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Just Listen: Train Your Ear to Understand Fast English Without Translating — Transcript

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0:00I am Emma, your host for today. If you
0:02are new here, I would like to tell you
0:04that we upload a new English learning
0:06video every day on our channel to help
0:09you improve your English faster.
0:11In today's episode, we are going to
0:13practice real English conversations that
0:16you can use in everyday life.
0:18This is your intermediate English
0:20conversations practice masterclass,
0:23designed to help you improve your
0:25listening, speaking, vocabulary,
0:28pronunciation, and overall English
0:31fluency through natural and useful
0:33everyday English. Throughout today's
0:36lesson, we will explore many common
0:38situations that you may experience in
0:40real life.
0:41Talking with friends, communicating at
0:44work, shopping, ordering food, making
0:47appointments, asking for help, solving
0:50everyday problems, traveling around the
0:53city, making plans, having casual
0:56conversations, expressing opinions,
0:59explaining situations, and much more.
1:02You will hear natural sentences, useful
1:04expressions, realistic conversation
1:06examples, and plenty of speaking
1:09practice that will help you understand
1:11how English is actually used in everyday
1:13situations.
1:14>> As an intermediate learner, you may
1:16already know a lot of English words and
1:18grammar, but sometimes it can still be
1:21difficult to understand natural
1:23conversations
1:24or respond quickly when someone speaks
1:26to you.
1:27That is exactly what we are going to
1:29work on today. Instead of memorizing
1:32isolated words, you will practice
1:35complete sentences, common expressions,
1:38natural responses, and conversation
1:41patterns that you can start using in
1:43your own life. I will also give you
1:46practice examples and speaking exercises
1:49throughout the lesson. Listen carefully
1:51to each example. Notice how the
1:53sentences are connected. Pay attention
1:56to the useful expressions, and whenever
1:59I ask you to practice, repeat the
2:01sentences aloud with me. The more
2:03actively you participate, the more
2:06natural your English will begin to feel.
2:09You do not need to understand every
2:11single word immediately. Focus on
2:13understanding the main idea first.
2:16Then listen to the sentence again,
2:19repeat it, and notice how native and
2:21fluent English speakers naturally
2:24organize their thoughts.
2:26With regular practice, you will become
2:28faster at understanding spoken English,
2:31and much more confident when it is your
2:33turn to speak. By the end of this
2:35masterclass,
2:37you will have practiced a wide range of
2:39real-life conversations and useful
2:41expressions that can help you
2:43communicate more naturally and
2:45confidently in English. So, whether you
2:48want to improve your English for work,
2:50travel, social situations, everyday
2:53communication,
2:55or simply become a more fluent speaker,
2:57stay with me and practice all the way
3:00through the lesson.
3:01Before we start the video, make sure to
3:03subscribe to the channel and press the
3:06bell icon if you want more helpful
3:09English learning episodes like this.
3:11So,
3:12grab a pen and paper if you would like
3:14to take notes.
3:16Get comfortable,
3:17listen carefully,
3:19speak along with me, and let's get
3:21started. Let's begin with one of the
3:24most common situations in everyday life,
3:27having a simple conversation about your
3:29day. You may think this kind of
3:31conversation is easy, but it is actually
3:34one of the best ways to build real
3:36fluency. In everyday English, but people
3:40often ask questions like, "How's your
3:42day going? What have you been up to? Did
3:45you have a busy morning?" Or, "How was
3:48work today?" These questions are simple,
3:52but your answer does not have to be only
3:54one or two words. Instead of saying
3:57"Good", you can say, "It's been pretty
4:00good so far."
4:02"I had a busy morning, but things have
4:04slowed down a little."
4:06Listen to that again. "It's been pretty
4:08good so far. I had a busy morning, but
4:12things have slowed down a little."
4:14This sounds more natural because you are
4:17giving the other person something they
4:18can respond to. Imagine that a co-worker
4:22asks you, "How's your day going?" You
4:25might answer, "Not bad. I've been
4:27working on a few things since this
4:29morning, and I'm finally getting caught
4:31up." The phrase getting caught up is
4:34very useful. It means you are finishing
4:37work or responsibilities that had been
4:39waiting for you. For example, you can
4:42say, "I was behind on my emails, but I'm
4:45finally getting caught up. I had a lot
4:47of housework to do, but I'm almost
4:50caught up now. After being away for a
4:52few days, I need some time to catch up
4:54on everything." Try repeating this
4:57natural sentence. "I'm finally getting
4:59caught up." Again, "I'm finally getting
5:02caught up." Now, imagine someone asks,
5:06"What have you been up to lately?"
5:08This is a very common casual question.
5:11It means "What have you been doing
5:13recently?"
5:14A natural answer could be, "Nothing too
5:17exciting. I've mostly been working,
5:20spending time with family, and trying to
5:22exercise more regularly." Notice the
5:25expression "nothing too exciting." This
5:29is a relaxed and natural way to begin
5:31your answer when your life has been
5:33fairly normal. You can also say, "I've
5:36been pretty busy with work lately. I've
5:39been trying to get back into a routine."
5:42Or, "I've had a lot going on recently."
5:45The phrase "I've had a lot going on
5:48means that many things have been
5:49happening in your life, usually making
5:52you busy.
5:53Let's practice a short everyday
5:54exchange.
5:56Imagine that you run into a friend at a
5:58coffee shop. Your friend says,
6:01"Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. How
6:04have you been?" You answer, "I've been
6:06good.
