Shadowing Practice: From Tourist to Pilgrim - Ep. 21: Michelangelo's Pietà in St. Peter's Basilica - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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From Tourist to Pilgrim, the podcast on the Papal Basilicas made with Vatican News, Vatican Radio.
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From Tourist to Pilgrim, the podcast on the Papal Basilicas made with Vatican News, Vatican Radio.
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My name is Karin, I'm a church historian
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and I'm working as a tour guide next to the venerable factory of St. Peter.
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We are in the Basilica of St. Peter and we are next to the chapel with the Beatà.
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Beatà means mercy, compassion.
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The Beatà is one of the masterpieces made by Michelangelo.
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The bietà is showing us Mary with her dead son in her lap.
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People are coming from all over the world to see the bietà,
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to stay in front of her, to pray.
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The bietà is showing us compassion, love, mercy.
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Michelangelo made the bietà when he was not yet 25 years old,
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so he was really, really young.
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He made the beatar from one block of marble.
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He said, at this time the beatar is already inside this block.
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My job is to bring her out.
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We can see also Mary is really young.
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How comes she must be older when Jesus died?
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But Michelangelo said, she's beautiful, she's immaculate, she's virgin.
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She will never getting older.
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She doesn't have wrinkles in her face and that's why she's so young and so beautiful.
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And we can see Mary has a band on her bust.
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Why?
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When Michelangelo made the beatin,
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as I've told you, he was not even 25 years old.
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Too young, someone said.
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He should be able to make such a masterpiece.
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Michelangelo was so fended and he said,
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I have to do something.
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And he has written some letters on this band.
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I, Michelangelo Bonarotti from Florence, was making it.
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This was the first and the last time that he signed a work made by him.
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You can see the Beatà is now behind the glass.
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It was not always like this,
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but in the 1970s a man came inside the basilica And he said,
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I'm the rising Christ.
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But he wanted to destroy the bietà.
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And that's why now, today, she's behind the glass.
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Nevertheless, everyone is able to see her,
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to visit her, to take a look in her eyes.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage with the rich content of the From Tourist to Pilgrim podcast episode focusing on Michelangelo's Pietà located in St. Peter's Basilica. As you practice, you'll improve your listening comprehension and speaking skills by shadowing the podcast's narrative. You will also explore themes of compassion and artistry, enhancing your understanding of cultural and historical contexts while learning new vocabulary. This immersive approach will help you learn English with YouTube and grasp nuanced expressions related to art and religion.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Pietà: A depiction of Mary holding the dead body of Jesus, symbolizing mercy and compassion.
  • Masterpiece: A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.
  • Marble: A type of stone used in sculpture and architecture; Michelangelo carved the Pietà from a single block.
  • Compassion: A deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering.
  • Immaculate: Perfectly clean, without stain or blemish; often used to describe Mary’s purity.
  • Wrinkles: Lines or folds in something, particularly skin, indicative of age.
  • Signed: To write one's name on a work to indicate authorship; Michelangelo's pride in his creation.
  • Behind the glass: Refers to the protective casing that now surrounds the Pietà due to security concerns.

Practice Tips

To effectively practice speaking through shadowing, follow these tailored tips specific to the episode's tempo and tone:

  • Choose the Right Shadowing App: Utilize a shadowing app to play segments of the podcast at your preferred speed, gradually increasing the pace as you become more comfortable.
  • Focus on Intonation: Pay close attention to the speaker's intonation and pause. Capturing the natural rhythm is key to mastering nuanced expression.
  • Repetition is Key: Listen to short clips repeatedly and repeat them aloud, mimicking the speaker’s pronunciation and emotional tone to improve your shadow speech.
  • Practice in Context: After shadowing, try to discuss the themes presented in the episode, such as the concept of mercy in art, enhancing both your vocabulary and fluency.
  • Utilize Visual Aids: Watch the video if available, observing the Pietà as you learn; seeing the artwork while practicing can reinforce your memory and understanding.
  • Record Yourself: Make recordings of your practice sessions and compare them to the original, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and track your progress in speaking.

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.

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