Shadowing Practice: Thy Kingdom Come! - Thursday, November 12, 2026 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
70 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
This is Catholic Data Reflections for Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time.
2
Today's reflection is entitled, Thy Kingdom Come.
3
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,
4
Jesus said in reply, The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce,
5
Look, here it is, or there it is, for behold, the kingdom of God is among you.
6
Luke 17, 20 -21.
7
The Pharisees, like many
8
Jews of their time, expected the kingdom of God to arrive in a dramatic, visible, and political way.
9
They awaited a Messiah from the line of King David who would deliver Israel from Roman rule,
10
restore national independence, and establish a glorious earthly reign marked by triumph over enemies.
11
Their expectation was purely earthly, not spiritual.
12
Thus, their question about when the kingdom of God would come reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of God
13
and His saving activity in the present moment.
14
Their question may have been more than simple curiosity.
15
It was likely a test or even a trap.
16
The Pharisees often questioned Jesus not to learn from Him, but to expose
17
Him as a fraud and undermine his credibility.
18
Relying on human wisdom alone, they used that wisdom as a weapon to discredit our Lord.
19
They may have hoped Jesus would recklessly offer a concrete timeline,
20
giving them grounds to accuse him of false prophecy or incite unrest among the people.
21
How tragic that the greatest adversaries of the Messiah were the very religious leaders tasked with preparing his way.
22
Jesus corrects their misguided expectation of a political
23
or visible messianic kingdom by revealing that the true kingdom of God is not something to be observed with earthly eyes.
24
It is not found here or there in a geographical or political sense.
25
Instead, he says, the kingdom of God is among you.
26
The Greek phrase translated among you may also be rendered within you,
27
indicating either that the kingdom is in their midst,
28
through Christ's very presence or within the heart of those who believe.
29
St. Augustine, in his commentary on the Our Father,
30
teaches that the petition, Thy kingdom come, refers to Christ himself.
31
Jesus is the kingdom.
32
Where he is present, the kingdom has indeed come.
33
Moving forward 2 ,000 years, if we ask our Lord when the kingdom of God will come,
34
He will first look into our hearts to discern the sincerity of our question.
35
If He finds humility and a longing for truth, seeing that we seek not a sign but Himself,
36
then He will reveal
37
His presence to us in profound ways.
38
Do you perceive the presence of Christ in this world?
39
By virtue of the Incarnation, the Son of God, our King and Messiah,
40
remains present in countless ways.
41
He is among us in the sacraments, in His living
42
Word, in the Church and in the lives of those who serve
43
Him in charity and truth.
44
He is within us when we pray, surrender to Him, conform our will to His by grace,
45
and reflect His love to others.
46
Yet often, as we journey through life, we live for tomorrow rather than for today.
47
We think of when things will be better and overlook the sacred presence of Christ in the present moment.
48
By learning from the poor example of the Pharisees, we are invited not to search for something distant or delayed,
49
but to recognize
50
Him who is already here, dwelling in our midst, awaiting our recognition,
51
our love, and our witness.
52
Reflect today on whether you tend to seek God in some future moment or extraordinary sign while overlooking
53
His quiet and constant presence in your life right now.
54
Ponder the ways
55
He is among you and within you, in prayer, in grace, in the Eucharist, and in the people
56
He places before you.
57
Ponder whether you truly believe that
58
His kingdom has already come through Christ and whether you live each day in communion with that kingdom.
59
As you reflect, renew your awareness that
60
Christ is not distant.
61
He is here.
62
He reigns already in hidden glory, and he invites you to discover and serve him with all your heart.
63
Let us pray.
64
My Lord and King, you are not a distant ruler hidden in some far -off land.
65
You are here among us and within those who believe.
66
Help me to perceive your presence today in the Eucharist,
67
in your Word, and in the quiet moments of grace in my heart.
68
May I never seek you in empty signs, but recognize you where you truly dwell.
