Shadowing Practice: Talking About Your Job | Intermediate Business English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Emily: Hey, Mike, long time no see!
⏸ Paused
80 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Emily: Hey, Mike, long time no see!
2
How's the 9-to-5 treating you?
3
Mike: Hey, Emily!
4
It's been hectic but good.
5
You know how it is.
6
How about you?
7
How's work at Blue Corp?
8
Emily: Oh, you know, it's the usual grind.
9
I work as a project manager there, so it's all about keeping the ship afloat.
10
Lots of deadlines to meet.
11
Mike: Project manager, huh?
12
That sounds like a tough gig.
13
How do you handle all the stress?
14
Emily: Well, you've gotta roll with the punches, Mike.
15
I'm lucky to have a supportive team.
16
They say, "Teamwork makes the dream work." Mike: True that!
17
Speaking of your team, how are your co-workers?
18
Any interesting characters?
19
Emily: Oh, definitely!
20
We've got Steve, the office clown.
21
He's always cracking jokes, lightenng the mood.
22
Then there's Lisa, our data whiz.
23
She's a real brainiac.
24
Mike: Sounds like a diverse bunch.
25
And what about your boss?
26
Emily: My boss, Mr. Johnson, is a bit of a tough nut to crack.
27
But he's fair, and he knows the ropes.
28
You know what they say, "When the cat's away, the mice will play." Mike: Yeah, bosses can be a handful sometimes.
29
I recently got a new boss too.
30
He's pretty laid-back, which is a nice change of pace.
31
Emily: Lucky you!
32
A laid-back boss is a rare gem.
33
What about your job, Mike?
34
What do you do at RollTech?
35
Mike: I'm a software engineer.
36
I spend most of my day coding and debugging.
37
It can be challenging, but I enjoy solving problems.
38
Emily: Software engineer?
39
That's some serious brainpower stuff.
40
You must have a knack for it.
41
Mike: Well, I've always been into computers.
42
It's a passion turned profession.
43
Emily: That's the best way to do it.
44
Speaking of RollTech, what's the company culture like there?
45
Mike: It's pretty laid-back.
46
We have flexible hours, and they encourage creativity.
47
We're like a big family, you know?
48
It's not just about work; we have a lot of fun too.
49
Emily: That sounds amazing.
50
At Blue Corp, we're more traditional, but we're trying to adapt to the changing times.
51
It's a work in progress.
52
Mike: Change is good, Emily.
53
You guys will get there.
54
Any exciting projects you're working on currently?
55
Emily: We're actually revamping our website, giving it a fresh look and improved functionality.
56
It's challenging but exciting.
57
We want to stay competitive; you know?
58
Mike: That's ambitious!
59
Website revamps can be a beast.
60
But like they say, "No pain, no gain." Emily: Exactly!
61
So, what's on your plate at RollTech?
62
Any cool projects?
63
Mike: I'm part of a team developing a new app for streamlining project management.
64
It's a game-changer, Emily.
65
We're aiming high with this one.
66
Emily: Sounds like you're in the thick of innovation.
67
Keep me posted on that app; I'd love to check it out.
68
Mike: Absolutely, Emily.
69
And hey, if you ever need some tech wizardry for your website project, you know who to call.
70
Emily: Thanks, Mike.
71
I might just take you up on that offer.
72
I hate to cut this short, but I've got a meeting in half an hour.
73
Mike: No problem, Emily.
74
It was great catching up with you.
75
Let's do this again soon.
76
Emily: Definitely, Mike.
77
Take care and give my regards to the folks at RollTech.
78
Mike: Will do, Emily.
79
Best of luck with the website revamp.
80
Keep rocking it at Blue Corp!

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Context & Background

This dialogue features a casual conversation between two colleagues, Emily and Mike, who catch up after some time apart. They discuss their jobs, workplace dynamics, and the challenges they face in their respective roles. Emily is a project manager at Blue Corp, while Mike works as a software engineer at RollTech. Their exchange reveals insights into their company cultures and personal experiences, providing an authentic context that is highly relatable for learners interested in business English.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Long time no see!” - A common greeting used to express that it has been a while since two people last met.
  • “How's the 9-to-5 treating you?” - A casual way to ask someone how their job is going.
  • “Roll with the punches” - A phrase meaning to adapt to difficult situations without getting upset.
  • “Teamwork makes the dream work” - This phrase emphasizes the importance of working together towards a common goal.
  • “When the cat's away, the mice will play” - A humorous expression indicating that people often take advantage of someone's absence.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

If you want to learn English with YouTube and specifically improve your fluency through engaging conversations like Emily and Mike's, the shadowing technique is highly effective. Follow this step-by-step guide to enhance your English speaking skills:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the entire video without audio input. Engage with the context to familiarize yourself with the content.
  2. Listen and Repeat: Play the video and pause after each sentence. Try to replicate the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. This will help you improve English pronunciation significantly.
  3. Focus on Phrases: Pay particular attention to the highlighted phrases in the previous section. Practice them in different contexts to make them part of your active vocabulary.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a shadowing site or any recording tool to capture your repeated phrases. Listening back can help you assess your pronunciation accuracy.
  5. Engage in Role Play: Pair with a friend or online community member interested in learning English. Alternate roles by taking on the character of Emily or Mike, practicing the dialogue with natural emotion and response.

By consistently practicing this shadow speech methodology, you will gradually increase your confidence and fluency in English conversations. Remember, consistent practice is key!

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee