Shadowing Practice: Virtual Meeting Etiquette [DOS & DON'TS] - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Do you participate in a lot of virtual meetings and wondering how you can make them more effective?
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Well by the end of this video I'm going to give you my top tips on virtual meeting etiquette
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so that your meetings can be more productive. And
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if you stay tuned to the end of this video I'm
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going to give you my master hacks productivity checklist to boost your productivity.
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Hi if you're new here welcome for the best career
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and project management advice subscribe to my channel hit that bell button
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and a brand new video is going to come to you every wednesday i have facilitated
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and participated in countless virtual meetings
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and let me tell you i have seen people make some common mistakes over
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and over again
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and what i want to share with you is some virtual
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meeting etiquette that's going to make your meeting more productive
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and really just help everybody out on
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that particular call okay lights camera action this is the stuff
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we're going to be talking about plus some other cool things
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so if you're excited like this video
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and let's get to it lights lighting is everything
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when it comes to a virtual call it is really important
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that you have lights on why
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because my assumption is you have video on you know how important it is for people to see you
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so if you're sitting in a dark room guess what you're probably going to be dark too
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so wherever you are with your meeting make sure lights are on better yet make sure you have natural light
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because i promise you it even makes you look better and
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if you do have natural light face the window so all
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that natural light radiates on you i've seen some people actually have their back to the window
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which means all of
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that beautiful natural light is now behind them creating a huge
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shadow that's a big no -no people can't see you
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so lights are critical particularly with video on have all the lights on and
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if you can use natural light whenever possible i promise you
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it makes you look good camera it's all about the angles on your camera
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so it's really important not only the lighting
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but take a look at the positioning of your camera have you ever taken a photo of yourself a selfie
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and the camera and angle was all wrong
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and was like oh not good maybe even you're looking up
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your nose same thing with the camera on your computer
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when you're doing virtual calls
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so one of the things i recommend highly is get some
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sort of stand for your computer lift it up you want the camera to be at your eye level
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so you're directly looking into the camera, in essence looking eye -to -eye to your other people in the meeting.
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Action!
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Pass a virtual talking stick.
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So what do I mean by this when it comes to meeting etiquette, virtual meeting etiquette?
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Well, you have great lighting, you have great camera angle, now your meeting is going and you have tons of noise behind you, the dog is barking, the doorbell rings.
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That drowns out when you have someone speaking, they can't hear, the other participants can't hear what other people are saying
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so there's a couple of things
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that you can do here number one in meetings mute yourself unless you're talking
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so you have to remember that really important it just drowns out
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that background noise and when you do have to talk and
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if the dog does bark that's okay that's called life
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and other things you also want to be really respectful for is
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if you do want to have a point
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when someone else is talking use a chat function depending on
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your meeting your virtual meeting software you may even have abilities to raise your hands, things of that nature.
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So use that functionality in order to make sure
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that everybody has a turn talking and you can actually hear what other people are saying.
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Stay present.
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Okay, this is really important because I've seen this happen so many times.
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Yes, your mic is muted.
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I get it.
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You're not talking, but it doesn't mean you can start doing other work.
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It doesn't mean that you should be going on your phone
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and checking out texts because guess what people can see that
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if you're in a meeting you're there for a reason
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so stay present if you can hide your phone put it on vibrate don't go to it
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and check the text
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because people can see it you do not want to be doing other things
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while you're in the meeting if you are then the question is why are you there
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and you should be challenging the meeting facilitator
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if that's the case other things too is
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when you're working from home really connect with people in your home let them know
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that hey I'm working from home perhaps you have a power hour on your door for people not to come
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if you're lucky enough to have a home office
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or you just let them know be really really quiet
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because we have things going on it's all good
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but just make sure that you're present in the moment
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and you keep people around you as well so they understand
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that you need to be present too
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and not to drag you away keep it professional okay you
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may be saying to yourself Adriana it's not just obvious I'm
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in a business meeting of course I'm gonna keep it professional however you will be surprised
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and I've seen this happen from an etiquette perspective some people just don't I don't know why maybe
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because they feel like they're at home and they can do whatever they want
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and particularly with video on now it is really important to keep it even more professional
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so what are some of the things you can do check out your background
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if you're gonna have a virtual meeting
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and video really should be on check out what people are
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looking at behind you yes I know some of the software
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has ability for you to actually put different backgrounds behind you
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but I promise you people move their heads and then they can still see through whatever background you put through.
