Shadowing Practice: What’s it like to be a Project Manager in Australia? - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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So, the most important skill is to communicate.
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So it's a highly communicative role.
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You really need to be able to talk to people above you, the executive level, and also talk to your team.
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You have to become friends with your team.
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But you need to be able to communicate bad news in a nice way.
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also celebrate good stuff that happens.
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I think the main challenge is communicating to your steering committees, right?
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Giving them the bad news and keeping on top of that bad news.
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It can be, you know, it's not a message that our steering committee is going to want to hear.
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Yet you've got to continually bring back the bad news to them and tell them in a palatable way.
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That's the biggest challenge, is being the bearer of bad news.
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I think if you've got experience, if you're coming in with experience, talk about the good projects you've worked on, but also talk about the bad ones.
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Talk about the things you've learned by doing those bad projects, because you'll generally learn more working on a project
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that wasn't as successful as you do when you work on a successful project.
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A lot of a successful project's all about luck.
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You don't necessarily create it yourself, but you learn a lot when a project doesn't go well and you learn about the things you do differently and better.
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So concentrate on those things.
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It's a great job.
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It's a lot more fun when you succeed in a project.
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When you deliver a project and it comes in on time
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and on budget and it works and it works really well, that's great.
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But you don't believe all the hype because sometimes you're going to, for no fault of your own, you're not going to succeed in delivering a project
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and you don't want to to believe all the hard news about that either.
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So don't believe all the hype, don't believe all the harsh news, but it is great fun to deliver a successful project.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing with the video “What’s it like to be a Project Manager in Australia?” provides an invaluable opportunity for English learners to enhance their communication skills in a professional context. The speaker highlights the importance of effective communication, particularly in the challenging role of a project manager. As you engage with the content, you’ll learn how to deliver difficult messages and celebrate successes with colleagues—a vital skill in any workplace. By using the shadowing technique, where you imitate the speaker's phrases and intonation, you can improve your fluency and gain confidence in discussing complex topics. This method not only aids retention but also helps in internalizing the nuances of professional communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The transcript is rich with expressions and structures that are beneficial for English learners. Here are a few key grammatical points to focus on:

  • “You really need to” - This phrase demonstrates necessity and can be utilized in various contexts to emphasize an obligation. For example, “You really need to understand the project requirements.”
  • “Talk about the good projects you’ve worked on, but also talk about the bad ones.” - The use of coordinating conjunctions here emphasizes balance, suggesting both successes and failures are important for growth.
  • “You’ll generally learn more working on a project that wasn’t as successful.” - The conditional “you’ll generally learn” introduces an opinion and can be a useful phrase for sharing insights. You might say, “You’ll generally find that practice improves your skills.”
  • “Don’t believe all the hype” - This colloquial expression advises skepticism and can be adapted to broader conversations about expectations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking along with the video, pay attention to these pronunciation challenges:

  • “Communication” - This word has several syllables, making it a bit tricky to pronounce clearly. Break it down into “com-mu-ni-ca-tion.”
  • “Deliver” - The emphasis is on the second syllable: de-LIV-er. Use the shadow speech method to practice the rhythm and stress patterns.
  • "Palatable” - A common stumbling block; focus on pronouncing it as “pal-a-ta-ble.” Its flow is crucial when discussing feedback or constructive criticism.

By paying attention to these common pronunciation traps and employing a shadowing app or technique, you’ll refine your articulation and fluency. Embrace the challenge of speaking along with the video, as mastering these skills will significantly enhance your professional communication abilities.

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.