Shadowing Practice: 在美國，公寓暖氣壞了！房東竟說下週才修？如何用英文要求緊急維修｜Real Life English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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227 sentences
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your repair is complete
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that was the message on my phone complete my apartment was 52 degrees fahrenheit outside
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it was snowing my cat was hiding under my blanket
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and my landlord had told me to wait until tuesday
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it was two in the morning on saturday i called emergency maintenance again then i asked one simple question
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if the repair is complete why is my apartment still freezing thing.
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The answer made things even more complicated, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
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It all started on a Friday evening in New York City.
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I came home around 6 and immediately noticed the cold.
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Normally, my apartment was warm and comfortable.
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That night, it felt like someone had left a window open.
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I checked every window.
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They were all closed.
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Then I looked at the thermostat.
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It was set to 70 degrees, but the room temperature was only 61.
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I checked that the thermostat was in heating mode, the electricity was working.
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There were no notices about a planned heating shutdown, and my radiator was completely cold.
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My cat sniffed the radiator and lived disappointed.
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I told her, I know.
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I expected better too.
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I wasn't going to take apart the heating equipment myself.
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I needed someone qualified to inspect it.
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I opened the building's maintenance app.
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I selected the option for heating problems, then I wrote a clear description my heat isn't working the thermostat is set to 70
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but the room is only 61 degrees could someone inspect
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it as soon as possible i attached a photo showing the temperature the app confirms
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that my request had been received an hour passed the apartment got colder no one contacted me
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i tried calling the management office a recording said
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it was closed for the weekend
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it provided a separate number for after hours emergencies before calling i checked with my neighbor, Maya.
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She opened her door wearing two sweaters.
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That wasn't a promising sign.
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Is your heat working, I asked.
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No. It stopped this afternoon, she said.
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She'd already reported it to the building superintendent.
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Several other apartments were cold, too.
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So this wasn't just my problem.
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Maya also mentioned an older neighbor on the third floor.
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He was worried because his apartment was getting colder.
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That made the situation feel more serious.
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I went inside and called emergency maintenance.
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The operator asked for my address and apartment number.
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Then she found my request.
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Unfortunately, it was listed as routine maintenance.
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Routine maintenance, I repeated.
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The apartment is getting colder by the hour.
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Could you please escalate this as an emergency?
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The operator said she'd notify the on -call team.
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I asked for a work order number, then I asked when I should expect an update.
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She couldn't give me an exact time, so I asked who I should call if no one responded.
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She gave me the same emergency number.
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It wasn't much, but at least I had a record.
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At 8 .30, management finally sent a message.
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We can schedule someone for Tuesday.
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I checked the thermostat again.
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58 degrees.
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I looked at the message.
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Then I looked back at the thermostat.
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Apparently, nobody had introduced those two to each other
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i replied waiting until tuesday isn't a safe option
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this is a heating emergency not a routine appointment please tell me what can be done tonight
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i included the latest temperature reading
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then i looked up new york city's official heating requirements during
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heating season the nighttime indoor minimum is 62 degrees during the day a different minimum applies
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when it's cold enough outside my apartment was already below the nighttime standard i started keeping a temperature log.
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Each entry included the time in a photograph.
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I saved messages and work order number two.
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I wasn't collecting evidence because I wanted an argument.
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I wanted someone to understand what was actually happening.
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By 10, the apartment was 56 degrees.
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I put on another sweater and wrapped myself in a blanket.
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My cat crawled inside my hoodie.
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Apparently, she'd found a studio apartment with free heating.
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I considered using a portable electric heater, but I knew I would need to keep it away from bedding and other flammable things.
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It needed to be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
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I wouldn't leave it running while I slept.
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And I certainly wasn't going to use the kitchen oven to heat the room.
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I checked my smoke in carbon monoxide alarms.
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If I smelled gas or heard a carbon monoxide alarm, I'd leave immediately and seek emergency help from a safe place.
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But right now, the problem was the dropping temperature.
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Just before midnight, Maya texted me.
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Good news!
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My radiator is getting warm.
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I almost cheered.
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I checked my own radiator.
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Still cold.
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I waited 15 minutes.
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Nothing changed.
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The building's main heat was running again, but my apartment still had no heat.
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I sent management a new message.
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The building heat appears to be back, but my apartment is still cold.
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Please keep my work order open until my apartment is checked
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there was no response then at two in the morning my phone buzzed your repair is complete
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i stared at the screen the thermostat showed 52 degrees apparently someone had forgotten to tell my apartment the repair was finished.