69
Reign in my heart today and always, O Lord, and make me a living witness of your kingdom.
70
Jesus, I trust in you.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
C12
The Interior Life in Action - Saturday, September 12, 2026
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C12
Praying to the Father in the Son — Sunday, July 5, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B24
Reflection 268: Pondering Death
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B27
Reflection 276: Seeing Without Accomplishing
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
Producing Much Fruit - Monday, August 10, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
Reflection 256: Doing Your Best
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B16
Reflection 260: The Enormity of Small Acts of Love
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C13
The Dawn of Salvation - Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B29
Reflection 257: The Long Term Plan of God
University StudentsWorking Adults
B24
Reflection 240: Sweetness or Bitterness in Life?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B16
Reflection 263: God as Your Helmsman in the Storm
TeensHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B27
Reflection 262: The Rule of Love or Justice
University StudentsWorking Adults
C12
The Good Samaritan - Monday, October 5, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C13
Consoling Jesus’ Sorrowful Heart - Thursday, October 29, 2026
Daily ConversationUniversity Students
B219
Reflection 244: Working Until the End of the World
University StudentsWorking Adults
B24
Momentary and Lasting Fulfillment - Thursday, August 27, 2026
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B15
Reflection 241: Remedying Your Particular Sins
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C1The Eternal Law of Love - Sunday, October 25, 2026
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B1Reflection 261: Jesus Hidden in Others
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
C11
94 sentences
Today's Catholic Mass Readings and Gospel Reflection - Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
149 sentences
Why Be Catholic and Not Just Christian?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C12
169 sentences
If Jesus Returns Tonight
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
199 sentences
Become Someone for Others - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C152 sentences
David Suchet NIV Bible 1013 John 16
Daily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
39 sentences
Kingdom of Heaven - king & balian
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
982 sentences
Theology of the Body Crash Course w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz — Session One: From the Beginning
Daily ConversationUniversity Students
C12
58 sentences
Where is the evidence for God? | Bishop Robert Barron
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B219
26 sentences
2026 08 26 Reflection 427
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C11
438 sentences
How to Become a Person of Love
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Thy Kingdom Come! - Thursday, November 12, 2026”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: kingdom, presence, Jesus, Christ, Pharisees. This video has 70 sentences and 782 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:15. The speaker talks slowly, about 108 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| reveal verb | /ɹɪˈviːl/ | To uncover; to show and display that which was hidden. |
| reflect verb | /ɹɪˈflɛkt/ | To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface. |
| distant adjective | /ˈdɪstənt/ | Far off (physically, logically or mentally). |
| reign noun | /ɹeɪ̯n/ | The exercise of sovereign power. |
| pray verb | /pɹeɪ/ | To direct words, thoughts, or one's attention to a deity or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc. |
| visible adjective | /ˈvɪzɪb(ə)l/ | Able to be seen. |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| wisdom noun | /ˈwɪzdəm/ | An element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise. |
| observe verb | /əbˈzɜːv/ | To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail. |
| expectation noun | /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/ | The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen. |
| midst noun | /mɪdst/ | A place in the middle of something; may be used of a literal or metaphorical location. |
| perceive verb | /pɚˈsiv/ | To become aware of, through the physical senses, to see; to understand. |
| await verb | /əˈweɪt/ | To wait for. |
| dwell verb | /dwɛl/ | To live; to reside. |
| overlook verb | /ˈoʊ.vɚˌlʊk/ | To offer a view (of something) from a higher position. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come through verb | To come into a room or other space through a door or passageway. |
| move forward verb | To cause to make progress. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is entitled · cannot be observed · be observed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who believe · those who serve |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, recognition /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/, establish /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/, petition /pəˈtɪʃ.ən/, reflection /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, recognition /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/, extraordinary /ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/, fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/, commentary /ˈkɑ.mənˌtɛ.ɹi/
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 reveal, reflect, distant.
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.