Shadowing Practice: Small Talk at Work: Speak English with Confidence | English Conversation Practice | English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Mr. English Channel, where learning English is easy and fun.
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I'm Emily.
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Hello, Emily.
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Hi, everyone.
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I'm happy you're here.
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Today, we're talking about small talk in the office, especially that moment when you want to say something, but your mind goes blank.
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Oh, I know that moment.
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You're standing beside a colleague, waiting for coffee, and suddenly the coffee machine's the most interesting thing you've ever seen.
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Exactly.
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You read every little button.
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So what can we say before we become coffee machine experts?
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Start with something simple.
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Hey, how's your morning going?
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You're opening a small door you don't need an amazing story
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or a perfect sentence that sounds easy with someone I know
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but what if I've seen a person around
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and we've never actually met then give them a little help
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hi I'm Emily I work with the sales team I don't think we've met I like that
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because they don't have to guess who you are would you ask their name right away usually they'll introduce themselves
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but if they don't you can say
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and you with a friendly voice speaking of voices
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and you could sound a little cold
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if you say it like a security guard true your tone matters a relaxed voice
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and a small smile can make even a short greeting feel welcoming what about what's up i hear
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that all the time
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but i'm not sure i'd say it to a new manager i'd start with hi how are you
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or how's your day going listen Listen to how people around you speak before using very casual greetings.
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So the same person might say, what's up, to a close teammate, and good morning to someone they've just met.
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Exactly.
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And good morning can be enough in an elevator.
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A greeting doesn't have to become a full conversation.
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That takes some pressure off.
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Sometimes I think being friendly means I need to fill every second of silence.
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You really don't.
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If someone smiles and says, morning, you've already had a friendly moment together.
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Okay, but let's say we're both waiting for a meeting to begin.
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There's a little more room to talk there.
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Sure.
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You could ask, have you been to this office before?
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That works especially well when colleagues are visiting from another location.
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And if we both work there every day, maybe have you tried the new coffee downstairs?
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Yes, because it's something you both have access to.
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Shared places give you easy starting points.
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You might also say, it's nice to see some sunshine today, when you're both coming in from outside.
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Let's hear one of those first moments.
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I'll be a colleague you haven't met, and you can start our little office conversation.
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Hi, I'm Emily.
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I've just joined the support team.
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Hey, I'm Paul.
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Nice to meet you.
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How's your first day going?
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Pretty well, thanks.
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And still learning where everything is.
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Is there a kitchen on this floor?
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Yep, just past the meeting rooms.
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The coffee's pretty good, too.
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And that's our example.
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Notice how an ordinary question about the kitchen gave us something comfortable to talk about.
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It also felt useful, but I wouldn't want listeners to think they need to pretend they're lost to meet someone.
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Absolutely.
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Ask something real.
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If you already know where the kitchen is, try, do you have a favorite lunch place nearby?
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Lunch feels like a great topic.
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Everyone eats, although people might have different budgets or food needs.
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Good point.
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Ask for ideas without making assumptions.
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Where do you like to get lunch leaves room for, actually, I bring mine from home.
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And bringing lunch doesn't mean someone wants to explain their diet.
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I'd avoid asking, why don't you eat that?
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Me too.
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Food can be an easy topic until we make someone feel
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they have to explain personal choices weekend questions can get personal
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too is any plans for the weekend still a good choice
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usually yes it lets the other person choose what to share
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are you visiting your family assumes more about their life right
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and any plans gives me permission to say nothing special
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which is sometimes my favorite plan mine too and if someone gives
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that answer accept it they don't owe us an exciting weekend report.
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What about hobbies?
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I'd enjoy knowing whether a colleague likes cooking, movies, or hiking.
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Those can work well when there's a natural opening.
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If someone mentions a movie, you can talk about movies instead of suddenly asking about their whole life.
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So we don't need a list of personal questions ready to go.
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That could feel like a job interview during lunch.
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Exactly.
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And some topics need more care.
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Money, health, politics, and relationships.
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With a new colleague, I'd choose something less personal.
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I agree.
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Although close work friends might talk about those things, the relationship makes a difference.
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It does.
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Let trust grow over time.
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And remember that something someone shared privately might not belong in a group conversation.
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That matters when a new person joins the lunch table.
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A story that felt okay with one friend can suddenly feel uncomfortable.
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And jokes about another co -worker can make that new person wonder what people might say about them later.
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Yes.
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Shared office experiences are often easier in a group — a team lunch, a new meeting room, or a nearby café.
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A nearby café sounds promising.
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But once someone says, yeah, I've been there, I sometimes get stuck choosing my next question.
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Then stay with that café for a moment.
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You could ask, what did you order?
