To open: I'm really excited to be speaking with you today. For responsibilities: I'm responsible for… For changing jobs: I'd like to apply my skills to a new challenge. In STAR, the Situation starts with In my current job, …, the Task with My job was to find a way of…, and the Result with Because of this, … If you missed the question: Sorry, can you repeat the question? For your own questions, ask about challenges, a typical day, and the next step in the process.
A 2025 review of 44 studies concludes that shadowing can improve the comprehensibility and fluency of your pronunciation. Most of those studies only tested controlled tasks such as reading aloud, and almost none compared shadowing with other techniques. Use it for rhythm, intonation, and smooth delivery. Building your own sentences and responding to people takes retelling, role play, and conversation.
At check-in: I have one bag to check in. Before a transfer: Do I have to pick up my bag in …? At the hotel: I have a reservation. For a room problem: I'm afraid there's a problem with…. To order: I'll have the…, and if it is sold out, Okay, I'll have the … then. For ingredients: Does it have any … in it? For the bill: Shall we split the bill? For directions: Could you tell me which way … is?
When you are stuck: Have you got a second to help me out? To ask for a second look: I think I need another pair of eyes on this. To check understanding: Can I just check that I've understood that right? When you are lost: I'm not sure I follow you. Before disagreeing: I see what you mean, but… When you got it wrong: That's on me. Before bad news: I need to give you a heads up. To chase progress: Have you had a chance to look at…?
Ask about sun with Does this wall get the sun…; drying time with How long does it take to dry…; rules with Do I need to register…; rentals with I'd like to rent…; length with long enough; partners with I'm looking for a climbing partner; routes with Can you recommend…. More rope is Slack!, less rope is Up rope!, and in a gym, asking the belayer to hold you and lower you from the top is Take!.
Positioning: I work on improving…, My work covers…. Changing requirements: changed five times in four months. Persuading with data: that convinced the team to…. A measured result: took 29 minutes. A mistake: I changed … but didn't update …, We only found out … after …. An honest gap: To be honest, we don't have … yet.
Expertise: I have experience in / as. Current job: I currently work for a company that…. Ownership: I was responsible for + -ing. Results: reduced … from A to B. Difficulty: The hardest part was + -ing. Reflection: I underestimated how…. Change: Since then, I've always…. For your own questions, ask how the team divides up the work and what the goals are for the first three months.
My friend understood me, but the same six things kept going wrong: use Have you + past participle for 'so far' questions; apply to a company, apply for a job; interview + a person means you are the interviewer; other takes a plural noun while others stands alone; because takes a clause and because of takes a noun; adjectives need be, and sentences need a subject.
Report finished work with the past simple plus a time; say I'm still waiting for when you are waiting; use by for a deadline; say I'm stuck on for a blocker; ask with Could you take a look at… when you have a moment; soften disagreement with I'm not sure about… and then suggest with Could we…; estimate with This will probably take….