6:08Just really busy lately. How about you?"
6:12Your friend says, "Same here. Work has
6:15been keeping me busy." You respond, "I
6:18know what you mean. It feels like
6:20there's always something that needs to
6:22be done."
6:23This is a realistic conversation because
6:26people often use phrases like, "Same
6:28here." and "I know what you mean."
6:32"Same here." means that your situation
6:34is similar to the other person's
6:36situation.
6:37"I know what you mean." shows that you
6:39understand or relate to what the other
6:41person is saying.
6:43Practice these responses aloud.
6:45"Same here."
6:47"I know what you mean." "I've been
6:49really busy lately." "It feels like
6:51there's always something that needs to
6:53be done."
6:54Try to say each sentence naturally
6:56instead of saying each individual word
6:58too carefully.
7:00In real conversation, fluency comes from
7:03connecting words and speaking in
7:05meaningful groups.
7:06Now, let's move into another everyday
7:09situation.
7:11Making plans with someone. Imagine a
7:13friend says, "Are you doing anything
7:16this weekend?" You could answer, "I
7:18don't have anything planned yet. Why?"
7:21This response is very useful because it
7:24keeps the conversation open. Your friend
7:27might say, "I was thinking about
7:29checking out that new restaurant
7:30downtown.
7:32Do you want to come?" You could respond,
7:35"Yeah, I'd be up for that. What time are
7:38you thinking?"
7:39The expression "I'd be up for that."
7:41means I would be interested in doing
7:43that. It is casual, friendly, and very
7:47common in American English. Here is
7:49another example. Someone asks, "Do you
7:52want to grab lunch tomorrow?"
7:55Instead of always answering, "Yes." You
7:58can say, "Sure. That sounds good. I'd
8:01love to. Yeah, I'm free around noon."
8:05Or, "That works for me." If you cannot
8:08go, you can politely say, "I'd love to,
8:12but I already have plans. I don't think
8:15I can make it tomorrow." Or, "Tomorrow
8:18is a little difficult for me.
8:20How about Thursday instead?" Learning
8:23how to suggest another time is important
8:25because it helps the conversation
8:27continue naturally.
8:29Listen to this exchange. "Are you free
8:32after work?" "I should be. What did you
8:35have in mind?" "I thought we could get
8:37something to eat." "Sounds good."
8:40"I'm usually done 5:30. Perfect. I'll
8:44text you when I leave the office. Great.
8:47See you then." Notice the question,
8:50"What did you have in mind?" It means,
8:52"What were you thinking about doing?"
8:54This is a very natural phrase when
8:56someone suggests making plans. Repeat
8:59after me. "What did you have in mind?
9:02That works for me. I should be free
9:04after work. I'll text you when I leave.
9:07I don't think I can make it tomorrow.
9:10How about Thursday instead?" These
9:12expressions are useful because they can
9:15be used in many situations, not just
9:18when meeting friends. Now,
9:20imagine that your plans suddenly change.
9:23Real conversations often involve
9:26explaining small problems.
9:28You might say,
9:29sorry, but something came up." The
9:32expression something came up means that
9:35something unexpected happened and
9:37changed your plans. For example, I was
9:40supposed to meet Sarah for dinner,
9:43but something came up at work. I'm
9:45afraid I can't come tonight. Something
9:47came up. Can we reschedule? Something
9:51unexpected came up this afternoon. If
9:53you need to change the time, you could
9:55say, "Would it be okay if we met a
9:58little later?" Your friend might answer,
10:00"Sure. What time works better for you?"
10:04You could say, "Would 7:30 work?" Your
10:07friend responds, "Yeah, that's fine.
10:10Just let me know if anything changes."
10:13This small conversation contains several
10:15expressions that are extremely useful
10:17for daily life.
10:19"Would it be okay if?"
10:21"What time works better for you?" "Would
10:237:30 work?" And "Just let me know if
10:26anything changes."
10:28Practice saying this whole conversation
10:30as if you were actually speaking to a
10:32friend.
10:33"Would it be okay if we met a little
10:35later?"
10:36"Sure. What time works better for you?"
10:39"Would 7:30 work?" "Yeah, that's fine.
10:43Just let me know if anything changes."
10:46Try it once more, but this time imagine
10:49the situation. Do not simply repeat
10:52sounds.
10:53Picture yourself looking at your phone
10:55and explaining that you are running
10:57late.
10:58This kind of mental connection can make
11:00phrases easier to remember. Another
11:03situation you will experience often is
11:06asking for clarification.
11:09Intermediate learners sometimes
11:10understand most of what another person
11:12says, but miss one word or one detail.
11:16You do not need to panic. Fluent
11:18communication does not mean
11:20understanding every word perfectly.
11:23It means knowing how to keep the
11:24conversation going.
11:26You can say, "Sorry, could you say that
11:29again?
11:30I didn't quite catch that. Could you
11:32speak a little more slowly? What do you
11:35mean by that? Or
11:37just to make sure I understood, you mean
11:39we're meeting at 6:00, right? The phrase
11:42I didn't quite catch that is especially
11:44useful. Here,
11:47catch means understand or hear clearly.
11:50Imagine someone gives you an address
11:52quickly. You could say, "Sorry, I didn't
11:55quite catch the street name. Could you
11:57repeat it?" That sounds polite and
12:00natural. If you understood the words but
12:02not the meaning, you could say, "I'm not
12:05sure I understand what you mean." The
12:07other person may then explain the idea
12:10differently.
