Shadowing Practice: Today’s Catholic Mass Readings and Gospel Reflection - Wednesday, October 14, 2026 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
284 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Welcome to the Word of Lord.
2
Today is October 14th, 2026th, Wednesday of the 28th week in Ordinary Time.
3
First reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, chapter 5, verses 18 to 25.
4
Brothers and sisters, if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
5
Now the works of the flesh are obvious,
6
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
7
hatreds, rivalries, jealousies, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,
8
occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
9
I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
10
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love,
11
joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control.
12
Against such there is no law.
13
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
14
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
15
The Word of the Lord.
16
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 1 Our response is, Those who follow you, Lord,
17
will have the light of life.
18
Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners,
19
nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.
20
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
21
He is like a tree planted near running water that yields its fruit in due season and whose leaves never fade.
22
Whatever he does prospers.
23
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
24
not so the wicked not so they are like chaff
25
which the wind drives away for the Lord watches over the way of the just
26
but the way of the wicked vanishes those who follow you Lord will have the light of life.
27
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
28
I know them, and they follow me.
29
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, chapter 11, verses 42 to 46.
30
The Lord said, Woe to you, Pharisees!
31
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden an herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
32
These you should have done without overlooking the others.
33
Woe to you, Pharisees!
34
You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces.
35
Woe to you!
36
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.
37
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.
38
And he said, Woe also to you scholars of the law.
39
You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.
40
The Gospel of the Lord.
41
Dear brothers and sisters, have you ever met someone who always seem to have the right answer?
42
Someone who knew every rule, corrected every mistake, and never missed an opportunity to point out what others were doing wrong.
43
Perhaps that person was intelligent, hardworking, and even deeply religious.
44
But somehow, after spending time with them, you felt smaller rather than stronger.
45
You felt judged instead of understood, burdened instead of encouraged.
46
Today's gospel asks us a challenging question.
47
What happens when we become so concerned about being right that we forget how to love?
48
Jesus wants to teach us that genuine holiness must always make room for justice, mercy, and compassion.
49
In today's Gospel from St. Luke, Jesus speaks some of His strongest words to the Pharisees and scholars of the law.
50
He challenges them because they have become extremely careful about certain religious obligations.
51
They faithfully give a tenth of their garden herbs, including mint and rue.
52
Even the smallest details of their religious duties receive careful attention.
53
But Jesus sees something seriously wrong beneath this outward obedience.
54
They are neglecting justice and the love of God, the very things their religious practices should have strengthened.
55
Their problem is not that they care about God's commandments, but that they have forgotten the heart behind them.
56
Notice something important about the way Jesus speaks.
57
He does not tell the Pharisees to abandon their religious responsibilities.
58
In fact, He makes clear that they should practice justice and love without neglecting their other duties.
59
This distinction matters because Christianity is not a choice between obedience and compassion.
60
God wants us to be faithful to His commandments and generous toward the people around us.
61
The difficulty begins when we use our religious practices to excuse our lack of kindness.
62
Jesus reminds us that devotion becomes spiritually empty when it no longer leads us toward love.
63
Imagine a person who never misses Sunday Mass and knows every response by heart.
64
They faithfully observe religious traditions and speak proudly about their Catholic identity.
65
Yet when a struggling neighbor asks for help, they immediately turn away.
66
When a family member makes a mistake, they respond with anger rather than patience.
67
When someone needs encouragement, they offer criticism instead of understanding.
68
Jesus asks us to recognize the contradiction between outward devotion and inward hardness.
69
The purpose of our faith is not simply to make us religious people, but to make us more like Christ.
70
I once heard a story about a father who was very strict about family prayer.
71
Every evening, he insisted that his children gather together and pray the rosary.
72
He wanted his family to remain close to God, and that desire was genuinely good.
73
But whenever the children became distracted, he would lose his temper and speak harshly.
74
One evening, his youngest son quietly asked him, Dad, why do we always become angry when we're supposed to be praying?
75
That innocent question made the father realize something he had overlooked for years.
76
He was teaching his children the importance of prayer, but not always showing them the gentleness of the one to whom they prayed.
77
Brothers and sisters, this is why today's gospel is so relevant to our lives.
78
Sometimes we become so focused on doing religious things correctly that we forget why we are doing them.
79
We pray because prayer should bring us closer to the heart of God.
80
We attend Mass because Christ gathers us, nourishes us, and sends us to love others.
81
We practice fasting and sacrifice because these disciplines should help us grow in freedom and generosity.