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I called the emergency line.
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A representative named Renee answered.
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I tried to keep my voice calm.
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I understand the system says the repair is complete, but I'm standing in a 52 -degree apartment.
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What can you do to help me tonight?
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Renee checked the work order.
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She explained that it had been closed when the main heating system restarted.
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But my apartment wasn't checked, I said.
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My neighbors have heat now.
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I still don't.
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She reviewed my earlier messages.
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Then she opened a new emergency work order.
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I asked her to read back the new number.
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Then I asked for a supervisor or the on -call property manager.
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Renee said she'd contact the on -call technician first.
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She couldn't promise an exact arrival time.
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I asked her to send written confirmation that the problem was still open.
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While waiting, I contacted
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New York City's 301 in service.
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I reported the lack of heat and the temperature inside my apartment.
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I explained that management had already been notified.
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I received a service request number.
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I understood the city could follow up or arrange an inspection, but making a complaint didn't mean a technician would appear immediately.
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I still had to make a safe plan for the night.
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At around three, the on -call technician called.
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His name was Carlos.
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He asked whether the apartment had electricity.
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He also asked whether there was a gas smell or an alarm.
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I told him the electricity was on and there was no gas smell or alarm.
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He arrived shortly afterward.
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After checking the controls, he found the problem.
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The building's main heating system was working again, but a control valve serving my apartment was stuck.
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He needed a replacement part.
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Can you fix it tonight?
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I asked.
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He shook his head.
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The part wouldn't be available until later that morning.
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My heart sank.
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At least the problem had a name now.
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But knowing the problem didn't make my apartment any warmer.
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I asked Carlos to document the findings in the work order.
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Then I asked when someone would return.
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He expected another technician later that day, but he couldn't guarantee the exact time.
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I asked him one final question.
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Is this apartment safe to stay in until the heat is restored?
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He said he couldn't make that decision for me or authorize temporary accommodations.
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He recommended speeding with the property manager.
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I called Renee again.
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The technician confirmed the heat cannot be restored tonight, I explained.
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I need to know what temporary accommodations are available.
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Could you contact the on -call property manager?
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Manet promised to forward the request, but she couldn't approve a hotel expense herself.
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I asked whether management could confirm any assistance in writing.
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She said the manager would need to review it.
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I didn't want to stay in the freezing apartment while waiting for a decision, so I started calling nearby hotels.
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The first hotel had a room available.
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Then I mentioned my cat.
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The receptionist apologized.
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They didn't allow pets.
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I looked at my cat.
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She seemed personally offended.
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The second hotel was pet -friendly, but the receptionist mentioned an additional pet fee.
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Is that a one -time fee or a nightly charge?
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I asked.
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She explained the fee and gave me the total.
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I also asked about check -in and checkout times.
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The room was expensive, but it was warm and available immediately.
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I decided that was the safer choice for the night.
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I packed my medication, important documents, a change of clothes, and my cat's carrier.
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I wasn't leaving my cat alone in the cold.
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Before leaving, I sent management another written update.
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I explained that I was arranging temporary accommodation because the heat was still off.
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I said I would keep the receipt and request a review of the expense.
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I didn't assume the landlord would automatically pay for everything.
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By the time we checked in, it was nearly four.
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The hotel lobby felt wonderfully warm.
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My cat stepped out of her carrier and inspected the room.
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She found the warmest corner within 30 seconds i told her enjoy
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it this is your most expensive nap ever the next morning
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i woke up to a message from the property manager
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she apologized for the work order being closed too early a
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replacement part had been located a technician was expected around noon
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i asked for a written confirmation of the appointment i also asked who would contact me
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if there was another delay she gave me a direct number for updates
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then i asked about the hotel receipt she said management would review it after the repair.
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That wasn't a guarantee of reimbursement, but at least I had an answer in writing.
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Around noon, the technician arrived with a new part.
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I returned to the apartment and let him in.
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He replaced the faulty valve.
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A few minutes later, the radiator began to warm up.
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I wanted to celebrate immediately, but I'd learned not to trust a completed work order too quickly.
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Could we make sure the heat is working before closing the ticket
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i asked the technician agreed he tested the controls
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and explained what had been repaired i took another temperature reading
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it was rising slowly by saturday afternoon the apartment reached 69 degrees the radiator stayed warm
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this time the repair really was complete I sent management a message confirming the heat was back.
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I included the time and temperature.
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I kept the repair record and 311 service request number.