12:11Let's practice. Sorry, I didn't quite
12:14catch that. Again,
12:16sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could
12:19you say that one more time? Could you
12:21speak a little more slowly? What exactly
12:24do you mean? Just to make sure I
12:26understood. These phrases can save you
12:29in hundreds of real conversations.
12:32You do not have to pretend that you
12:34understood something when you did not.
12:36Now, let's imagine a workplace
12:39conversation.
12:40A coworker tells you,
12:42"The meeting has been moved to 3:00 and
12:45we need to send the updated report
12:47before then."
12:48If you are not completely sure, you can
12:51respond, "Okay, just to make sure I
12:54understood.
12:56The meeting is at 3:00 and the report
12:58needs to be sent before the meeting. Is
13:00that right?"
13:02Your coworker says, "Exactly."
13:05This technique is called confirming
13:07information. It is useful at work, at
13:10school, during appointments, while
13:13traveling, and whenever details are
13:15important. Suppose your manager asks,
13:19"How's the project coming along?"
13:21A natural intermediate level answer
13:23could be,
13:25"It's going well overall. I've finished
13:27most of the research and I'm working on
13:30the final section now. I should have it
13:32ready by tomorrow afternoon. Notice how
13:35this answer is clear, but not
13:37unnecessarily complicated. You explain
13:40the current situation, what you have
13:42completed, what you are doing now, and
13:45when you expect to finish.
13:47If there is a problem, you might say,
13:50"It's going pretty well, but I've run
13:52into a small issue with the data." Run
13:55into an issue means encounter or
13:57experience a problem. You could
14:00continue, "I'm trying to figure it out
14:02now, but I may need some help." The
14:05phrase figure it out means understand or
14:07solve something. These phrases appear
14:10constantly in natural English. I ran
14:13into a problem. I'm trying to figure it
14:16out. Let me see if I can figure this
14:18out. We'll figure something out. Repeat
14:22these sentences. I've run into a small
14:24issue. I'm trying to figure it out. I
14:28may need some help. I should have it
14:30ready by tomorrow. Try connecting the
14:33words naturally. I should have it ready
14:36by tomorrow. One more time. I should
14:39have it ready by tomorrow. Now, think
14:42about conversations at home. Someone
14:45might ask, "Did you get a chance to go
14:48to the grocery store?" The phrase did
14:50you get a chance to is a natural way of
14:53asking whether someone was able to do
14:55something. You can use it in many
14:57situations. Did you get a chance to call
15:00the doctor? Did you get a chance to look
15:03at the email I sent you? Did you get a
15:05chance to finish the report? Did you get
15:08a chance to talk to your neighbor?
15:10Imagine this conversation. Did you get a
15:13chance to pick up some milk? Yeah, I
15:16stopped at the store on my way home.
15:18Great. Did you Do you the bread?
15:21Actually, I completely forgot about it.
15:24That's okay. We still have a little
15:26left. I can get some tomorrow morning.
15:29This is the kind of simple but realistic
15:31English that you need for everyday
15:33communication.
15:35Notice the phrase on my way home.
15:38You can change the last word depending
15:40on where you are going.
15:41I stopped for coffee on my way to work.
15:44I picked up dinner on my way home.
15:47Can you stop by the pharmacy on your way
15:49back?
15:50I'll call you on my way there.
15:52These short phrases help you describe
15:54your daily routine in a very natural
15:56way.
15:57Let's practice a few complete sentences.
16:00I stopped at the store on my way home.
16:03Can you pick up some coffee on your way
16:05back?
16:06I'll call you when I'm on my way.
16:08I completely forgot about it. Don't
16:11worry. We can get it tomorrow.
16:13Try saying them again without reading
16:15every word separately.
16:17Imagine that you are really talking to
16:19someone in your home. Now, let's look at
16:23an everyday problem that almost everyone
16:25experiences.
16:26Being late.
16:28Maybe there is traffic. Your bus is
16:30delayed or something takes longer than
16:33expected. You can say, "I'm running a
16:36little late." This is much more natural
16:38than saying, "I will be late." If the
16:41delay is small, add a little.
16:45"I'm running about 10 minutes late.
16:47Sorry. I'm running a few minutes late."
16:50"Traffic is terrible, so I might be a
16:52little late."
16:54Imagine you are meeting a friend at a
16:55restaurant. You call and say, "Hey, I
16:59just wanted to let you know that I'm
17:00running about 15 minutes late." Your
17:03friend says,
17:05"No problem. I just got here."
17:08You say,
17:09"Thanks. Traffic is moving really
17:12slowly."
17:13Your friend replies, "Take your time.
17:16I'll get us a table. You respond, I
17:19appreciate it. I'll be there as soon as
17:22I can. Notice, I just wanted to let you
17:25know. This is another useful
17:27conversation pattern. It is a polite way
17:30to give someone information. I just
17:33wanted to let you know that I'll be
17:34working from home tomorrow. I just
17:37wanted to let you know that I'll be
17:38working from home tomorrow. I just
17:41wanted to let you know that I'll be
17:42working from home tomorrow. I just
17:45wanted to let you know that I might be a
17:47little late. Repeat after me. I just
17:50wanted to let you know, I'm running
17:52about 15 minutes late. Traffic is moving
17:55really slowly. Take your time. I'll be
17:59there as soon as I can. These are
18:01complete expressions that you can store
18:03in your memory as chunks. When you learn
18:06English in chunks, you do not have to
18:08build every sentence one word at a time.