82
But if our religious habits make us proud, impatient, or dismissive of others, we need to examine our hearts.
83
Jesus is calling us beyond religious performance into a genuine relationship with Him.
84
Then Jesus points to another problem, the desire for recognition and honor.
85
He tells the Pharisees that they love important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in public places.
86
At first, we might think this criticism belongs only to people living 2 ,000 years ago,
87
but the desire to be admired is just as powerful in our own generation.
88
We want people to recognize our achievements, appreciate our sacrifices, and acknowledge our importance.
89
Sometimes we even want others to notice how faithful, generous, or spiritual we have become.
90
Jesus challenges us to ask whether we are serving God out of love or seeking attention for ourselves.
91
Today, this temptation can appear in subtle and unexpected ways.
92
We may share a charitable activity online and quietly measure its value by the number of likes it receives.
93
We may volunteer in church, but become upset when someone else receives the appreciation.
94
We may offer help to others while secretly expecting them to praise our generosity.
95
There is nothing wrong with encouraging good works or expressing gratitude for faithful service,
96
but our hearts become troubled when recognition matters more than the person we are helping.
97
Jesus invites us to discover the freedom of doing good even when nobody notices.
98
Think about a mother who wakes up early every morning to prepare her children for school.
99
She works, manages household responsibilities, cares for aging parents, and still finds time to pray.
100
Much of what she does is never publicly recognized or celebrated.
101
There may be days when nobody thanks her for the sacrifices she makes.
102
Yet every patient word, every quiet prayer, and every loving responsibility can become an offering to God.
103
Her faithfulness reminds us that holiness is not always found in impressive public achievements.
104
Sometimes it grows most beautifully in ordinary acts of love that only God fully sees.
105
Jesus then uses a striking image that would have deeply disturbed his listeners.
106
He compares the Pharisees to unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.
107
In the religious context of his time, contact with a grave could bring ritual impurity.
108
Jesus is warning that a person may appear spiritually respectable while spreading harmful attitudes without realizing it.
109
Our bitterness, pride, and hypocrisy can influence others even when we carefully conceal them.
110
A harsh word can remain in someone's memory long before we have forgotten saying it.
111
The Lord asks us to consider not only what we believe, but what kind of influence our lives have on others.
112
This brings us to a very personal question.
113
What do people experience when they encounter us?
114
Do they feel encouraged to become better or afraid of being judged?
115
Do our children experience our faith as a source of peace or only as a collection of demands?
116
Do our co -workers recognize honesty and patience in the way we handle difficult situations?
117
Do people who disagree with us still feel respected as human beings?
118
These questions are not meant to make us feel guilty about every imperfect moment.
119
They help us discover whether the love of Christ is gradually becoming visible in our daily relationships.
120
The gospel becomes even more challenging when a scholar of the law speaks up.
121
He tells Jesus that these criticisms are insulting to people like him as well.
122
Jesus responds by addressing another serious problem, placing heavy burdens on others without helping them carry them.
123
These religious experts knew how to explain obligations, but some failed to accompany struggling people with compassion.
124
They could identify what others were doing wrong without offering the support needed to change.
125
And Jesus refuses to separate spiritual leadership from responsibility towards the vulnerable.
126
Anyone who guides others in God's name must remember that authority is meant to serve.
127
How often do we see this temptation in ordinary family life?
128
A parent may demand excellent grades without understanding the anxiety a child is experiencing.
129
A manager may expect perfect performance while ignoring the exhaustion of employees.
130
A husband
131
or wife may insist on being understood without making an effort
132
to listen even in parish communities we can become quick to assign responsibilities
133
and slow to offer assistance jesus is not saying that expectations discipline
134
and accountability are wrong he's reminding us
135
that genuine love does not simply identify another person's burden it
136
helps carry it i remember hearing about a parishioner who had stopped attending mass after a painful family crisis.
137
When he finally returned, he expected someone to question his absence or criticize his choices.
138
Instead, an older parish volunteer greeted him warmly and said, it's good to see you again.
139
She did not demand an explanation or turn his suffering into a public conversation.
140
Later, she helped him find a priest who could listen and offer spiritual guidance.
141
That simple kindness became the beginning of his journey back into a deeper relationship with God.
142
Sometimes one compassionate encounter can accomplish what a hundred harsh lectures never could.
143
This is where today's first reading from Galatians helps us understand the gospel more deeply.
144
St. Paul describes the struggle between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
145
Among the destructive behaviors he identifies are jealousy, rivalry, anger, selfishness, and division.
