Shadowing Practice: Returning an Unwanted Christmas Gift - Learn English Speaking with Video
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34 sentences
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1
Good morning, and thanks for waiting! What can I help you with today?
2
Hi! I'd like to return this smart watch, if that's possible.
3
Sure. Was it a Christmas present, or did you buy it yourself?
4
It was a present from my uncle, but I already have one.
5
Oh, you're the fifth person today who's told me that!
6
So, do you have the original receipt, or just the gift receipt?
7
Just the gift receipt, which was tucked inside the box.
8
Okay. I'm afraid gifts can only be exchanged or refunded as store credit.
9
Also, all items must be returned within thirty days of purchase.
10
That's fine. He bought it just before Christmas, so there's plenty of time.
11
Wait, this box has already been opened!
12
Yes, I opened it before I realized it was a watch.
13
I'm sorry, but electronics usually can't be returned once the seal's been broken.
14
Seriously? I only had it out of the box for two minutes!
15
It's never been worn, and it's still in perfect condition!
16
I understand, but a manager would have to approve something like that.
17
Look, I'm not trying to cause any trouble here.
18
My uncle told me he'd kept the receipt, but now he can't find it.
19
If I had the original, I wouldn't be asking for a favor.
20
That's fair enough. Let me scan the gift receipt and see what comes up.
21
It scanned fine, but nothing's showing up, which is a bit odd.
22
Oh no. It must have been bought online, then.
23
He was complaining about the crowds when I saw him in November.
24
Online orders can't be returned in the store, so let's hope not.
25
Oh, here it is! It was bought right here, on December twentieth.
26
Really? So the gift receipt is enough after all?
27
It is. Because it was bought in-store, you can get full store credit.
28
It's clearly never been worn, so I won't worry about the opened box.
29
Oh, thank you so much! You've just made my day.
30
You've got two hundred and fifty dollars to spend. Anything you've had your eye on?
31
Actually, yes! I've wanted these headphones ever since I saw them in October.
32
Great choice! So your uncle's gift is still paying for them, technically.
33
True! I just wish he'd asked me what I wanted first.
34
Next year, just tell him what you want before he goes shopping!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Returning an Unwanted Christmas Gift”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: receipt, gift, bought, store, box. This video has 34 sentences and 397 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:33. The speaker talks at a natural 155 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 7 of its 34 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 13 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| receipt noun | /ɹɪˈsiːt/ | The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received. |
| uncle noun | /ˈʌŋ.kl̩/ | The brother or brother-in-law of one’s parent. |
| scan verb | /skæn/ | To examine sequentially, carefully, or critically; to scrutinize; to behold closely. |
| thirty noun | /ˈθɝti/ | A commercial lasting 30 seconds. |
| fifty noun | /ˈfɪfti/ | A banknote or coin with a denomination of 50. |
| complain verb | /kəmˈpleɪn/ | To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment. |
| electronics noun | /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɑ.nɪks/ | The study and use of electrical devices that operate by controlling the flow of electrons or other electrically charged particles or by converting the flow of… |
| technically adverb | /ˈtɛk.nɪˌkəl.i/ | Based on precise facts, which, however, may be contrary to common belief or casual terminology. |
| approve verb | /əˈpɹuːv/ | To officially sanction; to ratify; to confirm; to set as satisfactory. |
| refund noun | /ɹɪˈfʌnd/ | An amount of money returned. |
| headphones noun | /ˈhɛdfoʊnz/ | A pair of cushioned speakers worn over or in the ears so only the wearer can hear the sound. |
| twentieth adjective | /ˈtwɛn.ti.əθ/ | The ordinal form of the number twenty. |
| tuck verb | /tʌk/ | To pull or gather up (an item of fabric). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What can I help you with today?
- Look, I'm not trying to cause any trouble here.
- You've just made my day.
- You've got two hundred and fifty dollars to spend.
- Anything you've had your eye on?
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 tucked · be exchanged · must be returned |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has already been opened · seal's been broken · It's never been worn |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 16 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, I'm, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thirty /ˈθɝti/, twentieth /ˈtwɛn.ti.əθ/
- Long words — get the stress right: electronics /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɑ.nɪks/, technically /ˈtɛk.nɪˌkəl.i/
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 receipt, uncle, scan.
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.