18:11Let's do a short speaking exercise. I
18:14will describe a situation, and then I
18:17will give you a natural response that
18:19you can repeat. Imagine a friend asks
18:22you to meet for coffee on Saturday, but
18:25you are busy Saturday morning. A natural
18:27response is, I'd love to, but I'm busy
18:31in the morning. Would Saturday afternoon
18:34work for you? Repeat. I'd love to, but
18:37I'm busy in the morning. Would Saturday
18:40afternoon work for you? Now, imagine
18:43that a co-worker tells you something
18:45very quickly, and you do not understand
18:48the final detail. You can say, "Sorry,
18:52I didn't quite catch the last part.
18:54Could you say it again?"
18:56Repeat. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch the
18:59last part. Could you say it again?"
19:02Imagine that someone asks how your work
19:04is going. You have been busy, but you
19:07are making progress. You could say,
19:10"It's been a busy week, but I'm making
19:12good progress.
19:14I should be finished by Friday. Repeat.
19:17It's been a busy week, but I'm making
19:19good progress.
19:21I should be finished by Friday. Now,
19:24imagine you are 10 minutes late to meet
19:26someone. Say, "I'm sorry. I'm running
19:30about 10 minutes late. I'll be there as
19:32soon as I can." Repeat. "I'm sorry.
19:36I'm running about 10 minutes late. I'll
19:39be there as soon as I can."
19:41These situations may seem simple, but
19:44this is exactly where real fluency
19:46develops. You become fluent by becoming
19:49comfortable with the language you need
19:51again and again. Instead of trying to
19:54memorize hundreds of difficult
19:56expressions,
19:57focus first on useful patterns that
19:59appear in your daily life.
20:01"What did you have in mind?"
20:03"That works for me."
20:05"Something came up." "I didn't quite
20:07catch that."
20:09"I'm trying to figure it out." "Did you
20:11get a chance to
20:13I'm running a little late. I just wanted
20:15to let you know." These phrases are
20:17flexible, natural, and easy to adapt to
20:21many conversations.
20:23Try saying them once more in a steady
20:25rhythm.
20:26"What did you have in mind?"
20:28"That works for me."
20:30"Something came up." "I didn't quite
20:32catch that."
20:33"I'm trying to figure it out."
20:35"Did you get a chance to call them?"
20:38"I'm running a little late."
20:40"I just wanted to let you know."
20:42Excellent. As you continue practicing,
20:45pay attention not only to what a
20:47sentence means, but also to when you
20:49would actually use it. The more clearly
20:52you connect English with real
20:54situations, the easier it becomes to
20:56recall the right words when you need
20:58them. Now,
21:00let's continue with another very common
21:02part of everyday English, shopping and
21:05asking for help in a store.
21:07Even if you know the name of the product
21:09you want, you may still need to ask
21:12where something is.
21:14Compare two options, ask about price, or
21:17explain that you are looking for
21:19something specific.
21:21A natural way to start is, "Excuse me,
21:24could you help me find something?" The
21:26employee might say, "Of course, what are
21:29you looking for?" You could answer, "I'm
21:31looking for a phone charger, but I'm not
21:34sure which aisle it's in." The employee
21:36may say, "They're in aisle seven, near
21:39the electronic section." You can
21:41respond, "Perfect. Thank you. I
21:44appreciate your help." Notice how useful
21:47the phrase, "I'm looking for" is. You
21:50can use it in almost any store.
21:52I'm looking for a black jacket. I'm
21:55looking for a birthday gift for my
21:57sister.
21:58I'm looking for something comfortable to
22:00wear to work.
22:02I'm looking for a cheaper option. I'm
22:04looking for a charger that works with
22:06this phone. When you are not sure
22:08exactly what you want, you can describe
22:11the kind of thing you need instead of
22:13naming one specific product. Imagine you
22:16are shopping for shoes. You say, "Excuse
22:19me, do you have these in a larger size?"
22:23The employee answers, "What size do you
22:25need?"
22:26You say, "A size 10, if you have it."
22:30The employee says, "Let me check in the
22:32back."
22:33A few minutes later, the employee
22:35returns and says, "We have a size 10 in
22:38black, but not in brown."
22:41You could respond, "That's fine.
22:44Could I try the black pair?"
22:46This is a very natural exchange that you
22:48may hear in stores all the time. Let's
22:51practice the key sentences.
22:53Do you have these in a larger size? Do
22:56you have this in another color?
22:58Could I try this on?
23:00Where are the fitting rooms?
23:02I'm just looking, thank you. I'll think
23:05about it. The phrase "I'm just looking"
23:08is especially useful when an employee
23:10asks if you need help, but you prefer to
23:13browse by yourself.
23:14Now, imagine that you are comparing two
23:17products. You might ask, "What's the
23:20difference between these two?" The
23:22employee might say, "This one is more
23:25expensive,
23:26but it has a longer warranty." You
23:29respond, "I see. Which one would you
23:32recommend?" The employee says, "If you
23:35plan to use it every day, I'd probably
23:38go with this one." The expression "I'd
23:41go with" means "I would choose." It is
23:44commonly used when giving
23:46recommendations.
23:47You could say,
23:49"I'd go with the blue one. I'd go with
23:51the larger size. I think I'd go with the
23:54cheaper option." Repeat. "What's the
23:57difference between these two? Which one
23:59would you recommend? I think I'd go with
24:02this one. Does it come with a warranty?
