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.
