when I'm home alone.
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It's just normal human behavior.
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It's like some of you here want to in on.
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Next, we have to stop the cough shaming.
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We all cough before the pandemic.
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It's a normal part of life.
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It is not an act of aggression.
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Just because the person next to you sneezes doesn't mean you need to send me an email.
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You all look great.
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And the last thing I would ever want to do is shame any of you for any body changes
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that might have happened over the last that we all know about from last week.
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So for now, one person at a time in the elevator until we can return to pre -COVID shape.
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And again, I think you all look fantastic.
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Best we've ever looked.
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And now we need to discuss small talk.
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I know we're all a little out of practice and it feels strange talking to our coworkers again, but when in doubt, just remember WWKSM,
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weather, weekend, kids, sports, movies.
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We don't need to know your new theory about how the virus started.
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Keep that away from the water cooler and put it on your Facebook wall where it belongs.
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It's flat.
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No one's been to space.
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Prove me wrong.
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Let me guess, you're both vaccinated, right?
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Yeah, you guys are leaving 'cause you're having a reaction to the vaccine.
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These people don't think.
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It's just use your brains.
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- I can't believe I even have to say this one, but if we are in a real in -person meeting, you cannot pretend to be frozen.
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That didn't even really work on Zoom.
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- Well, what's he doing?
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- He's pretending to be frozen.
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- He's walking.
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Here you go.
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Say hi to Elsa for me.
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A few more quick things. has not changed.
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You cannot wear pajama pants to work anymore and you can't show up to meetings barefoot.
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That is gross.
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And please, no sleeping in the office.
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If you do need to doze off, please just start being a little more discreet about it.
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And lastly, now that we're back, work.
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Our sleeping and napping policy has not changed.
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Our alcohol policy has not changed.
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Pornography policy definitely hasn't changed.
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Hygiene policy has not changed.
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Pets policy has weapons policy has not changed, and video games policy has not changed.
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Anyway team, that's enough for now.
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I am gonna go put my pants on.
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I'm just kidding.
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I have I've had my pants on the whole video.
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Just a little joke.
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Show them, show them so they know that I have them on.
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See?
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All good.
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See you guys on Monday.
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This is Antarctica.
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Asia's actually two.
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Okay.
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Asia's actually two.
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Antarctica goes all the way around.
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You guys should talk to my chiropractor and learn something for real.
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We look forward to you seeing more of us.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your speaking and listening skills by focusing on post-pandemic office behavior, as discussed in a recent presentation. You will learn how to engage in small talk, consider socially acceptable behaviors in the workplace, and become familiar with everyday expressions and workplace etiquette. By shadowing the speaker, you will improve your fluency and gain confidence in using practical English in a professional environment. This is an excellent opportunity for IELTS speaking practice as well!

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Lock the door: A reminder to ensure privacy in restrooms.
  • Cough shaming: Judging someone for coughing, which is often a normal reaction.
  • Small talk: Casual conversation about mundane topics, essential for workplace interactions.
  • Pajama pants: Informal clothing that's inappropriate for the workplace.
  • Meeting etiquette: Expected behaviors and norms during professional gatherings.
  • Discreet: Acting in a careful manner to avoid attracting attention.
  • Policies: Rules regarding conduct, such as those on alcohol, hygiene, and appropriate dress code.
  • Frozen: An amusing reference to pretending issues during virtual meetings.

Practice Tips

When practicing shadow speech with this video, pay attention to the speaker's tone and rhythm. The speaker uses a casual yet authoritative tone, which is typical in workplace settings. To enhance your learning:

  • Listen carefully: Play the video at a slower speed initially to catch all the nuances and expressions.
  • Repeat out loud: As you listen, mimic the speaker's pace and intonation. This will help you develop your own shadowspeak abilities.
  • Focus on body language: Observe how the speaker uses humor and gestures to engage the audience, and try to incorporate that into your own speaking style.
  • Use pauses: Don’t rush. Make sure to pause after each key phrase before repeating it, allowing yourself to absorb the structure and meaning.
  • Interact with the material: Recreate the scenario by discussing these topics with a language partner or using them in role-play activities to further your shadowing skills.

This video offers a practical context for applying your English skills in real-life situations, crucial for anyone looking to improve their communication in professional settings.

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.