146
Notice how closely these attitudes resemble the spiritual dangers Jesus exposes in the gospel.
147
Religious pride can easily produce competition, resentment, and the desire to control other people.
148
But a life guided by the Spirit begins to move in a completely different direction.
149
The Holy Spirit teaches us to replace selfishness with love and hostility with peace.
150
St. Paul then describes the beautiful fruit that grows in a life surrendered to God.
151
He speaks of love, joy,
152
peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self -control.
153
These are not simply attractive personality traits or qualities reserved for naturally gentle people.
154
They are signs of the Holy Spirit working within a human heart.
155
A person who once reacted with anger can gradually learn patience through God's grace.
156
Someone who struggled with jealousy can begin celebrating the blessings of others.
157
The Spirit does not merely improve our religious appearance.
158
He transforms the way we think, think, speak, and love.
159
And this transformation is especially important when life becomes difficult.
160
It is relatively easy to appear patient when everything is going according to plan.
161
But what happens when traffic makes us late, bills begin piling up, or someone speaks unfairly about us?
162
What happens when a family member disappoints us or a co -worker receives the promotion we hoped to receive?
163
These moments reveal what is growing inside our hearts.
164
We may not always respond perfectly, but each difficult situation becomes an opportunity to choose the Spirit's guidance.
165
Christian maturity is not the absence of struggle.
166
It is learning to turn to Christ in the middle of it.
167
Psalm 1 gives us a beautiful image to understand how this spiritual growth happens.
168
The psalmist describes a faithful person as a tree planted beside flowing water.
169
That tree does not produce fruit because someone paints beautiful fruit onto its branches.
170
It bears fruit because its roots are connected to a source of nourishment.
171
In the same way, Christian virtues cannot be sustained by appearances or human determination alone.
172
Our hearts need to remain rooted in prayer, Scripture, the Eucharist, and a living relationship with Jesus.
173
When we stay close to Him, the fruit of the Spirit gradually becomes visible in our lives.
174
Think about a tree growing through a long and difficult summer.
175
From the outside, it may appear still, quiet, and almost unchanged.
176
Yet, beneath the ground, its roots continue searching for water and nourishment.
177
Our spiritual lives often grow in a similar way.
178
There may be seasons when we do not feel particularly holy, inspired, or emotionally close to God.
179
But every sincere prayer, every act of forgiveness, and every faithful decision can deepen our roots.
180
God is still working within us, even when our progress is not immediately visible.
181
Psalm 1 also warns us about the danger of becoming like chaff scattered by the wind.
182
Chaff has no strong roots, so it is easily carried wherever the wind blows.
183
Something similar happens when our lives depend entirely on public opinion,
184
personal ambition, or temporary emotions one criticism can destroy our peace while one complement can make us feel superior,
185
we begin measuring our worth according to what others think rather than who we are before God.
186
But the person rooted in the Lord discovers a deeper stability.
187
Faith does not remove every storm, but it gives our hearts a place to remain grounded.
188
Today, the Church also remembers St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr, whose life offers a powerful lesson about mercy.
189
Callistus lived during the early centuries of Christianity and experienced serious hardship before becoming Pope.
190
His life included slavery, imprisonment, and suffering.
191
Yet his journey did not end with those painful experiences.
192
Eventually, he was entrusted with important responsibilities in the Church of Rome.
193
As Pope, he became known for defending the possibility of reconciliation for Christians who had committed serious sins.
194
Some people strongly opposed this approach because they believed certain failures should permanently exclude a person.
195
Callistus insisted that sincere repentance must be met with the healing mercy of the church.
196
What a meaningful connection with today's gospel.
197
Jesus criticizes religious leaders who make life harder for others without helping them carry their burdens.
198
St. Callixtus reminds us that the church must never forget her mission of reconciliation and spiritual healing.
199
This does not mean that sin is unimportant or that repentance can be ignored.
200
It means that God's mercy is powerful enough to welcome a genuinely repentant sinner into a renewed life.
201
The Sacrament of Reconciliation expresses this beautiful truth in our Catholic faith.
202
God does not invite us to remain trapped in our failures.
203
He calls us to return, receive forgiveness, and begin again.
204
Perhaps someone listening today is carrying a mistake that happened many years ago.
205
You have asked yourself whether God could still love you after what you did.
206
Maybe you have stayed away from confession because you are afraid of being judged.
207
Or perhaps someone else has made you feel that your past will always define your future.
208
The witness of St. Calixtus reminds us that repentance and mercy belong together.
