Into the Story: Learn English with True Stories Bree Aesie

When Scott goes exploring in a dark cave and gets stuck hanging on a rope with no light, he has to use his imagination to find a way out.

Level: Advanced 

Accent: United States (Ohio)

🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript!

5 words and expressions in today's story:

- CAVING / SPELUNKING (CAVER/SPELUNKER): Exploring caves as an adventure activity. A caver or spelunker is someone who enjoys this, often with helmets and lights for safety.

Examples: "The spelunker explored deep caves, amazed by the rocks." or "Caving is fun for people who like discovering new places."

- TO GET DRENCHED: To get completely wet, usually from rain or water.

Examples: "We got drenched in the rain, running for cover." or "The kids got drenched playing in the water."

- SLACK VS TAUT: Slack means loose, while taut means tight.

Examples: "Check the rope is taut before climbing." or "He adjusted the slack in the rope for better climbing."

- TO NOT SAY SOMETHING LIGHTLY: To say something seriously, not casually.

Examples: "I don't say this lightly, but we need to change." or "She didn't say it lightly when apologizing."

- TANGLED VS UNTANGLED: Tangled means twisted, while untangled means straightened out.

Examples: "The wires were tangled and hard to fix." or "She untangled the knots in the necklace."

Episode Links: 

- For more thoughts and inspiration from Scott Brandon, follow him on LinkedIn.

- Visit Scott’s website.

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Tiffani leaves her job at NASA to explore a new path, leading her to the most difficult thing she's ever done. 

Level: Upper intermediate

Accent: United States (Maryland)

🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript!

5 words and expressions in today's story:

- TO BE GLUED TO YOUR SEAT / SCREEN: To be unable to move from your seat or stop watching something.

Examples: "I was glued to my seat during the movie." or "He's glued to his screen, playing video games all day."

- TO BE DIALED IN (FOCUSED): To concentrate or pay close attention.

Examples: "She's dialed in during class, always listening to the teacher." or "Being dialed in means you're focused and not distracted."

- TO PUSH THROUGH: To keep going even when it's difficult.

Examples: "Even though he was tired, he pushed through and finished the race." or "Pushing through means not giving up, even when things are hard."

- TO HAVE YOUR CONFIDENCE STRUCK: To feel less sure of yourself.

Examples: "After failing the test, his confidence was struck." or "Having your confidence struck means feeling unsure or not believing in yourself."

- TO CLICK (UNDERSTANDING): To understand something suddenly.

Examples: "After studying for a while, it clicked, and I understood the math problem." or "It clicked in my mind how to solve the puzzle."

Episode Links: 

- Speak English With Tiffani Academy

- Speak English With Tiffani YouTube

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When Martin becomes a dad, he realizes how difficult it is when we can’t be with the ones we love.  

Level: Upper Intermediate

Accent: United Kingdom (Essex)

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5 words and expressions in today's story:

-TO SHOVE: To push someone or something roughly or with force, often with the intention of moving someone or something out of the way. For example, "She accidentally shoved her friend while rushing to catch the bus, causing them to stumble," or "He shoved his passport in his pocket before getting on the plane."

-TO BE OVER THE MOON: To be extremely happy or thrilled about something. For example, "She was over the moon when she found out she got the job she had been dreaming of," or "He was over the moon with joy when he received the surprise birthday party his friends had organized for him."

-A PRAM: A stroller or baby carriage used for transporting infants. For example, "She took her baby for a walk in the pram," or "The pram was equipped with a comfortable seat and a protective canopy."

-OBVIOUSLY (FILLER WORD): similar to saying "it's clear" or "you see" to show something is easy to understand. It's added to sentences to make a point stronger or emphasize that something should be clear. But it doesn't always change what's being said; it just helps the speaker highlight their viewpoint or understanding of the situation.

-FULL ON (ADJECTIVE): Intense or extreme in nature. For example, "The party was full on, with loud music and dancing all night," or "He experienced a full-on adrenaline rush while participating in the extreme sports event."

