Shadowing Practice: Secret Santa at the Office - Learn English Speaking with Video
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31 sentences
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1
Right, everyone! It's time for our office Secret Santa!
2
Brilliant! So how does it work this year?
3
Everyone picks a name from this hat and buys them a present.
4
The limit is twenty pounds. And don't tell anyone who you've got.
5
Ha, good. Last year somebody gave me a single sock!
6
Go on, Tom, your turn. Pick a name.
7
Oh no. You're joking. I've got Mr. Graham?
8
Shh! You're not supposed to say it out loud!
9
Sorry! But what on earth do I buy the boss?
10
Hannah, have you got a minute? I need some help.
11
Of course. What's wrong? You look really stressed.
12
Well... I picked the boss for Secret Santa.
13
The boss? Oh dear, that's the hardest name to get!
14
I know! If I get it wrong, he'll think I'm useless.
15
Okay, calm down. Let's think about what he likes.
16
Have you noticed anything on his desk recently?
17
Hmm, only plants. Dead ones. He keeps killing them.
18
That's it! Get him a cactus. Nobody can kill a cactus!
19
Ha! That's perfect, and it's under twenty pounds!
20
Okay, everyone, it's present time! Mr. Graham, you go first.
21
Goodness, who wrapped this? It's covered in tape!
22
Um, no idea. Just... open it, maybe?
23
A cactus? Ha! Has someone been looking at my desk?
24
Tom, your face has gone bright red. Was it you?
25
I'm so sorry. I thought you might like one that survives.
26
Don't apologise! It's the best present I've had in years.
27
Now open yours. I think you'll find it very useful.
28
Hmm, a book... about making a good cup of tea?
29
Well, you've been making me terrible tea for two years.
30
Ha! He's got a point, Tom. Your tea is awful.
31
Fair enough! Next year, I'll make you a proper cup.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Secret Santa at the Office”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: cactus, tea, boss, Tom, present. This video has 31 sentences and 294 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:10. The speaker talks at a steady 136 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 13 of its 31 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| pound noun | /ˈpaʊ̯nd/ | A unit of weight in various measurement systems. |
| awful adjective | /ˈɔːfʊl/ | Very bad. |
| tape noun | /teɪ̯p/ | Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape. |
| wrap verb | /ɹæp/ | To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper. |
| apologize verb | /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/ | To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends |
| goodness noun | /ˈɡʊdnəs/ | The state or characteristic of being good. |
| joking verb | /ˈd͡ʒoʊkɪŋ/ | Kidding, trying to fool. |
| sock noun | /sɑk/ | A knitted or woven covering for the foot. |
| cactus noun | /ˈkæktəs/ | Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate. |
| twenty noun | /ˈtwɛnti/ [-ɛɾ̃i] | The numbers twenty (20) to twenty-nine (29). |
| bright adjective | /ˈbɹaɪ̯t/ | Emitting much light; visually dazzling; luminous, lucent, radiant. |
| suppose verb | /səˈpoʊz/ | To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe. |
| brilliant adjective | /ˈbɹɪl.jənt/ | Shining brightly. |
| calm adjective | /kɑm/ | Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| calm down verb | To become less excited, intense, or angry. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You're not supposed to say it out loud!
- Hannah, have you got a minute?
- If I get it wrong, he'll think I'm useless.
- Have you noticed anything on his desk recently?
- Has someone been looking at my desk?
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 | Have you noticed · has gone · I've had |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the hardest · the best |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | he'll think · you'll find · I'll make |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 13 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: apologize /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/, twenty /ˈtwɛnti/ [-ɛɾ̃i]
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 desk, pound, awful.
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.