Shadowing Practice: The Builder's Quote Has Doubled: Renovating the Kitchen - Learn English Speaking with Video
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37 sentences
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1
Right, I'm afraid there's no easy way to say this.
2
Oh no. That doesn't sound promising at all.
3
Once we pulled the units off, we found damp behind them.
4
And the wiring's decades out of date, frankly.
5
Hang on... how bad are we actually talking?
6
Realistically, you're looking at roughly double the original quote.
7
Double? You can't be serious!
8
Ugh, we budgeted twelve grand, and that was already a stretch!
9
I get it. But I won't just plaster over damp.
10
Okay, look, it'd be back within a year, and you'd blame me.
11
Well, I'm not convinced he's being entirely straight with us.
12
Okay, come on, he did show us photos of the wall.
13
Fair enough, but the rewiring smells like an upsell.
14
Hmm, I'd rather not cut corners on electrics, though.
15
So what, we just hand over our savings and smile?
16
Okay, let's look at this calmly. What's non-negotiable?
17
The damp, obviously. I'm not having mould behind new cupboards.
18
Agreed. And safe wiring isn't a luxury, it's essential.
19
Right... so where could we actually claw some money back?
20
Well, what if we kept the old worktops for now?
21
Oh, now that's not a bad idea at all!
22
We've had a think, and we'd like to push back a little.
23
Would you mind if we got a second opinion on the wiring?
24
Not at all. I'd do exactly the same in your position.
25
And if we keep the worktops, where does that leave us?
26
Let me see... that knocks off a good three grand.
27
Really? That's more than I expected!
28
To be honest, I could phase the work, too.
29
Damp and wiring now, the fancy bits next spring.
30
Oh, that would certainly take the sting out of it.
31
Fine, as long as it's all in writing this time!
32
Ha, fair point. I'll email you a revised quote tonight.
33
Well, that went better than I'd feared.
34
Hmm, still eye-watering... but at least it's honest.
35
And we get to keep our savings. Partly.
36
Ha! Partly being the operative word.
37
Fancy a takeaway? We haven't got a kitchen anyway!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This C1 speaking lesson is built on the video “The Builder's Quote Has Doubled: Renovating the Kitchen”. This video has 37 sentences and 347 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:28. The speaker talks at a steady 141 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 79% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding. 10 of its 37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| damp adjective | /ˈdæmp/ | In a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist. |
| worktop noun | A surface, usually resting on cupboards or drawers that can be used to work on. Usually in a kitchen. | |
| cupboard noun | /ˈkʌb.əd/ | A cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture with shelves intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food; similar cabinets or closets used for storing… |
| negotiable adjective | /nɪˈɡoʊʃəbəl/ | Able to be traversed; navigable. |
| realistically adverb | In a realistic manner. | |
| revise verb | /ɹɪˈvaɪz/ | To review, alter and amend, especially of written material. |
| rewiring noun | A new wiring | |
| takeaway noun | /ˈteɪkəweɪ/ | A restaurant that sells food to be eaten elsewhere. |
| upsell verb | To persuade a customer to buy more items, or more expensive items, than they had intended. | |
| plaster noun | /ˈplæstɚ/ | A paste applied to the skin for healing or cosmetic purposes. |
| calmly adverb | /ˈkɑː(ɹ)m.li/ | In a calm manner; coolly. |
| claw noun | /klɔ/ | A curved, pointed, horny projection on each digit of the foot of a mammal, reptile, or bird. |
| sting verb | /ˈstɪŋ/ | To hurt, usually by introducing poison or a sharp point, or both. |
| operative adjective | /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/ | Effectual or important. |
| frankly adverb | /fɹæŋkli/ | In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hand over verb | To relinquish control or possession of something to someone. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Realistically, you're looking at roughly double the original quote.
- Hmm, I'd rather not cut corners on electrics, though.
- I'm not having mould behind new cupboards.
- Would you mind if we got a second opinion on the wiring?
- I'd do exactly the same in your position.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'd, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- Long words — get the stress right: negotiable /nɪˈɡoʊʃəbəl/, operative /ˈɑpəɹətɪv/
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 damp, worktop, cupboard.
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.