Shadowing Practice: Stop Using Basic English At Work | English Learning Practice Podcast π§ | English Podcast β - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello and welcome!
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Hello and welcome!
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My name is Emma.
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Today we are going to talk about a very useful and powerful topic.
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Stop using basic English at work.
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Use these phrases instead.
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Easy English.
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This topic is extremely important because many people know basic English,
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but at work they want to sound more professional,
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more confident, and more natural.
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Hello, my name is Daniel.
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Honestly, that is exactly my problem.
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I use the same simple English again and again at work.
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Sometimes I feel like my vocabulary is living in one small room and refusing to grow.
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That happens to many English learners.
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Most people learn basic English in school,
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but workplace English is different.
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Yes, at work I want to sound professional,
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but sometimes my English sounds like I am sending messages to my best friend.
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That is why today we will learn smarter and more natural English phrases for work.
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Good, because sometimes I write emails and then spend 30 minutes checking
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if I sound professional or accidentally sound like a confused child.
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Daniel.
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I am serious.
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Sometimes I write one email,
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then read it 10 times,
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then panic, then rewrite everything again.
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Many people do that.
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But don't worry.
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Today we will make workplace English easier and more natural.
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I am ready.
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Good.
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Let's start with a very common basic sentence.
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Many people say, I don't understand.
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Yes, I say that a lot.
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It is not wrong, but at work you can sound more professional by saying,
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could you clarify that please?
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Oh, that sounds much better.
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Exactly.
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It sounds polite, professional, and confident.
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Honestly, could you clarify that?
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Sounds like a successful office person.
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I don't understand sounds like my brain stopped working both mean almost the same thing
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but the feeling is different that is interesting workplace English is not only about grammar.
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It is also about tone.
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So words change how people see you?
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Absolutely.
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Let's learn another example.
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Many people say, I am busy.
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That is me every day.
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Sometimes I am so busy that even my coffee looks stressed.
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Instead of saying, I am busy,
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try saying, I'm tied up at the moment.
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That sounds much more natural.
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Exactly.
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Or you can say, I have a lot on my plate right now.
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Wait, a lot on my plate?
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That sounds like food.
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It is an expression.
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It means you have many tasks and responsibilities.
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English is funny sometimes.
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One minute we are talking about work,
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next minute suddenly there is a plate.
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That is why learning phrases is important.
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Native speakers use expressions all the time.
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I want to sound more natural like that.
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And you will.
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Let's continue.
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Many people say, I will call you later.
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Instead, you can say, I'll get back to you later.
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Oh, I hear that phrase a lot in movies and offices.
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Exactly.
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It is very common in professional English.
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So, I'll get back to you means I will contact you later?
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Yes.
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Very good.
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I feel smarter already.
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Good.
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Now let's learn another workplace phrase.
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Many people say, good idea,
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but in professional English, you can say,
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that sounds like a great approach.
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Wow, that sounds very professional.
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Exactly.
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Honestly, if I say that in a meeting,
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even I will be impressed with myself.
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Confidence grows when your vocabulary grows.
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That is true.
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Let's practice a small office conversation.
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Can you finish this project today?
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I have a lot on my plate right now,
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but I'll do my best.
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Excellent.
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That sounds natural and professional.
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Better than saying, I am busy and stressed and mentally disappearing.
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Much better.
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Good, because sometimes my face already looks stressed enough.
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Daniel.
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Again, honesty.
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Let's continue.
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Another common basic sentence is, I agree.
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Instead, you can say, I completely agree with your point.
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That sounds more professional and respectful.
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Exactly.
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Or you can say, that makes perfect sense.
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I like that phrase.
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Good.
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Now let's learn how to disagree politely at work.
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That is important, because sometimes I disagree inside my mind,
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but outside I just smile like a confused potato.
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Many people are afraid to disagree professionally,
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but there are polite ways to do it.
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Instead of saying, you are wrong,
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you can say, I see your point,
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but I have a different perspective.
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Wow, that sounds calm and professional.
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Exactly.
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It sounds much better than starting office war.
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Professional English should sound respectful.
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That makes sense.
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Let's continue with another important phrase.
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Many people say, tell me fast.
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Instead say, could you give me a quick update?
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That sounds much more polite.
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Exactly.
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Workplace English is often softer and more polite.
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So, professional English is not only about difficult words.
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Correct.
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It is about sounding clear, calm, and respectful.
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I think many learners try too hard to sound advanced.
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Yes, but natural professional English is usually simple and smart.
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Sometimes I panic during meetings,
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especially when somebody suddenly asks me a question.
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That happens to many people.
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Let me teach you a useful phrase for that situation.
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You can say, let me think about that for a moment.
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Oh, that gives you time to think.
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Exactly.
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Native speakers use phrases like this all the time.
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That is very useful.
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Here is another phrase.
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Instead of saying, I made a mistake,
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try saying, that was an oversight on my part.
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That sounds extremely professional.
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Yes.
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Honestly, if I say that confidently,
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maybe people will think I am important.
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Confidence and communication often go together.
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I understand now.
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Good.
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Let's do another office conversation.
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Did you finish the report?
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Not yet, but I'm currently working on it.
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Excellent.
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Now another question.
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Can you explain this data?
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Could you clarify which part you mean?
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Perfect.
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I sound much more professional now.
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Exactly.
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That is the power of workplace phrases.
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Sometimes I feel nervous speaking English at work because I think people will judge me.
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Remember this.
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Most people care more about clear communication than perfect grammar.
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That makes me feel better.
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Good.
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Also remember something important.
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Confidence grows with practice.
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So I should use these phrases daily?
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Absolutely.
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Use them in conversations.
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Use them in emails.
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Use them during meetings.
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Even if I make mistakes?
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Especially if you make mistakes.
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Mistakes are part of learning.
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I think many people stay silent because they are afraid of mistakes.
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Yes.
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Silence slows improvement.
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Practice creates improvement.
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That is powerful.
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Let's finish with one final message.
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You do not need perfect English to sound professional.
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You only need better habits,
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better phrases, and daily practice.
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Small changes create big improvement.
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Exactly.
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Replace basic phrases with smarter phrases little by little.
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Practice them daily.
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Use them naturally.
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And slowly, professional English becomes easier.
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Yes.
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One day, you will speak confidently in meetings.
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One day, you will write professional emails naturally.
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One day, workplace English will feel comfortable to you.
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That day will feel amazing.
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And that day starts with practice today.
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If you found this conversation helpful,
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like this video and subscribe to the channel.
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And keep practicing English with us every day.
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Your professional English journey has started.
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Now don't stop.
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Context & Background
Welcome to todayβs discussion where we focus on enhancing your professional English speaking skills. Many learners find themselves stuck using basic English phrases when communicating at work, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of confidence. In this video and practice session, Emma and Daniel illustrate common experiences among English learners who desire to sound more professional. They emphasize the importance of using the right vocabulary and tone to ensure effective communication in a professional environment. The goal is to help you break free from the limitations of basic English and adopt phrases that reflect confidence and professionalism.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Instead of saying "I don't understand," use: "Could you clarify that please?" This phrase sounds much more professional and shows that you value clarity.
- Instead of "I'm busy," try: "I'm currently managing multiple priorities." This conveys your workload more positively without sounding overwhelmed.
- Instead of saying "Can you help me?": "Could you assist me with this?" This variation is polite and professional.
- Instead of "I think...": "In my opinion..." This phrase adds authority to your statements and invites discussion.
- Instead of "I'm sorry for the delay": "Thank you for your patience." This shifts the focus to gratitude and professionalism.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively tackle the challenge of transitioning from basic to advanced English phrases, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide:
- Listen Carefully: Start by listening to the video attentively. Focus on the intonation and pronunciation of the phrases.
- Repeat After the Speaker: Use the shadowing technique by repeating phrases immediately after the speaker. This practice helps improve your English pronunciation and fluency.
- Practice in Context: Write down scenarios where you commonly communicate at work and incorporate the new phrases. For instance, try using "Could you clarify that please?" in a mock meeting.
- Record Yourself: Use a voice recorder to capture your pronunciation as you practice. Compare it to the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
- Engage in Role-plays: Partner with a friend or colleague and role-play different workplace scenarios using these phrases. This practice reinforces your learning and helps with real-life application.
By regularly engaging in this english speaking practice approach, youβll not only improve your language skills but also boost your confidence in professional settings. Consider integrating these new phrases when preparing for IELTS speaking practice as well, enhancing your overall communication skills.
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 β like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1β2 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 β making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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