24:05Can I return it if it doesn't work?"
24:07These questions are practical and can
24:10help you handle many shopping situations
24:12confidently.
24:13Now,
24:15let's imagine that you bought something
24:16yesterday,
24:18but there is a problem with it.
24:20You walk into the store and say, "Hi, I
24:23bought this yesterday,
24:25but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be
24:28working properly."
24:30The employee asks, "Do you have the
24:32receipt?" You say, "Yes, I have it right
24:36here."
24:37The employee asks, "Would you like to
24:39exchange it or get a refund?" You
24:42respond, "I'd prefer a refund, if
24:45possible." Notice how polite and calm
24:48this language sounds. You explain the
24:50problem directly without sounding
24:52aggressive.
24:54You could also say, "I bought this shirt
24:56last week, but it doesn't fit quite
24:59right. Would it be possible to exchange
25:01it for a different size?"
25:03Exchange it on the phrase "doesn't fit
25:07quite right" means the size or shape is
25:09not comfortable or suitable. Another
25:12useful phrase is, "It wasn't what I
25:15expected." For example, "I ordered this
25:18online, but it wasn't what I expected.
25:21The color looks different from the
25:23picture. The size is smaller than I
25:25expected." Practice this exchange.
25:29Hi.
25:30I'd like to return this, please.
25:33Is there anything wrong with it?
25:35It works fine, but it wasn't what I
25:37expected. Do you have the receipt?
25:40Yes, here it is.
25:43Would you like a refund or an exchange?
25:45A refund would be great. Thank you.
25:48Try to say the whole conversation
25:50smoothly and naturally.
25:52Now, let's move to another situation you
25:55will probably use often, ordering food
25:58at a restaurant. At an intermediate
26:01level,
26:02you want to move beyond simply saying
26:04the name of a dish.
26:05You should be able to ask questions,
26:08make small requests, and respond
26:11naturally to the server.
26:13Imagine the server says,
26:15"Hi.
26:16Are you ready to order?"
26:18You could say,
26:19"I think so.
26:20Could I get the grilled chicken sandwich
26:22with a side salad?" The server asks,
26:26"Would you like any dressing with the
26:27salad?" You say, "Yes. Could I get the
26:31dressing on the side?" The server asks,
26:35"Anything to drink?" You answer, "Just
26:38water for now, please." This is natural
26:41restaurant English. The phrase "Could I
26:44get" is extremely common in American
26:47English when ordering.
26:49"Could I get a coffee?
26:51Could I get the chicken tacos?
26:54Could I get that without onions?
26:56Could I get an extra plate?
26:58Could I get some more water?
27:00You can also say
27:02I'll have.
27:03For example, I'll have the pasta.
27:06I'll have the soup and salad. I'll have
27:09the same thing.
27:10Now, imagine you have a question about
27:13the menu. You might say, "What comes
27:16with the salmon?" The server says,
27:19"It comes with roasted vegetables and
27:21rice." You ask, "Could I substitute the
27:25rice for mashed potatoes?" The server
27:27says, "Sure, that's no problem."
27:31The word substitute is useful in
27:33restaurants.
27:35But in casual conversation, you can also
27:37say, "Could I have mashed potatoes
27:40instead of rice?"
27:42That may feel easier and more natural
27:44for many learners. Listen to this
27:46example. "Does this dish have any nuts
27:49in it?" "Yes, the sauce contains
27:52peanuts." "Okay, thanks for letting me
27:55know. Could I get it without the sauce?"
27:59"Absolutely." This is useful if you have
28:01a food allergy or simply want to avoid
28:04an ingredient.
28:05Another useful question is, "Is this
28:08spicy?"
28:09The server might answer,
28:11"It has a little heat, but it's not too
28:14spicy."
28:15You could say,
28:16"That sounds fine."
28:18Let's practice.
28:20Could I get this without onions?
28:22Could I have the sauce on the side?
28:24What comes with this dish?
28:27Is this spicy?
28:28Could I have something else instead of
28:30the fries?
28:32Could we get another glass of water?
28:34Try saying each one naturally.
28:37These sentences are useful because you
28:39can change only one or two words and use
28:42them in many situations.
28:44Now, imagine there is a small problem
28:47with your meal. Your food arrives, but
28:50it is cold. You do not need to sound
28:52angry. You can say, "Excuse me, I'm
28:56sorry, but this is a little cold. Would
28:59you mind heating it up?"
29:00The server might say, "Of course. I'm
29:03sorry about that."
29:05You answer, "No problem.
29:08Thank you." If you receive the wrong
29:10order, you might say, "I'm sorry,
29:13but I think this might be someone else's
29:15order. I ordered the chicken, not the
29:18steak."
29:19Notice the phrase, "I think this might
29:21be."
29:22It makes your statement sound polite and
29:25less confrontational.
29:27"I think this might be the wrong size.
29:29I think there might be a mistake on the
29:31bill.
29:32I think this might belong to someone
29:34else."
29:35This language is especially useful when
29:37you want to point out a problem
29:39politely.
29:40Now, let's practice paying at a
29:42restaurant.
29:44You might say, "Excuse me, could we get
29:47the check when you have a chance?"
29:49The server says, "Sure, I'll bring it
29:52right over." If you are eating with a
29:54friend, the server may ask, "Would you
29:57like separate checks or one check?" You
29:59could answer, "Separate checks, please."