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That gives your colleague something clear and easy to answer.
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Oh, that feels easier than searching for a whole new topic.
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If they say, a sandwich, could I ask whether it was good?
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Sure.
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Would you get it again?
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Works too too.
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You're showing interest in their experience, and you might get a useful lunch idea.
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But three questions in a row could start to feel like a restaurant survey.
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When do I add something about myself?
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Before it starts feeling like that.
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After their answer, try, I usually bring lunch, but I'd like to try that place on Friday.
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Now they've got something they can respond to.
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They might ask what I bring, or say they're thinking about going on Friday, too.
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Exactly.
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A conversation needs a little space for both people.
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Ask a question, listen to the answer, and offer something small from your own life.
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What counts as small?
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Because my lunch story could include everything that went wrong in my kitchen last night.
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Start with the short version.
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I tried making soup yesterday.
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It turned out pretty good.
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If they're interested, they might ask what kind.
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And then I can explain why there's enough soup in my fridge for 12 people.
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That's a story with a practical problem.
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It certainly is.
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But your colleague might mention that they cook for a big family, and suddenly there's a new part of the conversation to explore.
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So listening helps me find my next question.
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I don't need to plan it while the other person's still speaking.
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Right.
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Imagine someone says, I'm tired.
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I took my dog for a really long walk this morning.
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You could ask about the dog or the walk.
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I'd probably ask, where do you usually walk?
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But what if I've never had a dog?
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Can I still keep that topic going? Of course.
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You could say, I don't know much about dogs.
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Does yours like long walks?
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Being curious doesn't mean sharing the same experience.
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You might learn that there's a nice park near the office, even if you'd visit it without a dog. That helps.
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Sometimes I say, me too, just because I want a connection, even when my experience isn't really the same.
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You can connect honestly with, that sounds fun, or I've never tried that.
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Different experiences can give you more to talk about.
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Although, that sounds fun wouldn't fit every answer.
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If someone says their dog got sick during the walk, we need a different reaction.
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Definitely.
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Oh, I'm sorry, how's your dog doing now?
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Fits that situation.
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The reaction should match what you actually heard.
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Let's practice that with a short conversation.
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You've asked about my evening, and I'll give you an answer with a little detail.
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Hey, Paul.
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How was your evening?
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Pretty good.
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I went to my first cooking class.
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Oh, nice.
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What did you make?
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Pasta.
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It tasted good, but making it took forever.
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I've only made pasta from a box.
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Would you take another class?
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Yeah, probably.
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Next time, I'd love to try breaking bread.
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And that's the end of our example.
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Your answer gave me a clear topic, and I shared something about myself before asking another question.
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That little exchange also gives listeners something to try.
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They could tell us in the comments what class they'd like to take.
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I'd love to read those answers.
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And if practicing with us helps, subscribe to Mr. English Channel and like this episode so we know you'd enjoy more office conversations.
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Speaking of practicing, what happens when I hear a word I don't understand?
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Maybe someone says the cooking class was a blast.
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Ask about that exact phrase.
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What does a blast mean?
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In that sentence, it means the class was a lot of fun.
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So I don't have to lose the whole conversation over two words.
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But sometimes I know the words and just can't hear them clearly.
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Then try, sorry, I didn't catch that.
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Could you say it again?
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Here, catch means hear, or understand what someone said.
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And if the coffee machine's making noise, I could say, sorry, I couldn't hear you over the coffee machine.
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That explains what happened.
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Yes.
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If speed's the problem, be specific.
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Could you say that a little more slowly?
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You're helping the other person understand what you need.
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What if they repeat it at the same speed?
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I've had that happen, and asking again can feel uncomfortable.
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You can narrow the request.
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I heard the part about lunch.
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What did you say after that?
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They only need to repeat the missing piece.
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If that still doesn't help, try could you explain that another way?
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Different words might make the meaning clearer.
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That would help with times two.
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Did you say 12 .15 or 12 .50?
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Those can sound very similar.
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Exactly.
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Let's try a quick example where checking the details makes a difference.
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I'll invite you to lunch.
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Okay.
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I'll listen for the time and check what I heard.
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We're getting lunch at 12 .50.
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Want to come?
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Sure.
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Did you say 12 .15 or 12 .50?
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12 .50.
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Almost one.
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Got it.
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12 .50.
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Thanks.
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And that's our example finished.
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You checked one detail, got a clear answer, and accepted the invitation without a long apology.
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I like that.
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But sometimes I understand every word and still miss the meaning, especially when someone makes a joke about something that happened before I joined the team.
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Then you can say, I think I'm missing the story.
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What happened?
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Sometimes you understand the English perfectly.
