Shadowing Practice: Winning Back an Unhappy Client - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Thank you for agreeing to meet me in person.
2
Let's not beat around the bush. I'm far from happy.
3
I completely understand, and that's why I'm here.
4
The launch campaign missed its deadline by two weeks.
5
We lost our slot with three major retailers.
6
You're right, and I won't make excuses for it.
7
We underestimated the production schedule.
8
And we didn't flag the risk early enough.
9
That's on us, not on your team.
10
Well, I appreciate the honesty, at least.
11
But frankly, I'm considering taking our business elsewhere.
12
I'd understand if you did. But please hear me out first.
13
I've put together a plan to make up for lost ground.
14
Go on, then. You've got five minutes.
15
First, we'll waive our fees for this quarter entirely.
16
Second, you'll have a dedicated project lead, reporting directly to me.
17
And you'll get weekly progress updates, no exceptions.
18
That's more than I expected, I'll admit.
19
What guarantee do I have this won't happen again?
20
If we miss another agreed deadline, you can walk away, no penalty.
21
You're confident enough to put that in the contract?
22
I am. I'd rather earn your trust than ask for it.
23
All right. I'll give you one more quarter.
24
But I'll be watching very closely.
25
That's all I'm asking for. You won't regret it.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 25 sentences and 216 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:25. The speaker talks at a natural 153 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
14 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| deadline noun | /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/ | A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed. |
| earn verb | /ɝn/ | To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work. |
| elsewhere adverb | /ˈɛlsˌʍɛɹ/ | Synonym of somewhere else: in, at, or to some other place. |
| penalty noun | /ˈpɛn.əl.ti/ | A legal sentence. |
| guarantee noun | /ˌɡæɹ.ənˈtiː/ | Anything that assures a certain outcome. |
| regret verb | /ɹɪˈɡɹɛt/ | To feel sorry about (a thing that has or has not happened), afterthink: to wish that a thing had not happened, that something else had happened instead. |
| exception noun | /əkˈsɛpʃən/ | The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion; restriction by taking out something which would otherwise be included, as in a class, statement, rule. |
| slot noun | /slɑt/ | A narrow depression, perforation, or aperture; especially, one for the reception of a piece fitting or sliding into it. |
| frankly adverb | /fɹæŋkli/ | In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt. |
| honesty noun | /ˈɑ.nɪ.sti/ | The act, quality, or condition of being honest. |
| retailer noun | /ˈɹiteɪlɚ/ | A retail sales company or salesman. |
| underestimate verb | /ʌndɚˈɛs.tɪ.meɪt/ | To estimate too low; to perceive (someone or something) as having a lower value, quantity, worth, etc., than what he/she/it actually has. |
| dedicate verb | /ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt/ | To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate. |
| waive verb | /weɪv/ | To relinquish (a right etc.); to give up claim to; to forgo. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| put together verb | To assemble, construct, build, or formulate. |
| walk away verb | To withdraw from a problematic situation. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, won't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
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 deadline, earn, elsewhere.
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.