30:02Or you might tell your friend, "I've got
30:04this one." That means you are offering
30:06to pay.
30:08Your friend may say, "Are you sure?"
30:11You answer, "Yeah. You can get the next
30:13one."
30:14Listen again. "I've got this one." "Are
30:17you sure?" "Yeah. You can get the next
30:20one."
30:21This is a friendly, natural exchange.
30:24Another phrase is, "Let's split it."
30:27That means each person pays part of the
30:29total.
30:31You might say,
30:32"Let's just split the bill." "Do you
30:34want to split it? We can split it
30:36evenly." Now, let's move into
30:39transportation and getting around.
30:42Imagine you need to take a bus, train,
30:44or subway,
30:46but you are not sure where to go. You
30:48could say, "Excuse me, does this train
30:51go downtown?"
30:53Someone replies, "Yes,
30:55but you'll need to transfer at Central
30:57Station."
30:58You ask, "Okay, which line do I take
31:01from there?"
31:02They answer,
31:03"Take the green line for three stops."
31:06You say, "Got it. Thanks for your help."
31:09The phrase got it means I understand.
31:13It is very common in spoken English.
31:16You can use it in many situations.
31:19Someone says, "The meeting starts at
31:219:00 instead of 9:30."
31:24You say, "Got it."
31:26Someone says, "Turn left at the next
31:29light." You say, "Got it." Someone says,
31:34"Please send me the file before lunch."
31:36You answer, "Got it. I'll send it this
31:39morning."
31:40Practice. Does this train go downtown?
31:44Where do I need to transfer?
31:46Which line should I take? How many stops
31:48is it from here?
31:50Is this the right platform?
31:52Got it. Thank you.
31:54Now, imagine you are in a ride-share or
31:57taxi.
31:58The driver asks, "Where are you headed?"
32:01You say,
32:02"I'm going to the airport, please."
32:05The driver asks, "Do you have a
32:07preferred route?"
32:08You say, "No. Whatever is fastest is
32:12fine." A few minutes later, you might
32:15say, "Could you drop me off near the
32:17main entrance?" or "This corner is fine.
32:21Thank you." If you are in a hurry, you
32:24might ask,
32:25"Do you think we'll get there by 6:00?"
32:28The driver may answer, "It depends on
32:30traffic, but we should."
32:33The phrase it depends on is extremely
32:36useful in English.
32:38It depends on the weather.
32:39It depends on how busy we are.
32:42It depends on the price.
32:44It depends on what time you want to go.
32:47It depends on traffic.
32:49This phrase allows you to explain that
32:51the answer is not completely certain.
32:54Repeat. It depends on traffic. It
32:57depends on the weather. It depends on
32:59what time we leave.
33:01Whatever is fastest is fine.
33:04Could you drop me off near the entrance?
33:06This corner is fine.
33:08Thank you.
33:09Now,
33:11imagine that you are driving and need
33:13directions.
33:14You ask someone,
33:16Excuse me,
33:17do you know how to get to Lincoln Park
33:19from here?
33:20The person says,
33:22Sure.
33:23Go straight for about 2 miles. Then turn
33:26right at the second traffic light.
33:28You ask, Is it far from there?
33:32The person replies, No, it should only
33:35take about 5 minutes. You say, Great.
33:38Thank you so much. If directions are
33:41complicated, you can confirm them. So, I
33:44go straight, turn right at the second
33:46light, and then the park will be on my
33:48left. Is that right? The person says,
33:52Exactly.
33:54This is another example of confirming
33:56information rather than pretending you
33:58understood everything.
34:00Let's practice a more natural direction
34:02conversation.
34:03Excuse me, I'm trying to find the
34:06nearest pharmacy.
34:08There's one about two blocks from here.
34:10Which way should I go?
34:12Keep going straight.
34:14Then turn left at the bank. Is it on the
34:16same side of the street? No, it'll be
34:19across the street. Okay, I think I've
34:22got it. Thanks a lot. Notice the phrase,
34:26I'm trying to find. This is a very
34:29useful alternative to, Where is? You can
34:32say, "I'm trying to find the nearest
34:35ATM."
34:36"I'm trying to find gate 12."
34:39"I'm trying to find the customer service
34:41desk." "I'm trying to find a quiet place
34:43to sit."
34:45Now, let's practice describing a problem
34:47while traveling. Imagine your train is
34:50delayed. You ask an employee, "Excuse
34:53me, do you know why the train is
34:55delayed?" The employee says,
34:58"There's a mechanical issue, and we're
35:00expecting about a 30-minute delay."
35:03You ask, "Is there another train I could
35:05take?"
35:06The employee says, "You could take the
35:09express train from platform 4, but it
35:11leaves in 10 minutes."
35:13You respond, "Okay, thank you. I'll try
35:17that." The phrase, "Do you know why?"
35:21can help you ask about situations
35:23politely.
35:24"Do you know why the store is closed?"
35:26"Do you know why the meeting was
35:28canceled?" "Do you know why the traffic
35:30is so bad?" "Do you know why my payment
35:33didn't go through?"
35:34This is a very flexible question
35:36pattern. Now, imagine a flight
35:39situation. You approach the airline desk
35:42and say,
35:44"Hi, my flight has been delayed, and I'm
35:47worried I might miss my connection."
35:49The employee says, "Let me take a look.