209
When we sincerely turn towards Christ, our failures do not have to become our permanent identity.
210
God's grace can open a new chapter, even in a life that seems filled with regret.
211
Now, let us bring these readings into the reality of our present world.
212
Across the United States, many families are facing financial pressure, loneliness, illness, and uncertainty about the future.
213
Some people are working multiple jobs while struggling to find time for their children.
214
Others are caring for elderly parents, recovering from broken relationships, or quietly dealing with emotional exhaustion.
215
These people do not need Christians who simply tell them that they should be stronger.
216
They need fellow believers who will listen, pray, encourage, and offer practical help when possible.
217
Jesus asks us to become people who make another person's burden lighter, not heavier.
218
This is also an important message for our parish communities.
219
A church should be a place where truth is proclaimed and wounded people are welcomed towards healing.
220
When someone enters carrying grief, we should not assume that a smile means everything is fine.
221
When a young person struggles with faith, we should listen patiently rather than immediately dismissing the questions.
222
When someone returns after years away, we should welcome the opportunity for a new beginning.
223
Our Catholic identity becomes most convincing when the teachings we profess are reflected in the love we practice.
224
The world needs to encounter not only our religious convictions, but also the compassion of Jesus Christ.
225
So, what can we do with today's gospel before this day comes to an end?
226
Perhaps we can begin by examining one relationship where we have become unnecessarily demanding.
227
Instead of immediately correcting someone, we might first ask what they are going through.
228
Instead of expecting appreciation, we might perform one generous act quietly and without recognition.
229
Instead of allowing resentment to grow, we might take a small step towards forgiveness, and instead of relying only on our own strength,
230
we can ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit within us.
231
Holiness often begins with ordinary choices that allow God's love to become practical.
232
When we place today's readings together, their message becomes wonderfully clear.
233
Jesus teaches us that religious faith must never neglect justice, love, and compassionate service.
234
St. Paul reminds us that a life guided by the Holy Spirit produces virtues that heal relationships and build communion.
235
Psalm 1 shows us that lasting spiritual fruit comes from remaining rooted in God's Word.
236
And St. Callistus demonstrates that mercy and repentance can transform even a deeply wounded human life.
237
All these lessons point towards one beautiful truth.
238
God does not simply want us to appear holy.
239
He wants to make our hearts so deeply rooted in His love that our lives become a blessing to others.
240
Dear brothers and sisters, perhaps you are still learning patience, struggling to forgive, or trying to rebuild your relationship with God.
241
Do not lose hope, because the Holy Spirit continues working in every heart that remains open to His grace.
242
Today, choose one person whose burden you can help lighten, one harsh word you can replace with kindness,
243
and one wounded relationship you can begin to heal.
244
Let your faith become visible not through the recognition you receive, but through the love you give.
245
And whenever you feel weak, remember the tree planted by living water.
246
Remain rooted in Christ, and His grace will help you bear fruit in due season.
247
May our homes, our churches, and our world become more compassionate because we have allowed Jesus to change our hearts.
248
God bless you.
249
Let's pray.
250
Heavenly Father, our loving and merciful God, today we come before you with humble hearts,
251
seeking your grace, forgiveness, and healing love.
252
Through today's gospel, Jesus reminds us that true faith is not merely about outward religious practices,
253
but about justice, compassion, and sincere love for you and one another.
254
Lord, cleanse our hearts of pride, selfishness, judgment, and bitterness.
255
Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that our words may bring encouragement, our actions may reflect your mercy,
256
and our lives may help lighten the burdens of others.
257
Merciful Jesus, we lift up our suffering world before you.
258
We pray especially for our Christian brothers and sisters living amid wars, persecution, violence, and displacement.
259
Protect innocent children, strengthen frightened families, comfort those who mourn,
260
and bring lasting peace to nations torn apart by conflict divine
261
healer stretch out your loving hands upon everyone suffering from cancer chronic illnesses infections disabilities
262
and painful diseases bring relief to their bodies peace to their minds
263
and hope to their hearts bless doctors nurses caregivers
264
and all who dedicate their lives to healing others lord jesus
265
we also pray for those facing spiritual hardships overwhelming fear temptation
266
and struggles they experience as attacks from evil protect them from
267
every power of darkness through your holy spirit strengthen their faith restore their inner peace
268
and guide them towards spiritual freedom and healing.
269
Compassionate Father, remember those struggling with unemployment, debt, poverty, and financial uncertainty.
