Shadowing Practice: Rescheduling a Client Meeting: Something Came Up - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Good morning, Helen Ward speaking.
2
Hi Helen, it's Tom from Northgate. Is now a good time?
3
Oh, hi Tom! Sure, I've got five minutes.
4
Great. Well... I'm afraid I've got some bad news.
5
Something's come up, and I can't make Thursday's meeting.
6
Thursday? Seriously? We've had that booked for weeks!
7
I know, and I'm really sorry about the short notice.
8
Our director has called an urgent meeting with the investors.
9
Hmm. That's a bit frustrating, to be honest.
10
I've already moved two other meetings for this.
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I completely understand, and I'll make it up to you.
12
Would Friday afternoon work for you instead?
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No, I'm afraid I'm in Paris all day on Friday.
14
Ah, okay. What about early next week, then?
15
Monday's impossible, and Tuesday is completely packed.
16
Oh dear. I really don't want to push it back too far.
17
Neither do I. We need to sign off on this soon.
18
Wait, actually... how early do you start in the mornings?
19
Pretty early! I'm usually at my desk by eight.
20
Then how about Wednesday at eight thirty, before my day starts?
21
That's perfect! I'll come to you, and I'll bring coffee.
22
Ha, now you're talking. Can you confirm it by email?
23
Of course. I'll send a new invite in the next ten minutes.
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And I'll attach the updated proposal, so you can read it first.
25
Great, that would be really helpful.
26
Actually, Tom, can I tell you a little secret?
27
I hadn't finished reading the proposal anyway!
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Ha! So I've actually done you a favour, then?
29
Don't push your luck. See you on Wednesday!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Rescheduling a Client Meeting: Something Came Up”. This video has 29 sentences and 264 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:55. The speaker talks at a steady 138 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. 10 of its 29 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| proposal noun | /pɹəˈpoʊzəl/ | A scheme or design. |
| desk noun | /dɛsk/ | A table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers. It often has a… |
| helpful adjective | /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/ | Furnishing help; giving aid; useful. |
| confirm verb | /kənˈfɝm/ | To strengthen; to make firm or resolute. |
| thirty noun | /ˈθɝti/ | A commercial lasting 30 seconds. |
| favour noun | British standard spelling of favor. | |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| urgent adjective | /ˈɜː.d͡ʒənt/ | Requiring immediate attention. |
| investor noun | /ɪnˈvɛs.tə(ɹ)/ | A person who invests money in order to make a profit. |
| attach verb | /əˈtæt͡ʃ/ | To fasten, to join to (literally and figuratively). |
| frustrate verb | /ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪt/ | To disappoint or defeat; to vex by depriving of something expected or desired. |
| update noun | /ˈʌp.deɪt/ | An additional piece of information, an addition to existing information. |
| email noun | /ˈiˌmeɪl/ | A system for sending messages and datas by means of a computer network, primarily the Internet, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and the Internet… |
| pack noun | /pæk/ | A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Sure, I've got five minutes.
- I'm afraid I've got some bad news.
- We've had that booked for weeks!
- I've already moved two other meetings for this.
- Can you confirm it by email?
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 | has called · I've already moved · I've actually done |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll make · I'll come · I'll send |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I'm, I've. 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 proposal, desk, helpful.
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.