35:52What's your final destination?" You
35:55answer, "Chicago." The employee says,
35:59"It looks like you still have enough
36:00time, but if anything changes,
36:03we can rebook you." You respond, "Okay,
36:07that's good to know. Thank you." Notice
36:10the phrase, "That's good to know."
36:13This means the information is useful or
36:15reassuring. You can say, "There's free
36:18parking after 6."
36:20"Oh, that's good to know." or "The store
36:24stays open until 10:00 tonight." "That's
36:27good to know.
36:28It is a simple phrase that makes your
36:30responses sound more natural.
36:33Repeat. I'm worried I might miss my
36:35connection.
36:36Could you take a look?
36:38Is there another option? That's good to
36:40know.
36:41If anything changes, please let me know.
36:45Again, if anything changes, please let
36:48me know.
36:49Now,
36:50let's move into phone conversations.
36:53Speaking on the phone can feel more
36:55difficult because you cannot see the
36:57other person's face or body language.
37:00That means clear expressions are
37:02especially important.
37:04Imagine you call a doctor's office. You
37:07say,
37:08"Hi, I'm calling to make an
37:10appointment."
37:11The receptionist says,
37:13"Sure. Have you been here before?"
37:16You say, "Yes, I have." The receptionist
37:20asks, "What day works best for you?" You
37:24answer, "Do you have anything available
37:26on Thursday afternoon?" The receptionist
37:29says, "We have an opening at 2:30." You
37:33reply, "2:30 works for me."
37:36The phrase, "Do you have anything
37:38available?" is useful for appointments,
37:41reservations, classes, and services.
37:45Do you have anything available tomorrow
37:47morning?
37:48Do you have any tables available around
37:507:00?
37:51Do you have any appointments available
37:53this week?
37:54Do you have anything available after
37:565:00?
37:57Now, suppose the time does not work. You
38:01can say, "I'm afraid I can't make 2:30.
38:04Do you have anything later?" The
38:06receptionist says,
38:08"The next opening is at 4:15." You
38:11reply, "That works. I'll take it."
38:15"I'll take it." is a natural way to
38:17accept an available appointment or
38:19reservation. Practice this exchange.
38:22I'm calling to make an appointment. Do
38:25you have anything available Thursday
38:27afternoon?
38:28We have an opening at 2:30.
38:30I'm afraid I can't make that time.
38:33Do you have anything later?
38:35We have 4:15.
38:37That works.
38:38I'll take it. Now,
38:41imagine you need to cancel or
38:42reschedule.
38:44You could say, "Hi, I have an
38:47appointment tomorrow at 11:00, but I
38:49need to reschedule."
38:50The receptionist asks, "Would you like
38:53to move it to another day?" You say,
38:56"Yes, if possible. Is there anything
38:59available next Monday?"
39:01Again, notice the polite phrase, "if
39:03possible."
39:05It is useful whenever you are making a
39:07request.
39:08"Could I have a window seat, if
39:10possible?
39:11I'd like an earlier appointment, if
39:13possible. Could we move the meeting to
39:16Friday, if possible?" Let's continue
39:19with a speaking exercise that combines
39:21several everyday situations. Imagine you
39:24are in a store and cannot find
39:26something. Say, "Excuse me,
39:29I'm looking for a phone charger. Could
39:31you tell me where they are?"
39:33Now, imagine you are at a restaurant and
39:36want to change your side dish. Say,
39:39"Could I get the salad instead of the
39:40fries, please?"
39:42Now, imagine you are taking a train and
39:45are unsure about your route. Say,
39:48"Excuse me,
39:50is this the right train for downtown?"
39:52Now, imagine you need a doctor's
39:55appointment. Say, "Hi, I'm calling to
39:58make an appointment. Do you have
40:00anything available Friday morning?"
40:03And finally, imagine you are returning
40:05something to a store. Say, "I bought
40:08this yesterday, but it isn't working
40:10properly.
40:12Would it be possible to get a refund?"
40:14Repeat those situations once more in
40:17your own mind. Picture the store, the
40:20restaurant, the train station, the
40:22doctor's office, and the customer
40:24service desk.
40:26Connecting the words with realistic
40:28situations will help you recall them
40:30more quickly.
40:32Real English fluency is not just knowing
40:34vocabulary.
40:35It is being able to recognize a
40:37situation and immediately access the
40:40phrases that fit that situation. As you
40:43continue, remember some of the most
40:45useful expressions we have practiced.
40:48I'm looking for. Do you have this in
40:50another size?
40:52Which one would you recommend? Could I
40:54get this without onions?
40:56I think there might be a mistake. Could
40:59we get the check? Where do I need to
41:01transfer? It depends on traffic. I'm
41:04trying to find. That's good to know. Do
41:07you have anything available? And that
41:10works for me.
41:12These expressions are short, but they
41:14give you a strong foundation for
41:15handling real conversations smoothly and
41:18confidently.
41:20Now, let's continue with another
41:22important area of everyday English,
41:25conversations at work. Even if you do
41:28not work in an English-speaking
41:29environment right now,
41:31these expressions are useful because
41:33many of them can also be used in school,
41:36group projects, meetings, and
41:39professional situations.
41:41One of the most common workplace
41:43questions is,
41:44Do you have a minute? This does not
41:47always mean exactly 1 minute.
41:50It usually means, Are you available to
41:52talk for a short time?
41:54You might hear, Hey, do you have a
41:56minute? Sure, what's up?
