[Short Story]Listen to your Heart

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Sandy is very worried. Sandy will graduate from high school. He can go to university. But Sandy has a problem. He wants to go to university, but he doesn’t know what he wants to study.

His high school has an advisor. He goes to talk to the advisor.

“I don’t know what to study at university,” he says.

The advisor asks, “What do you like? Do you like math, or science, or languages or reading books?”

Sandy says, “I like math, science, languages, and reading books. I like everything. I have good grades for everything.”

The advisor laughs. “You are lucky,” she says. “You can study anything.”

Sandy is angry. “But I have to choose one thing! I don’t know what to choose!”

The advisor says, “Listen to your heart. University costs a lot of money. University study is difficult. You must work very hard. You will only be happy at university if you study something you love. What does your heart tell you to do?”

Sandy stands up. “My heart is not talking to me!” he shouts.

He walks out of the advisor’s office. He walks down to a park near the high school.

He sits on the grass in the park. I must decide what to study at university. Do I want to be a scientist? Do I want to teach English? Do I want to work for a finance company? I don’t know.

 Sandy sits in the park for a long time. He is tired, and he is worried. He falls asleep.

When Sandy wakes up, he feels something strange. There is something small and warm next to him. He looks down. A very small dog is on the ground next to him. The dog is very young. The dog is licking his fingers.

“Where is your mother?” Sandy asks the dog. “Where is your owner?  You are too young and too small to be in the park alone.”

Sandy thinks the little dog needs food and water. He picks the little dog up. He walks back to his family home. He gives the dog food and water.

The little dog is very thirsty and very hungry. When the dog finishes eating and drinking, it falls asleep. Sandy finds a blanket. He puts the blanket in the kitchen. He takes the little dog to the kitchen and puts it on the blanket. Sandy goes to his room and plays computer games. When his mother comes home, she comes to Sandy’s room and says, “There is a very small dog in the kitchen. Did you bring this dog to our house?”

Sandy is sleepy but he says. “I found the dog in the park. I wanted to take care of it.”

His mother laughs. “Oh, Sandy,” she says. “You are an animal lover. That’s OK. Your heart tells you to be kind to animals. You are tired, so please sleep. I will look after the little dog.”

Sandy thinks, My mother knows my heart. I love animals. I must study to be an animal doctor. My heart knows more than my head.

Considerate

Do you know the adjective “considerate“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Valdis: How is your new teacher?

Maria: He’s very considerate. He always slows down when we don’t understand.

Does it mean:

a) selfish

b) brave

c) thinks of others’ feelings

d) thinks of time management

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: c) thinks of others’ feelings

Disruptive

Do you know the adjective “disruptive“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Iris: I hope Kayla doesn’t come to the meeting today. She is so disruptive.

Johann: I know. She interupts everyone and gets angry if people don’t listen to her.

Does it mean

a) causing trouble

b) bringing happiness

c) amusing

d) efficient

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: a) causing trouble

[Easy English Blog] Christmas music

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Do you like Christmas music? Traditional Christmas songs are called Christmas carols. When I was a child, we had Christmas concerts at school. We sang Christmas songs and our parents came to listen.

I was also in a brass band. We were very busy at Christmas because we had many Christmas concerts. We had concerts every weekend in December. We played in concert halls, churches and even supermarkets!

I remember when I was very young, carol singers used to walk around the streets in the evening singing carols. They sometimes knocked on the door and sang to us. I can’t remember very well, but I think we gave them cakes or perhaps a small amount of money. I haven’t seen carol singers around the streets for many years. Maybe they don’t do it anymore.

Since December, shops have started to play Christmas music. This always reminds me of my childhood and I start looking forward to Christmas. It also makes me think of Christmas presents. Every time I hear Christmas music I remember “I must do my Christmas shopping!”

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

 

Eager

Do you know the adjective “eager“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Rachel: How are your new students?

Bob: They are great. They are enthusiastic and eager. They listen to everything I say.

Does it mean:

a) naughty

b) keen

c) interesting

d) calm

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: b) keen

[Easy English Blog] Christmas presents for pets

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Do you have a pet? Do you buy it presents? In my family, we have always had dogs. We treat the dogs like members of the family. At Christmas, we give each other Christmas presents, so of course, we give our dogs Christmas presents too.

There are many kinds of Christmas presents for pets available. We usually buy toys or dog chews or treats for our dogs. We wrap them up in wrapping paper. The dogs love ripping the wrapping paper off the presents!

One dog we had was always very careful when he took the wrapping paper off his presents. It seemed like he knew there was something special inside, and didn’t want to damage it. He took a long time to unwrap his presents. Another dog we had ripped the paper off as fast as he could! He just wanted to get the present as quickly as possible!

I often buy presents in Japan for our dog. I’m sure she doesn’t understand the difference between and English present and a Japanese present, but I like to get her something different. I wonder what I can buy this year…

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

Mediocre

Do you know the adjective”mediocre“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Jenny: I heard Tom will have an exhibition in the local gallery next week. Are you going?

Hilary: No. I’ve seen his paintings before. They are not great. He is a mediocre artist.

Does it mean:

a) wonderful

b) average

c) rich

d) talented

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: b) average

[Easy English Blog] 500 yen saving

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Every year, I save 500 yen coins. 500 yen is around $4 – $5 dollars. When I get a 500 yen coin in my change at a shop, I don’t spend it. I put it in a special case for 500 yen coins. I have been doing this every year for around five years. My goal is to fill the case. The case can hold 100 coins. Once, I managed to fill the case, but usually I can’t. I usually manage around half or a third.

I start in January and continue until I go home for Christmas. I used the money I have saved to buy travel insurance and my train fare to the airport. It is a big help, because I spend a lot of money at Christmas.

This year, I have filled just over half of the case. I didn’t reach my goal, but I’m happy anway. I will try harder next year!

Heather@ I Talk You Talk Press

Cross

Do you know the adjective “cross“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Ed: What did your mum say when you got home late last night?

Rob: She was very cross. She said I can’t go out at night again.

Does it mean:

a) happy

b) amused

c) scared

d) annoyed

The answer is below!↓

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Answer: d) annoyed

[Easy English Blog] Flu jab

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Do you get a flu jab? A flu jab is an injection to protect against influenza. I started getting a flu jab around six years ago. The first year I had it, I felt very strange afterwards. I was really dizzy and I felt sick. I also had double vision!

From the second year, I have been fine. One thing I have noticed is that I catch fewer colds during the year. I used to catch around three or four colds a year. When I was a child, I caught around five or six colds a year.

Now, I only catch one cold a year, usually in autumn. Is this because of the flu jab, or because my body is changing as I get older? I don’t know, but I’m glad that I don’t get so many colds anymore.

I started to get a flu jab every year because I caught influenza seven years ago. I caught it over Christmas. It was really bad timing. I couldn’t enjoy Christmas with my family because I felt so ill. I never want to experience that again!

I had my flu jab for this year a week or so ago. It wasn’t so painful, but my arm was itchy for a few days after. I hope it protects me from colds and influenza this year too.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press