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You just weren't there when Paul accidentally ordered 20 pizzas.
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In my defense, the order form was confusing.
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But asking for the story sounds much better than pretending I understood the joke.
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And it gives your co -workers a chance to include you.
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Still, if the joke's about another person, you don't have to join in or ask for details.
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Right.
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I could let that moment pass.
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But what if I'm the one who says something strange because I choose the wrong word?
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Correct it simply.
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Sorry, I meant Tuesday, not Thursday day.
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Most small mistakes need a small correction, and then the conversation can move forward.
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I once said I was boring when I meant bored.
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My friend looked surprised and I realized I described myself instead of my afternoon.
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That's a useful example.
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I'm bored describes your feeling.
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I'm boring suggests other people don't find you interesting.
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A quick like, oops, I meant bored, fixes it.
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And we had a little laugh together.
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But sometimes the word disappears completely.
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I can picture the thing and I still can't name it.
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Describe what it does.
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If you forget stapler, say, what's the thing that holds papers together?
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You can also point if the object's nearby.
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That keeps me involved instead of stopping halfway through my sentence.
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What about those moments when the whole conversation suddenly stops?
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Give it a second.
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The other person might be thinking.
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You don't have to treat every quiet moment like an emergency.
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Although after a few seconds, I sometimes start talking about anything.
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Suddenly I'm explaining why I bought new socks.
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Your socks might have a wonderful story, but you can also say, Well, it was nice talking with you.
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A short conversation can end naturally.
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That's especially useful at work, where people have things to finish.
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How can I tell whether it's a good moment to start talking at all?
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Notice what they're doing.
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If they're typing quickly, wearing headphones, or heading into a meeting, save your lunch story for another time.
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Those signs help, but they aren't always clear.
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Someone might be wearing headphones with nothing playing.
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Would you ask whether they've got a minute?
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Yes, if you need their attention.
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Hey, is now a good time?
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Gives them room to say they're busy.
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For casual chat, you can simply wait.
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And if they say, I'm in the middle of something, I can answer, no problem.
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Catch you later.
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I don't need to take it personally.
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Exactly.
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Now, let's practice the other side.
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You're enjoying a conversation, but you need to return to a report.
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I'll be your colleague.
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Okay.
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I'll try to be warm and clear without making up an excuse.
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And then we found another little bookstore.
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Have I told you about that one?
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Not yet.
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I'd love to hear about it at lunch, but I need to get back to this report. Of course.
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Good luck with it.
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Thanks.
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See you later.
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That's the end of our practice conversation.
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You showed interest, explained your need, and gave a real option for talking later.
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But I should only mention lunch if I actually want to talk then.
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Otherwise, I've created another promise while trying to finish my work.
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Absolutely.
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It was nice catching up.
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I need to get back to work. Is enough.
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You can be friendly without offering another time.
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What if it's my manager who keeps talking?
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I might worry that ending the conversation sounds rude.
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You can connect your request to the work.
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I'm enjoying hearing about your trip.
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Could we talk more later?
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I'd like to finish the notes before our meeting.
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That feels respectful, and protecting a little focus time could make me more relaxed when I actually do have time to chat.
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Yes.
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Feeling comfortable at work includes knowing you can speak and knowing you can return to your tasks.
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Both matter.
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So, how does someone practice this without turning every workday into a big English exam?
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Pick one small action.
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Tomorrow, greet one colleague by name.
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Another day, ask one follow -up question when a conversation happens naturally.
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I'd also write down a phrase I wanted but couldn't remember.
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Then I could practice it at home instead of replaying the whole awkward moment.
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That's useful, especially if you keep it short.
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Choose one sentence you'll actually use, like, I didn't catch the last part, and say it aloud a few times.
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And progress might be asking that question even
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when i feel nervous waiting until i'm completely confident could keep
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me quiet for a long time it could confidence often grows after small attempts
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when you discover that a mistake doesn't stop you from connecting with someone i like that
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because a good work day doesn't require everyone to become my
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best friend a few comfortable exchanges can help me feel part of the team
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and you can offer
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that same comfort to someone else welcome a new co -worker give them time to answer
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and listen without rushing to finish their sentence that's the kind
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of colleague i'd want beside me someone who makes it a
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little easier to speak even on a difficult day me too
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thanks for spending this time with us on mr english channel where learning english is easy and fun.
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Keep practicing one friendly conversation at a time.
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Thanks, everyone.
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Take care and we'll see you next time.
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Bye, Emily.
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Bye, Paul.
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Bye, everyone.
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About This Lesson
You're practicing English with "Small Talk at Work: Speak English with Confidence | English Conversation Practice | English Podcast" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.
Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.
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.