Shadowing Practice: Defining a Problem: Crash Course Kids #18.1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Problems.
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We've all got them.
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You, me, T -Swift, Tony Stark.
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Some problems, like forgetting to do your homework, might seem like a pretty big deal to you.
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But when you compare them to other, bigger problems, they're really not so bad.
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Like what kind of bigger problems?
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Well, the kinds of problems engineers face, like how to safely fly hundreds of people through the air in a small vehicle from one country to another
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or how to make an eco -friendly building in a seaside town
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that can withstand hurricane -force winds or how to send a bunch of earth -bound humans hurtling off into space and, you know, get them back.
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That homework doesn't seem like such a big problem anymore, does it?
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Okay, to be clear, I'm not saying that you don't have to do your homework.
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If you didn't, it would definitely be a problem, just not as big as, like, having to invent a spaceship.
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And that's the kind of stuff that engineers do.
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Engineers are people who want to know how and why things work.
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Not only that, they actually design and build things like machines, systems, or structures to help solve specific problems.
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All engineers, whatever type they are, follow the same series of steps when trying to solve a problem.
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You'll remember these steps as the engineering process.
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And the first step in that process is defining the problem, when an engineer identifies a problem he or she hopes to solve.
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But that first step isn't as simple as you think it is.
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So it's time for our big question.
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How does an engineer define a problem?
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Let's come up with a fake problem to solve and we'll see what we wind up with.
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Pretend you're on one side of a very big canyon and you need to get to the other side.
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So that's the problem you need to solve, right?
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How to cross this very big canyon.
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Sort of, but not exactly.
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We can do better.
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If I was an engineer and found myself on one side of that huge canyon, here's how I'd go about identifying the problem.
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I'd ask questions.
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A lot of questions.
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All the questions!
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Hmm.
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I need to cross this very big canyon.
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But is that my actual problem?
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Hmm.
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This canyon is very big and I need to get to the other side.
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I know!
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I'll cross a bridge!
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Wait, is there a bridge?
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Uh, yeah, there's no bridge.
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Okay, can I climb down one side of the canyon and then up the other side?
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Uh, definitely not.
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Way too deep.
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Plus there's a roaring river at the bottom I'd have to figure out how to cross.
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So, I can't cross the canyon by bridge, I can't climb down and up, and I can't swim across it.
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What's something I can do that doesn't require a bridge, climbing, or swimming?
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I know, I need to find a way to fly across the canyon.
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And that's my problem.
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More importantly, that's my solvable problem.
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How do I fly across this very big canyon?
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It took a little bit of thinking and a whole lot of questions, but how can you fly across the canyon is an easier problem to address than the much less specific,
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I'm on one side of a big canyon and I want to get to the other side, and I don't know how to get across it.
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Which, strictly speaking, isn't a question.
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It's just complaining about a problem really loudly.
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So defining the problem in a solvable way is really key to being a good engineer.
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While that first step might seem pretty easy, make sure you treat it like the super important step that it is, because it sets the stage for all of the steps of the engineering process that follow.
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If you don't define a potentially solvable problem from the start, you might never, well, solve it.
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So an engineer asks a lot of questions to define a problem as specifically as they can, and most importantly as something that can be solved.
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So how is engineer Sabrina going to find a way to fly across that gorge?
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You're gonna have to solve that problem by watching our next lesson.
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Learn English with Videos: Explore Problem-Solving and Speaking Skills

The video takes a fun, relatable look at how engineers define problems, using everyday examples like homework struggles and canyon-crossing challenges. It’s a great resource for IELTS speaking practice because it combines clear, conversational language with engaging content, making it easy to follow and mimic. Whether you’re new to shadowing or refining your skills, this dialogue offers the perfect mix of simplicity and depth to boost your speaking confidence.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "That homework doesn't seem like such a big problem anymore, does it?" – A useful tag question to soften a point and invite agreement.
  • "To be clear, I'm not saying that you don't have to do your homework." – A great way to clarify your message and avoid misunderstandings.
  • "What's something I can do that doesn't require a bridge, climbing or swimming?" – A structured question to brainstorm solutions, perfect for problem-solving conversations.
  • "Defining the problem in a solvable way is really key." – A concise phrase to emphasize importance, ideal for discussions about planning.
  • "You're gonna have to solve that problem by watching our next lesson." – A casual, inviting way to encourage follow-up, great for friendly chats.

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide: Master "Shadowspeak" with This Video

The shadowing technique (or "shadowspeak") works wonders here because the speaker’s tone is warm and conversational. Here’s how to practice:
1. Listen once to get the gist of the problem-solving story. Focus on the flow of ideas.
2. Repeat line by line, pausing after each sentence. Mimic the speaker’s pace and emphasis (e.g., stress "super-important" in "treat it like the super-important step").
3. Chunk longer phrases, like "engineers follow the same series of steps when trying to solve a problem," to build fluency.
4. Record yourself and compare it to the video. Notice how the speaker uses questions to guide the conversation—try to replicate that natural curiosity.
This method not only improves your pronunciation but also helps you think in English, a must for IELTS speaking practice. Keep at it, and you’ll soon find yourself speaking with more confidence and clarity!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certainmight seem · might never
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryhave to do · having to invent · need to get
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionYou'll remember · we'll see · I'll cross
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around nowI'm not saying · is defining

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →