Refrain from tasks requiring English to be universal (6)
I believe the answer is:
chorus
'refrain' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
(Other definitions for chorus that I've seen before include "Speak in unison" , "Group of singers as in musicals" , "Singing group - refrain" , "Some chanting" , "Vocal composition" .)