Shadowing Practice: The Art of Improversation - The Office US - Learn English Speaking with Video

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42 sentences
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So listen, Michael, your branch has been doing great lately, and your sales staff is reporting very strong numbers.
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Outperforming last year, in fact.
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Um, and I don't know exactly how to put this,
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but what are you doing right?
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Right what?
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Utica, Albany, all the other branches are struggling, but your branch is reporting strong numbers.
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Look, you're not our most traditional guy, but clearly something you are doing is right, and I just, I need to get a sense of what that is.
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David, here it is.
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My philosophy is basically this, and this is something that I live by, and I always have, and I always will.
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Don't ever, for any reason,
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do anything to anyone for any reason ever no matter what no matter where or who or who you are with
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or or where you are going or or where you've been
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ever for any reason whatsoever sometimes i'll start a sentence
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and i don't even know where it's I just hope I find it along the way.
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Like an improv conversation.
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An improvisation.
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This is gonna sound sort of high maintenance, but could we have it like three degrees cooler in here?
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I always think better when it's cooler.
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Here's the thing.
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Michael is doing something right.
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And in this economic climate, no method of success can be ignored.
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It's not really time for executives to start getting judgmental now.
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It's Hail Mary time.
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Hey, what say we order up some pasta?
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What say we do?
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So I was in the office.
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And I look over to our accounting division, and there's Kevin Malone.
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Kevin is wearing a jacket that I've never seen before.
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And I call over to Kevin.
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Kevin, is that a tweed jacket?
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And he looks at me and he says, Michael, yes, it is a tweed jacket.
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And I look back at him and I say, I feel the need.
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The need for tweed.
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It's hard to try and evaluate yourself, Michael, but I appreciate you trying.
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And thanks for coming in.
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Oh, thank you.
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Yes.
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I have to say, I am so impressed with the potential you see in me.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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Yeah, finish it.
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Thank you.

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What Speaking Skills Can You Build with This Clip?

This video is a goldmine for practicing impromptu speaking—a key fluency milestone for exams like IELTS speaking practice and real-life conversations. Michael’s "improversation" style shows how to keep a dialogue flowing even when you’re not sure where it’s going, a skill that helps you think on your feet. Whether you’re preparing for a test or just want to sound more natural, this clip teaches you to embrace flexibility in speech, a must for confident communication.

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions from the Dialogue

  • "Outperforming last year" – A great way to highlight success in work or studies.
  • "I don't know exactly how to put this" – Softens a direct question, useful for polite conversations.
  • "This is gonna sound sort of high maintenance, but..." – Prepares the listener for a request, making it less abrupt.
  • "It's Hail Mary time" – Informal phrase for when you need to try bold solutions (perfect for casual chats).
  • "I feel the need. The need for tweed" – A playful twist on a common phrase, showing how to add humor to speech.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Rhythm and Pronunciation Tips

Michael’s speech is full of pauses, repetitions, and casual rhythm—elements that make English sound natural but can trip up learners. To master this, try shadow speech (or shadowspeak): play short clips, pause, and repeat his lines, mimicking his pace and tone. Notice how he stresses words like "ever" and "whatsoever" for emphasis, and how his pauses (like "and I don't even know where it's...") create a conversational flow. This practice helps you break free from rigid pronunciation and sound more like a native. Learn English with YouTube by using this clip to refine your rhythm—you’ll be surprised how much more confident you sound!

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →