Shadowing Practice: English in a Minute: Pick Up the Slack - Learn English Speaking with Video
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13 sentences
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1
Welcome to English in a Minute.
2
Slack describes the part of a rope that's not tight and hangs loosely.
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But why would someone need to pick up the slack?
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Okay, how many scripts do we have for the new program?
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Let's see, I count two.
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Two?
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But Martha promised she would write ten.
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Oh, well, we're gonna have to pick up the slack because she's only written two.
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Martha!
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To pick up the slack means to do something that someone else should be doing but isn't.
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If you have ever been on a team or worked in an office,
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you know that one person not doing their part can have a bad effect on others.
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And that's English in a Minute.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 13 sentences and 121 words to shadow. The speech runs for 0:53. The speaker talks at a steady 136 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing.
Key vocabulary in this video
9 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| slack adjective | /slæk/ | Lax; not tense; not firmly extended. |
| script noun | /skɹɪpt/ | A writing; a written document. |
| rope noun | /ɹoʊp/ | Thick strings, yarn, monofilaments, metal wires, or strands of other cordage that are twisted together to form a stronger line. |
| loosely adverb | /ˈluːsli/ | In a loose manner. |
| tight adjective | /taɪt/ | Firmly held together; compact; not loose or open. |
| describe verb | /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ | To represent in words. |
| welcome | /ˈwɛl.kəm/ | Greeting given upon someone's arrival. |
| count verb | /kaʊnt/ | To recite numbers in sequence. |
| promise noun | /ˈpɹɑmɪs/ | An oath or affirmation; a vow. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have ever been |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should be |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to pick · have to pick |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | gonna have |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as gonna, isn't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like slack, script, rope.
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.