Episode Links: 

- Listen to Martin’s podcast Rock n’ Roll English

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Gloudina goes to Ecuador to volunteer with a wildlife veterinarian and ends up learning an important lesson from children in the Amazon.
Level: Upper Intermediate
Accent: South Africa
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5 words and expressions in today's story:
- WILDLIFE: Animals and plants that live and grow in natural environments.
Examples: "The national park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, deer, and birds." or "Conservation efforts aim to protect wildlife and their natural habitats."
- CABIN/HUT: Small, simple dwellings or houses typically located in rural or wilderness areas.
Examples: "They rented a cozy cabin in the mountains for their weekend getaway." or "The forest ranger stayed in a rustic hut deep in the woods during his patrols."
- CHECKUP: A routine health examination.
Examples: "The doctor recommended an annual checkup to monitor her blood pressure and cholesterol levels." or "After the accident, he underwent a thorough checkup to ensure there were no internal injuries."
- ENDANGERED SPECIES: Species at risk of extinction.
Examples: "Efforts to save the sea turtle focus on protecting nesting sites and reducing bycatch in fishing nets." or "The black rhinoceros is endangered due to poaching and habitat loss."
- TO CLEAR YOUR MIND: Removing thoughts or worries to achieve calmness.
Examples: "Yoga and meditation help him clear his mind and reduce stress after a long day." or "Taking a walk in nature allows her to clear her mind and gain perspective on her problems."
Episode Links: 
- Visit Gloudina’s website Wildme.eu and use the code INTOWILDME100 to download one of her digital guides for free
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Anna wanted to go to one of the most prestigious music schools in the UK and Europe, but felt that she wasn’t good enough. 

Level: Intermediate

Accent: United Kingdom

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5 words and expressions in today's story:

- TO NAG: To keep asking or reminding someone to do something, often in an annoying or persistent way. Examples: “He always nags his sister to clean up her room.” or “She nagged her friend to come with her to the concert until she finally agreed.”

- TO GIVE IT A GO: To try something, to make an attempt. Examples: "I'm not sure if I can ski, but I'll give it a go." or "She wasn't confident about singing in public, but she decided to give it a go at the talent show."

-TO BE BLOWN AWAY / TO BLOW YOUR SOCKS OFF: To be extremely impressed or amazed by something. Examples: "When she saw the sunset over the mountains, she was blown away by its beauty." or "The performance of the singer blew my socks off; it was absolutely incredible."

- TO MINCE (ONE’S) WORDS: To speak directly and honestly, even if you upset people by doing this. Examples: "She never minces her words; she tells it like it is, even if it's uncomfortable." or "In the meeting, he didn’t mince his words and offended his boss"

- THE UNDERDOG: The competitor or participant in a competition or conflict who is expected to lose, they are considered less likely to win or succeed compared to others involved.  Examples: "Despite being the underdog, the team fought hard and won the championship." or "The small startup company, seen as the underdog in the industry, surprised everyone by outselling its larger competitors."

Episode Links: 

- Listen to ⁠Bree & Anna's chat about fear⁠ 

- Find out more about Anna Tyrie at English Like A Native 

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When Lindsay McMahon was backpacking alone in Southeast Asia, an injury teaches her an important lesson about living a good life.
Level: Upper Intermediate
Accent: United States (New Hampshire)
🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, transcript and much more!
5 words and expressions in today's story:
- TO BE WINDY (A WINDY ROAD): A road with lots of twists and turns.
Examples: "The road to the cabin is windy and hard to drive." or "Be careful on the windy road; it can be dangerous."
- A MUFFLER: The tube that comes out the back of a car that makes it quieter.
Examples: "The mechanic replaced the muffler on my car." or "The teenager took the muffler off his motorbike, to make it very loud."
- TO DOWNPLAY SOMETHING: To make something seem less important or serious.
Examples: "After her basketball team lost the match, she tried to downplay the defeat by saying it wasn’t an important game" or "Even though the project faced significant challenges, she downplayed the difficulties, emphasizing the progress made."
- TO BE MAKESHIFT: Something that's put together quickly with whatever's available. Examples: "The kids used a cardboard box as a makeshift table." or "He made a makeshift umbrella out of a plastic bag so that he wouldn’t get wet in the rain."
- TO HAVE A WIN: To succeed or accomplish something you were hoping for. Examples: "This week, I finally had a win: normally I procrastinate editing podcasts, but this time I finished the episode earlier than expected." or "When the young student won the spelling contest, it was a big win. It made her feel more sure of herself."
Episode Links: 
- Listen to Lindsay’s podcast, All Ears English
- Listen to Bree explain the connection between emotions and fluency on All Ears English (available March 2024)
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