Shadowing Practice: How to delegate in English - Episode 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hey guys, welcome back to our Business English channel.
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Today I want to start off with a question.
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Have you ever felt so busy that you needed an extra pair of hands?
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Have you ever felt the need to clone yourself?
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Well, maybe you need to delegate more.
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In this series, let's look at some top tips to improve your delegation skills.
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First, start small.
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Hand over tasks that don't need to be and tasks that are not paramount to the completion of your project.
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Can you make sure a copy of these gets sent to all the clients by the end of the week?
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Thanks.
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Could you just draw up those proposals, print them out, edit and double check them
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and then just get them ready and have them sent out to all the clients by the end of next week?
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This allows you the chance to get used to handing over these responsibilities
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and at the same time allows your team members a chance to get used to taking on those tasks.
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Next, we need to play to our team's strengths.
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Hey Cara, can you work on our logo design please?
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Yeah, that's fine, no problem.
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Hey Cara, can you work on our logo design please?
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Ehh, seriously?
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This will not only ensure that your team members stay happy and motivated,
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But handing over tasks to those who have the necessary skills will also give you peace of mind
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that these tasks can be achieved within your time frame and to a high enough standard.
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Let's stop right there guys!
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Today we're looking at idioms.
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An idiom is
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when the figurative meaning of what you are trying to say is different to the literal meaning of the phrase
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that you use.
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For example, I have a lot on my plate.
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I am not talking about a plate that has a lot of food on it.
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I just mean recently I have had a lot of things to do.
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I have been very, very busy.
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I have had a lot on my plate.
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Great, let's jump straight back.
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The more you delegate, remember at the end you will end up with a more well-rounded team.
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I want to leave you with another idiom today.
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Many hands make life work.
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your team members, delegate those tasks.
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It will help you relieve stress and will free up some time
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so that you can help better manage your team's specific needs.
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I hope you enjoyed our video today guys.
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Please stay tuned to follow on for the next series.
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If you haven't already, you can click on the link below and subscribe to the channel.
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And feel free to take a look at the rest of the video series on things like conflict management
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by clicking on the link that you see here.
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Thanks for watching.
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I will see you next time.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “How to delegate in English - Episode 1”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: tasks, idiom, delegate, plate. This video has 46 sentences and 481 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:12. The speaker talks at a natural 150 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 7 of its 46 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| idiom noun | /ˈɪdiəm/ | A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people. |
| delegate noun | /ˈdɛlɪɡət/ | A person authorized to act as representative for another; a deputy. |
| logo noun | /ˈloʊ.ɡoʊ/ | A visual symbol or emblem that acts as a trademark or a means of identification of a company or organization. |
| figurative adjective | /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/ | Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures. |
| motivate verb | /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ | To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate. |
| clone noun | /kloʊn/ | A living organism (originally a plant) produced asexually from a single ancestor, to which it is genetically identical. |
| paramount adjective | /ˈpæɹəˌmaʊnt/ | Highest, supreme; also, chief, leading, pre-eminent. |
| relieve verb | /ɹɪˈliːv/ | To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of. |
| literal adjective | /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/ | Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not… |
| delegation noun | /dɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/ | An act of delegating. |
| distress noun | /dɪˈstɹɛs/ | Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| completion noun | /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/ | The act or state of being or making something complete; conclusion, accomplishment. |
| tune noun | /tjuːn/ | A melody. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hand over verb | To relinquish control or possession of something to someone. |
| draw up verb | To compose (a document), especially following a standard form; prepare a plan. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Have you ever felt the need to clone yourself?
- Next, we need to play to our team's strengths.
- Let's stop right there guys!
- Today we're looking at idioms.
- Great, let's jump straight back.
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 you ever felt · have had · have been |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will not only ensure · will also give · will end |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | we're looking · are trying · am not talking |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | need to delegate · need to be · need to play |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, haven't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: delegation /dɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/, completion /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: figurative /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/, delegation /dɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like idiom, delegate, logo.
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.