270
Open doors of opportunity, provide for their daily needs, and give them wisdom, courage,
271
and strength to face tomorrow we lovingly place before you all elderly people especially those who are lonely sick
272
abandoned or losing hope comfort their aching bodies renew their spirits preserve their dignity
273
and surround them with caring families and compassionate hearts remind them each day
274
that they are precious valued
275
and never forgotten by you lord teach us not to place heavy burdens upon others
276
but to become instruments of your kindness justice
277
and healing love may your mercy reach every suffering soul your peace enter every troubled home
278
and your light shine wherever darkness remains we ask all these blessings through jesus christ our lord
279
and savior amen if today's reflection inspired you subscribe to the word of lord
280
and continue your journey of faith with us leave your prayer requests in the comments
281
and together let us entrust them to jesus's loving care thank you for joining us.
282
Come back tomorrow for another Catholic Mass readings and reflection.
283
May the Lord strengthen your faith, surround you with his peace, and bless you and your loved ones always.
284
Amen.
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
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B21
40 sentences
A Blessed Morning Prayer for Peace, Strength & Blessings | Start Your Day With God’s Peace & Love
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
141 sentences
Be Willing To Sell Everything For Heaven | Fr. Dan Reehil | 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
27 sentences
Where did Jesus deliver his Sermon on the Mount?
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B225 sentences
“ The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus- June 12, 2026”
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
61 sentences
Producing Much Fruit - Monday, August 10, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
119 sentences
The Blessing of Obedient Faith – Saturday, October 10, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
37 sentences
David's Speech to Goliath | House of David | 1 Samuel 17
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
149 sentences
Psalm 65:9 || Reflection
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
305 sentences
Today's Catholic Mass Readings – Thursday, September 10, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C151 sentences
1 John 2 - English Standard Version (ESV)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
117 sentences
Behold His Glorious Light | Divine Guidance - Thursday, August 6, 2026
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Today’s Catholic Mass Readings and Gospel Reflection - Wednesday, October 14, 2026”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: jesus, religious, lord, spirit. This video has 284 sentences and 3842 words to shadow. The speech runs for 31:32. The speaker talks at a steady 122 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 79% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| gospel noun | /ˈɡɑspəl/ | The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the birth, ministry, passion… |
| spiritual adjective | /ˈspɪɹɪt͡ʃuəl/ | Of or pertaining to the spirit or the soul. |
| heal verb | /ˈhiːl/ | To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure. |
| mercy noun | /ˈmɝsi/ | Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another. |
| burden noun | /ˈbɝdn̩/ | A heavy load. |
| prayer noun | /pɹɛɚ/ | A practice of communicating with one's God, or with some spiritual entity. |
| 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. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| patience noun | /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/ | The quality of being patient. |
| kindness noun | /ˈkaɪnd.nəs/ | The state of being kind. |
| deeply adverb | /ˈdi(ː)pli/ | To a deep extent or degree; very greatly. |
| faithful adjective | /ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/ | Loyal; adhering firmly to person or cause. |
| compassion noun | /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/ | Deep awareness of the suffering of others that people have to the point of them being motivated to relieve such states. |
| compassionate adjective | /kəmˈpæʃənət/ | Having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone). |
| recognition noun | /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/ | The act of recognizing or the condition of being recognized (matching a current observation with a memory of a prior observation of the same entity). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| lift up verb | To elevate to a higher position. | |
| pile up verb | To form a pile, stack, or heap. | |
| point out verb | To identify among a group of similar subjects, or in a scene where the subject might not be readily seen or noticed, with a gesture of the body. | |
| speak up verb | /ˌspik ˈʌp/ | To talk more loudly or clearly. |
| tear apart verb | /ˈtɛɚ əˈpɑɹt/ | To destroy. |
| turn away verb | To rotate so as not to face someone or something. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Today's gospel asks us a challenging question.
- What do people experience when they encounter us?
- Do people who disagree with us still feel respected as human beings?
- How often do we see this temptation in ordinary family life?
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 crucified · have become · have forgotten |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are guided · be admired · is not always found |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | those who do · those who belong · Those who follow |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: faithful /ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/, strengthen /ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/, beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, faithfully /ˈfeɪθfəli/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/, compassion /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/, compassionate /kəmˈpæʃənət/, recognition /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/, flesh /flɛʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: compassionate /kəmˈpæʃənət/, recognition /ˌɹɛkəɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n/, ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, generosity /ˌd͡ʒɛn.əˈɹɑ.sə.ti/, reconciliation /ˌɹɛkənˌsɪliˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
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 gospel, spiritual, heal.
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.