Shadowing Practice: Ethiopia’s Chapel in the Sky - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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The Tigray region in northern Ethiopia is known for its assembly of rock -hewn churches.
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Sculpted out of sandstone, the most wondrous of these is Ibuna Yamataga.
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There's only one way up.
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You have to climb this cliff face.
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Welcome to the world's most perilous church.
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Established in the 5th century, the church is named after its founder and builder, Father Yamada.
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Perched 650 feet above a steep cliff, some say he chose its location to be closer to heavenly
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spirits others argue it was a strategic move to avoid his enemies either way the church's location sealing frescoes
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and precious goatskin Bible have attracted worshipers for centuries the church has 20 clergymen
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and is managed by this high -ranking priest he has lived here for over 47 years
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and he makes the climb every day. For fearless worshipers,
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the two -hour trek to the top begins by hiking to the bottom of the rock from the valley below.
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Visitors must first remove their shoes before climbing.
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The final obstacle to the church's entrance can test the most ardent pilgrim's faith.
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A narrow cliff ledge with a deadly drop to the left, and no room for error.
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Once through, you may think you're in heaven, but you've never felt more alive.
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the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian,
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the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian, the Christian,
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the You
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Ethiopia’s Chapel in the Sky”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Christian, cliff, church. This video has 19 sentences and 358 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:16. The speaker talks at a steady 110 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| cliff noun | /klɪf/ | A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face. |
| ardent adjective | /ˈɑɹdənt/ | Full of ardor; expressing passion, spirit, or enthusiasm. |
| clergyman noun | /ˈklɝd͡ʒimən/ | A male member of a clergy; especially, an ordained (male) Christian minister. |
| fresco noun | /ˈfɹɛskoʊ/ | A cool, refreshing state of the air; coolness, duskiness, shade. |
| goatskin noun | /ˈɡoʊtˌskɪn/ | The skin of a goat, especially when cured and used as a material for clothing, tents, etc. |
| perilous adjective | /ˈpɛɹ.ɪ.ləs/ | Dangerous, full of peril. |
| sculpt verb | /skʌlpt/ | To form by sculpture. |
| wondrous adjective | /ˈwʌndɹəs/ | Wonderful; amazing, inspiring awe; marvelous. |
| fearless adjective | /ˈfɪɹləs/ | Without fear. |
| sandstone noun | /ˈsændˌstoʊn/ | A sedimentary rock produced by the consolidation and compaction of sand, cemented with clay etc. |
| obstacle noun | /ˈɑbstəkəl/ | Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress, either physically or figuratively |
| heavenly adjective | /ˈhɛvənli/ | Of or pertaining to Heaven, the eternal celestial abode of God or the gods. |
| builder noun | /ˈbɪl.dəɹ/ | One who builds or constructs things. |
| hike noun | /haɪk/ | A long walk, usually for pleasure or exercise. |
| trek noun | /tɹɛk/ | A journey by ox wagon. |
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 attracted · has lived · you've never felt |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is known · is named · is managed |
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 cliff, ardent, clergyman.
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.