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So if you can
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get a little like a tv table a portable table then
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and set it up where you're behind something
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that you feel very comfortable with that's one way another way
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to keep things professional is take a look at what you're
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wearing now i'm not saying you get dressed up in a suit i'm not even saying
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that you fully have to go all out like you are you are in the office
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or whatever office attire is acceptable for your organization
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but guess what don't wear your pajamas like particularly in a virtual meeting
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when your camera is on um just really keep clean and neat
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and it's all good the purpose is you're in a meeting to get stuff done just really keep it professional
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no eating most of the time all right i struggle with this one a bit
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and you may as well and when i think about all the virtual meetings
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that i've been having as of late i'm back to back to back to back virtual meeting
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when do i have a time to actually eat
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so here's a couple of things
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which is why I say most of the time it can be really tempting
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when we're on mute
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and we know people can't hear us to start gobbling up
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whatever we need to gobble up I get it I get
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it you know you have to play things by ear however really be wise
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and smart about it so think about your food choices
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that you pick
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if you're gonna be eating on camera now you could also
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do this let the person know who's facilitating the meeting you
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know what this is my lunch hour I haven't had lunch
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yet I want us to have the conversation I want to
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participate in meeting i'm just going to turn my video off
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while i'm eating i'm still here
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and then once you're done you can turn your video on i've seen
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that done which is a really nice way to compromise particularly
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when you're back to back to back meetings other things too to consider
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because i run virtual workshops all the time we're in a
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big set you know block of time people do need a little bit of energy right
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so you know i do tell them bring your snacks it's okay
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so i set it up right away so
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if you run virtual meetings set it up for people
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that it's okay to either eat or not eat
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but you have to play this one by ear
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which is why i say most of the time no eating
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but obviously have that cup of coffee sipping on a drink is absolutely okay
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and you may want to have a smoothie in lieu of some food that's a suggestion now
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that you know how to have excellent virtual meeting etiquette
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and i promise you other people around you're going to be very appreciative
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and you can lead the pack i want to give you
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something else under this video there's a link for this a
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master hack productivity tips tricks cool stuff that's just going to even catapult you further in your career
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so check it out so don't forget to subscribe to this channel like this video
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and please share it with all the people
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that you know i would love to hear
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which tip are you going to start embracing or perhaps you have something
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that you can add to the list that i've already given i'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
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On that note, see you at the next video.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Virtual Meeting Etiquette”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: meeting, virtual, camera. This video has 39 sentences and 1672 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:53. The speaker talks fast, about 212 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| virtual adjective | /ˈvɜɹt͡ʃuəl/ | In effect or essence, rather than in fact or reality; also, imitated, simulated. |
| participate verb | /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ | To join in, to take part, to involve oneself (in something). |
| angle noun | /ˈæŋ.ɡəl/ | A figure formed by two rays which start from a common point (a plane angle) or by three planes that intersect (a solid angle). |
| productivity noun | /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/ | The state of being productive, fertile, or efficient. |
| mute adjective | /mjut/ | Not having the power of speech; dumb. |
| productive adjective | /pɹəˈdʌk.tɪv/ | Capable of producing something, especially in abundance; fertile. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| facilitate verb | /fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/ | To make easy or easier. |
| bark noun | /bɑɹk/ | The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree or of various other woody plants. |
| drown verb | /dɹaʊn/ | To die from suffocation while immersed in water or other fluid. |
| trick noun | /ˈtɹɪk/ | Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle. |
| shadow noun | /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ | A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object. |
| boost verb | /buːst/ | To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up. |
| dragon noun | /ˈdɹæɡən/ | In European mythologies, a gigantic beast, typically reptilian with leathery bat-like wings, lion-like claws, scaly skin and a lizard-like body, often a… |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| look up verb | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | To have better prospects. |
| put through verb | To connect (a telephone caller) with the callee. | |
| see through verb | To perceive visually through something transparent. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 67 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/, workshop /ˈwɝk.ʃɑp/, assumption /əˈsʌm(p).ʃ(ə)n/, appreciative /əˈpɹi.ʃətɪv/
- Long words — get the stress right: participate /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/, productivity /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, facilitate /fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/, acceptable /əkˈsɛp.tə.bəl/, participant /pɑːɹˈtɪsəpənt/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like virtual, participate, angle.
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.