Shadowing Exercise 1:
Asking for Help or Information

Listen to each statement from an American English speaker. Then try to repeat each phrase to practice talking like a native English speaker.

Shadowing Exercise Transcript:

• Can you fill me in on what I missed from the meeting this morning?
• Can you bring me up to speed on what was discussed at yesterday’s meeting?
• Can I pick your brains about something?
• Can you take a quick look at this report that I created to see if you think it’s what Mike is looking for?
• Tell me about your experience working with the Example Industries account.
• How do you usually handle scheduling for the suppliers at the end-of-year conference?

Shadowing Exercise 2:
Phrases for Resolving Conflict

Listen to each statement from an American English speaker. Then try to repeat each phrase to practice talking like a native English speaker.

Shadowing Exercise Transcript:

• I wanted to talk through a few things that have been on my mind.
• I know we didn’t see eye-to-eye
• I’m concerned by HOW we disagreed.
• Is there something I said or did?
• Let’s establish a goal of working well together. Can we say the goal is…

Shadowing Exercise 3:
Phrases to Say No

Listen to each statement from an American English speaker. Then try to repeat each phrase to practice talking like a native English speaker.

Shadowing Exercise Transcript:

• I’m up to my ears in customer satisfaction surveys right now. Could we talk about this later this week?
• I wish I could help but I’m behind on my part of a project right now.
• Actually, I’m not available to come in this Saturday.
• I’d rather stay out of these sorts of discussion.

Speaking Exercise:

You are new at a your job and you’re meeting a co-worker for the first time. Your co-worker asks you where you worked before this. Record a voice message (click the button down below to start recording) telling your co-worker what your previous job was and a short summary of your job responsibilities. Your answer should be only 2-3 sentences and shorter than 30 seconds. For an example of how to do this well, go back to this section of the video lesson.