Shadowing Practice: PUT GOD FIRST - Best Motivational & Inspirational Speech Video (Featuring Denzel Washington) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Put God first.
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Put God first in everything you do.
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Everything that you think you see in me, everything that I've accomplished, everything that you think I have, and I have a few things, everything that I have is by the grace of God.
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Understand that.
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It's a gift.
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Well, I have traveled the world.
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And I have spoke to millions of people.
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But that's not the most important thing, the success that I had.
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The most important thing is that I've been protected.
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I've been directed.
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I've been corrected.
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I've kept God in my life and has kept me humble.
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I didn't always stick with Him, but He always stuck with me.
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So stick with Him.
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in everything you do.
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If you think you want to do what you think I've done, then do what I've done and stick with God.
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In order to achieve your goals, you must apply discipline, which you've already done,
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and consistency every day, not just on Tuesday and just a few days.
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You have to work at it.
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I pray that you put your slippers way under the bed tonight so that when you wake up in the morning,
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you have to get on your knees to reach them.
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And while you're down there, say thank you for grace.
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Thank you for mercy.
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Thank you for understanding.
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Thank you for wisdom.
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Thank you for parents.
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Thank you for love.
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Thank you for kindness.
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Thank you for humility.
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Thank you for peace.
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Thank you for prosperity.
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Say thank you in advance for what's already yours.
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That's how I live my life.
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That's one of the reasons why I am today.
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Say thank you in advance for what is already yours.
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True desire in the heart for anything good is God's proof to you sent beforehand to indicate that it's yours already.
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I'll say it again.
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True desire in the heart, that itch that you have, whatever it is you want to do, that thing that you want to do to help others and to grow and to make money,
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that desire, that itch, that's God's proof to you, sit beforehand already to indicate that it's yours.
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And anything you want good, you can have. So claim it.
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Work hard to get it.
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Put God first.
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Fail big.
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That's right.
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Fail big.
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Today is the beginning of the rest of your life and it can be very frightening.
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It's a new world out there.
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It's a mean world out there and you only live once So do what you feel passionate about take chances professionally
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Don't be afraid to fail.
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There's an old IQ test was nine dots
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and you had to draw five lines with a pencil within these nine dots Without lifting the pencil.
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The only way to do it was to go outside the box So don't be afraid to go outside the box.
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Don't be afraid to think outside the box.
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Don't be afraid to fail big, to dream big.
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But remember, dreams without goals are just dreams.
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And they ultimately fuel disappointment.
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So have dreams but have goals.
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Life goals, yearly goals, monthly goals, daily goals.
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I try to give myself a goal every day.
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Sometimes just to not curse somebody out.
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Simple goals but have goals.
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And understand that to achieve these goals you must apply discipline and consistency.
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Every day you have to plan.
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Every day.
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You heard the saying we don't plan to fail, we fail to plan.
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Hard work works.
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Working really hard is what successful people do.
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And in this text, tweet, twerk world that you've grown up in,
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remember just because you're doing a lot more doesn't mean you're getting a lot more done.
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Remember that, just because you're doing a lot more, doesn't mean you're getting a lot more done.
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Don't confuse movement with progress.
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My mother told me, she said, yeah, because you can run in place all the time and never get anywhere.
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So continue to strive, continue to have goals, continue to progress.
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You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.
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I'll say it again.
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You'll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.
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I don't care how much money you make, you can't take it with you.
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The Egyptians tried it.
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They got robbed.
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That's all they got.
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You can't take it with you.
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And it's not how much you have.
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It's what you do with what you have have.
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We all have different talents.
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Some of you will be doctors, some lawyers, some scientists, some educators, some nurses, some teachers.
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Yeah, okay.
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Some preachers.
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The most selfish thing you can do in this world is help someone else.
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Why is it selfish?
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Because the gratification, the goodness that comes to you, the good feeling, the good feeling that I get from helping others nothing's better than
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that well one of two things but nothing's better than
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that not not jewelry not big house I have not the cars
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but the it's the joy that's where the joy is in
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helping others that's where the success is in helping others finally don't Don't just aspire to make a living.
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Aspire to make a difference.
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Thank you.
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you

Context & Background

This motivational speech, featuring the renowned actor Denzel Washington, emphasizes the importance of putting God first in all pursuits. Washington shares his insights on gratitude, humility, and the significance of maintaining a spiritual connection through life’s challenges. His experiences traveling globally and speaking to diverse audiences highlight how everyday challenges can be addressed with faith and discipline. With practical advice on achieving personal goals, this speech serves as both an inspiration and a guide for individuals striving for success in their lives.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Put God first in everything you do.” – A reminder to prioritize spirituality in all actions.
  • “Thank you for grace and mercy.” – A powerful expression of gratitude for life's blessings.
  • “Today is the beginning of the rest of your life.” – Encouragement to embrace new beginnings and opportunities.
  • “True desire in the heart is God's proof.” – An affirmation that our passions can be guided by a higher purpose.
  • “Fail big!” – A motivational call to take risks and not fear failure.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique with Denzel Washington's speech, follow these steps to improve your English pronunciation and gain confidence in speaking:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video and listen carefully to the speech. Pay attention to the way Washington articulates his words and phrases.
  2. Repeat After the Speaker: Use the shadow speak method. Try to mimic Washington’s tone, pace, and intonation as closely as possible. This will help you internalize English pronunciation nuances.
  3. Break It Down: Focus on smaller sections or phrases from the speech. For instance, practice the important phrases listed above until you feel comfortable with their pronunciation and articulation.
  4. Record Yourself: Make audio recordings of your attempts to shadow Washington. This technique allows you to assess your pronunciation and identify areas for improvement, especially if you're preparing for exams like the IELTS.
  5. Practice Consistently: Dedicate time every day for shadowing practice. Consistency is key in mastering these techniques and enhancing your spoken English skills.

By integrating this shadowing technique into your daily study routine, you can significantly improve your communication skills, making your journey in learning English more enjoyable and effective.

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.