Learn English

[Easy English Blog] Nice neighbours

/ italkyoutalk
apartments architecture balconies block

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I live in an apartment block, so I have many neighbours. Most of them are nice, and say hello, when they see me. Some of them are not so friendly. Some of them ignore me when I see them. Maybe they don’t want anything to do with (= to have any contact with) their neighbours. That’s fine.

My next-door neighbour is very friendly. She always says hello when she sees me, and asks me how I am. She likes to talk, so sometimes we talk about the weather, or the neighbourhood. Sometimes she asks me about the UK and my family.

Another neighbour likes to talk too. He lives on a different floor, but when I see him in the car park, he always stops for a conversation. He is retired, so he spends most of his time at home. He often asks me about the weather in the UK. He wants to know the differences between life in Japan and life in the UK. Sometimes we talk for ten or fifteen minutes.

The caretaker (or kanrinin-san in Japanese) is very nice too. He always says hello, and keeps the apartment block very clean and tidy. I gave him some English tea as a present when I moved into the apartment. He seemed surprised, but happy. I hope he enjoyed drinking it.

I think I am lucky to live in such a friendly place. The only thing I don’t like about living in the apartment block is the children running up and down in front of my door. After school, they race each other through the apartment block, and they are very noisy! I wonder what my neighbours think about that? I will ask them next time I see them.

Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press

 

[Short Story] Young people today

/ italkyoutalk
light cars traffic bus

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Mrs Bateman is sitting on the bus. There are many people on the bus. They are mostly students. They are laughing and shouting.

Mrs Bateman is tired. She is in a very bad mood.

Look at these young people, she thinks. They are noisy. Their clothes are terrible.

She looks at the young woman sitting next to her. The young woman has pink hair. She is wearing jeans and big black boots. Her T-shirt is very short and tight. She has a ring in her nose and many earrings in her ears. The young woman smiles at her. Mrs Bateman looks away.

Her parents must be so ashamed, she thinks. I am sure she is lazy and rude. Young people today are not polite. When we were young, we were polite and well-dressed.

She looks at another young person. This boy has shaved his head. He has many tattoos. He even has tattoos on his head. And that boy! I am sure he is some kind of criminal!

The bus stops. An old man climbs onto the bus. He asks for a ticket. The bus driver says, “Three dollars, please.”

The old man takes out his wallet. He looks in his wallet. “Oh, I don’t have enough money.”

“Then get off the bus,” says the driver. “If you can’t pay, you can’t ride on the bus.”

The old man turns to get off the bus.

“Excuse me,” says the young woman with the pink hair. She stands up and goes to the front of the bus. “I will pay for you,” she says to the old man. She gives $3 to the driver.

“Thank you,” says the old man.

“No trouble,” says the young woman. She goes back to her seat next to Mrs Bateman.

The old man moves along the bus. He is looking for somewhere to sit, but the bus is full.

“Here, Grandad,” says the boy with the tattooed head. He stands up. “Have my seat.”

Well, thinks Mrs Bateman. I have a lot to think about. Young people today look very different, but they are kind.

She smiles at the young woman with the pink hair.

“Your parents should be very proud of you,” she says.

Fall behind

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to fall behind“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Ben: Keith was in hospital for a month, but now he is back at school and struggling.

Gloria: Why is he struggling?

Ben: He fell behind the other students while he was ill.

Does it mean:

a) fall over behind people

b) make less progress than other people

c) stand behind someone

d) make others move at a slower pace

The answer is below! ↓

adult blur books close up

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: b) make less progress than other people

Tough cookie!

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to be a tough cookie“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Zoe: How is your brother? I heard he lost his job and lost his house.

Andrew: Oh he’s fine. He has many problems but he’s a tough cookie. He’s already looking for a new job and he’s staying with our parents while he looks for a new house.

Does it mean:

a) to be strong

b) to be rude

c) to be tough towards other people

d) to be poor

The answer is below! ↓

two cookies on black ceramic plate

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

 

Answer: a) to be strong

Eye-catching

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to be eye-catching“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Jenny: I like your red dress. It’s very eye-catching!

Lily: Thanks! I want to stand out at the party!

Does it mean:

a) fashionable

b) painful

c) too bright

d) noticeable

The answer is below!↓

woman in red sleeveless dress with canada flag printed background

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

 

Answer: d) noticeable

Give it a whirl!

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to give (something) a whirl“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Oliver: Hey, have you started ballet dancing?

Grace: Yes, it looked fun so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

Does it mean:

a) twirl around something

b) try something

c) do something for a short time

d) do something with a lot of effort

The answer is below!↓

people woman jump show

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: b) try something

I wouldn’t be caught dead (doing something)

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to not be caught dead (doing something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Jane: Did you see the dress Helen was wearing today? It was pink, yellow and red.

Michelle: I saw it. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing that!

Does it mean:

a) would never (do something)

b) would not (do something) before I die

c) catch someone and tell them not to (do something)

d) talk about someone who died

The answer is below! ↓

 

Answer: a) would never (do something)

 

Cut to the chase!

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to cut to the chase“? Read the conversation below. What does Katy mean when she says “can you cut to the chase”?

Katy: Thank you for your detailed report of your meeting with the client John. We appreciate it. But can you cut to the chase and tell us if the client wants to work with us or not?

John: Sure. She wants to work with us.

Does it mean:

a) chase someone

b) talk in more detail

c) tell us the important point

d) stop talking

The answer is below!↓

 

Answer: c) tell us the important point

 

[Short Story] Some days you just get lucky

/ italkyoutalk
pen writing notes studying

Photo by Tookapic on Pexels.com

William is sitting in a classroom. His desk is next to the window. On the desk is an exam paper. It is upside down. The back of the paper has nothing on it. In about 15 minutes, the woman in charge of the exam will say, “Please turn over the exam book. You can begin the exam now.”

William is very tired. He studied all night. This exam is very important. If he can pass the exam he will be able to get a better job.  

I hope I can pass this exam, he thinks. The boss said he would promote me to assistant manager, but only if I pass this course. But I am so sleepy.

The sun is coming in through the window. It is very hot. William’s eyes close. His head goes forward onto the desk. William is asleep.

He wakes up suddenly. A bell is ringing. He shakes his head and sits up. What!

The woman in charge of the exam is speaking.

“Time is up. Please put down your pens and pencils. Do not touch the exam papers. We will collect them now.”

Seconds later, one of the woman’s assistants picks up the exam paper from in front of William.

“Stop! Stop!” William is shouting. The assistant looks at him but doesn’t say anything. She moves away and picks up the next exam paper.

Oh, no! I slept all the time. I studied so hard but I didn’t take the exam. My boss will see my score is zero. I will never get a better job. I might lose the job I have now!

William puts his head in his hands. The other students on the course are standing up. They are packing their bags and walking out. William doesn’t move. Finally, he looks up. He is the only student left. The woman and her assistants are putting the exam papers into boxes.

Then, an alarm rings and an announcement comes over the loudspeaker system. “Emergency! Emergency! There is a fire!  Leave now. Everybody, leave the building now!”

The woman and her assistants run to the door. William follows them. They hurry down the stairs and out onto the street. The fire is very small. It is on the other side of the building. The fire department arrives soon, and puts the fire out. The danger is over. Everything is fine.

William doesn’t have his bag. He left it in the classroom. He has to wait until he is allowed to go back inside. He is standing next to the woman in charge of the exam. “What happens now?” he asks. “Are you waiting to go back and get the exam papers?”

“Yes,” she says. “But there is no hurry.”

“Why not?” asks William.

“Well, we left the exam papers in the room. That is against the rules. I’m very sorry but all the students will have to take another exam. Maybe next week.”

She smiles at him. “I saw you sleeping. Maybe next time you will stay awake!”

Lose sleep over (something)

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English expression “to lose sleep over (something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Tanya: I get my blood test results next week.

Eve: Are you worried?

Tanya: A little, but I’m not losing sleep over it.

Does it mean:

a) to not sleep

b) to worry about something so much you can’t sleep

c) to stay awake

d) to worry about something so much you feel sleepy

The answer is below!↓

animal cat face close up feline

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Answer: b) to worry about something so much you can’t sleep

Are you losing sleep over anything?