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📌 B2DialogueAmerican accent14 lines

Negotiating a deadline

Shadow a 14-line B2 conversation at work: asking for more time, offering a draft, agreeing on a plan. Polite, direct American English.

The scene. An analyst tells her manager that the client's report can't be finished by Friday because new data arrived. They negotiate: a draft on Friday, the final version on Tuesday, with uncertain sections clearly marked.

1 · ListenPlay one line. Loop it. Slow it down to 0.75× if you need.
2 · ShadowSpeak along with the voice, copying rhythm and stress. Hide the text when you can.
3 · RecordSay the line alone, get a score, compare your take with the model.

Words to know

Read these before you listen. Tap a word to mark it as known.

deliver — to hand in finished workWhat's holding it up? — what is delaying it?the board — the group of directors of a companydraft — an early, unfinished versionsolid — reliable, well checkeddouble-check — check againfair enough — okay, that's reasonableflag — to mark something so people notice ituncertain — not sure, not confirmedkeep me posted — keep giving me updates

Shadow the lines

0/14 done
  1. 1Analyst

    Do you have a minute to talk about the report?

  2. 2Manager

    Sure, what's up?

  3. 3Analyst

    I don't think we can deliver it by Friday.

  4. 4Manager

    Really? What's holding it up?

  5. 5Analyst

    The client sent new data yesterday, and it changes everything.

  6. 6Manager

    I understand, but the board meets on Monday.

  7. 7Analyst

    What if we send a draft on Friday and the final version on Tuesday?

  8. 8Manager

    A draft might work, as long as the numbers are solid.

  9. 9Analyst

    They will be. I just need the weekend to double-check them.

  10. 10Manager

    Fair enough. Can you flag anything that's still uncertain?

  11. 11Analyst

    Absolutely. I'll mark those sections in yellow.

  12. 12Manager

    Perfect. Let's go with that, then.

  13. 13Analyst

    Thanks. I appreciate the flexibility.

  14. 14Manager

    No problem. Just keep me posted.

Full script (14 lines)

Analyst: Do you have a minute to talk about the report?

Manager: Sure, what's up?

Analyst: I don't think we can deliver it by Friday.

Manager: Really? What's holding it up?

Analyst: The client sent new data yesterday, and it changes everything.

Manager: I understand, but the board meets on Monday.

Analyst: What if we send a draft on Friday and the final version on Tuesday?

Manager: A draft might work, as long as the numbers are solid.

Analyst: They will be. I just need the weekend to double-check them.

Manager: Fair enough. Can you flag anything that's still uncertain?

Analyst: Absolutely. I'll mark those sections in yellow.

Manager: Perfect. Let's go with that, then.

Analyst: Thanks. I appreciate the flexibility.

Manager: No problem. Just keep me posted.

Comprehension check

Answer from what you heard. Check your score, then show the answers.

  1. What does the analyst want to discuss?

  2. Why can't she deliver on Friday?

  3. Why does the manager need the report soon?

  4. What compromise does she propose?

  5. What is the manager's condition?

  6. How will she mark uncertain sections?

  7. How does the conversation end?

Grammar from the script: 'What if' proposals and conditions with 'as long as'

Choose the word that completes the sentence the way the speaker said it.

  1. I don't think we ___ deliver it by Friday.

  2. ___ we send a draft on Friday and the final version on Tuesday?

  3. A draft might work, ___ the numbers are solid.

  4. I just need the weekend ___ double-check them.

  5. Can you flag anything ___ still uncertain?

  6. Just keep me ___.

Talk about it

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