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If the city followed up, I could report exactly when the problem was resolved.
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There was still one thing left to settle, the hotel bill.
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I sent the manager the receipt and asked for a review.
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I listed the rim charge and the additional pet fee.
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Could you let me know which expenses management is willing to cover?
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And could you confirm any approved credit in writing?
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The next day, the manager replied, She offered a partial credit toward my next rent payment.
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It didn't cover the entire hotel stay.
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I asked how the credit would appear on the rent statement.
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She sent me the amount and the arrangement in writing.
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I kept the confirmation and checked the next statement.
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I knew this was an agreed arrangement, not a benefit every tenant automatically receives.
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I hadn't stopped paying rent or deducted the hotel charge on my own.
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If the problem had continued, I'd have sought local tenant advice before taking further action.
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Looking back, the most useful English wasn't a complicated phrase.
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It was knowing how to explain the problem and ask the next question.
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My heat isn't working.
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The temperature inside is dropping.
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This needs urgent attention.
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Could you escalate this to emergency maintenance?
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Could you give me a work order number?
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My request has completed, but the problem hasn't been fixed.
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Could you confirm the repair schedule in writing?
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Can management arrange temporary accommodations?
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Who should I contact if the problem as it resolved?
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Those simple questions made a real difference.
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I learned to report problems early, keep records, and follow up.
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I learned that a close ticket doesn't mean a completed repair, and I learned that staying safe matters more than winning an argument.
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That Saturday night, my apartment was finally warm again.
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My cat went back to our favorite sleeping spot.
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I looked at her and said, well, at least one of us enjoyed the hotel.
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She closed her eyes and ignored me.
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Some things never change.
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If you enjoy learning English through real life stories, subscribe to Fluentrail English.
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Keep listening, keep practicing, and I'll see you in the next episode.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “在美國，公寓暖氣壞了！房東竟說下週才修？如何用英文要求緊急維修｜Real Life English”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: apartment, heat, checked, heating, repair. This video has 227 sentences and 2140 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:00. The speaker talks at a natural 178 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| repair verb | /ˈɹiːpɛɚ/ | To restore to good working order, fix, or improve damaged condition; to mend; to remedy. |
| technician noun | /tɛkˈnɪʃən/ | A person who studies or practises technology; an expert in a particular technology. |
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| temporary adjective | /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/ | Not permanent; existing only for a period or periods of time. |
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| accommodation noun | /əˌkɒm.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/ | Lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or students, etc. |
| electricity noun | /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/ | Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now… |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| expense noun | /ɪkˈspɛns/ | A spending or consuming, often a disbursement of funds. |
| confirmation noun | /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/ | An official indicator that things will happen as planned. |
| arrange verb | /əˈɹeɪnd͡ʒ/ | To set up; to organize; to put into an orderly sequence or arrangement. |
| receipt noun | /ɹɪˈsiːt/ | The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received. |
| inspect verb | /ɪnˈspɛkt/ | To examine critically or carefully; especially, to search out problems or determine condition; to scrutinize. |
| complicated adjective | /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/ | Difficult or convoluted. |
| guarantee noun | /ˌɡæɹ.ənˈtiː/ | Anything that assures a certain outcome. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| follow up verb | To take further actions remaining after an event; to continue, revisit, or persist; especially, to maintain communication or verify. | |
| get ahead of verb | To take preemptive action before a potential development becomes reality. | |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| look back verb | To think of (past events) in retrospect (in hindsight). | |
| look up verb | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | To have better prospects. |
| take apart verb | To dismantle something into its component pieces. | |
| warm up verb | /ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/ | To become warmer. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Could you please escalate this as an emergency?
- What can you do to help me tonight?
- Can you fix it tonight?
- Could you contact the on -call property manager?
- Could you escalate this to emergency maintenance?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was set · is set · had been received |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was snowing · was working · was getting |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | started keeping · considered using · started calling |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the latest · the warmest · your most expensive |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 40 contractions and reduced forms, such as wasn't, didn't, couldn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thermostat /ˈθɝməstæt/, authorize /ˈɔθəɹaɪz/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: technician /tɛkˈnɪʃən/, accommodation /əˌkɒm.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/, confirmation /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, shortly /ˈʃɔɹtli/, shake /ˈʃeɪk/
- Long words — get the stress right: temporary /ˈtɛmp(əˌɹ)ɛɹi/, accommodation /əˌkɒm.əˈdeɪ.ʃən/, electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/, confirmation /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like repair, technician, confirm.
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.