41:59I wanted to ask you about the report. Of
42:02course, what do you need?
42:04The response, What's up? is casual and
42:07natural.
42:08In a more professional situation, you
42:10could say, Sure, how can I help?" or "Of
42:14course, what would you like to discuss?"
42:18If you are busy, you can still answer
42:20politely. You might say, "I'm in the
42:23middle of something right now. Can I
42:25come by in about 20 minutes?" The
42:27expression, "I'm in the middle of
42:29something." means that you are currently
42:32busy with a task and cannot stop
42:34immediately. Listen to these examples.
42:37I'm in the middle of a meeting right
42:39now.
42:40I'm in the middle of writing an email.
42:42I'm in the middle of something. Can I
42:45call you back?
42:46I'm in the middle of lunch, but I can
42:48talk in a few minutes.
42:50This phrase is very flexible and sounds
42:53natural in both professional and casual
42:56conversations.
42:58Now,
42:59imagine that your co-worker asks you for
43:02an update. They say, "How are things
43:05going with the presentation?"
43:07You could answer, "Pretty well. I
43:10finished the slides and I'm reviewing
43:12everything one more time before I send
43:14it."
43:15Your co-worker asks, "Do you think
43:18you'll have it done by the end of the
43:19day?"
43:20You answer, "Yes, that shouldn't be a
43:23problem."
43:24The phrase, "That shouldn't be a
43:26problem." is a confident but natural way
43:29to say that you expect something to be
43:31possible.
43:33You could also say,
43:34"I should be able to finish it by 4:00.
43:37I'm on track to finish today.
43:40I just need another hour or so.
43:42I'm almost done."
43:44These expressions help you give clear
43:46updates without using complicated
43:48language. Repeat after me. I'm on track
43:51to finish today.
43:53I should be able to finish it by 4:00.
43:56I just need another hour or so.
43:58I'm almost done.
44:00That shouldn't be a problem.
44:03Try to imagine that you are answering a
44:05co-worker instead of simply reading the
44:07words. Now, let's imagine the project is
44:10taking longer than expected. Your
44:13manager asks, "Will the report be ready
44:16this afternoon?" You might say, "I'm
44:19making good progress, but I need a
44:21little more time than I expected.
44:24Would tomorrow morning be okay?"
44:26This is much better than waiting until
44:28the deadline has passed without saying
44:30anything.
44:31You can explain the situation clearly
44:34and suggest a new time. Another useful
44:37expression is, "I'm running behind." It
44:40means you are later than planned with
44:41your work or schedule.
44:43"I'm running a little behind on the
44:45report."
44:46"We're running behind schedule." "I got
44:48started late this morning, so I'm
44:50running behind." If you need help, you
44:53can say,
44:54"I'm running a little behind. Would you
44:57be able to help me with the final
44:58section?"
44:59Now,
45:00listen to this workplace conversation.
45:03"Do you think you can send me the
45:04updated numbers before lunch?" "I'll do
45:07my best, but I'm still waiting for some
45:09information from the finance team."
45:12"Okay. Just send them as soon as you
45:14have everything." "Will do." The
45:17expression will do is a short informal
45:20way of saying, "Yes.
45:22I will do that." You may hear it
45:25frequently between co-workers. Repeat,
45:28"I'll do my best. I'm still waiting for
45:31some information. I'll send it as soon
45:33as I have everything." "Will do." These
45:36phrases are useful because they help you
45:38communicate clearly without sounding too
45:41formal. Now,
45:43let's practice asking for help at work.
45:46Imagine you are unsure how to complete a
45:48task. You could say,
45:50"Could you show me how to do this when
45:52you have a chance?"
45:53Notice the phrase, "when you have a
45:56chance." It makes your request sound
45:59less demanding. You can also say, "Do
46:02you mind taking a quick look at this?"
46:05"Could I get your opinion on something?
46:07Would you mind helping me with this
46:09part?" Or, "Can I ask you a quick
46:11question?"
46:13Imagine this exchange. "Do you mind
46:15taking a quick look at this email before
46:17I send it?" "Sure, give me a second."
46:21"I just want to make sure everything is
46:22clear." "It looks good. I'd only change
46:25the last sentence." "Okay, thanks. I
46:29appreciate it." This type of interaction
46:32happens constantly in workplaces.
46:35The phrase take a look is very common.
46:38It means examine or check something.
46:41"Can you take a look at this?" "I'll
46:43take a look later today."
46:45"Could you take a quick look at the
46:47schedule?"
46:48"Let me take a look and get back to
46:50you." That final phrase, get back to
46:53you, means respond later after you have
46:56checked or considered something. For
46:58example, someone asks, "Do you know
47:02whether we have enough money in the
47:03budget?" You might say,
47:06"I'm not sure. Let me check and get back
47:08to you."
47:09Someone asks, "Can we move the meeting
47:12to Friday?"
47:13You answer, "Let me check my schedule
47:15and get back to you."
47:17This is much more natural than guessing
47:19or giving an answer before you are sure.
47:22Practice, "Let me check and get back to
47:25you."
47:25"I'll take a look."
47:27"Could I get your opinion on something?"
47:30"Would you mind helping me with this?"
47:32"I just want to make sure everything is
47:34correct."
47:36Now, let's move into meetings.
47:39Meetings can be difficult for English
47:41learners because several people may
47:43speak quickly, interrupt each other, or
47:46use short professional expressions.
47:49One very useful phrase is, "Can I add
47:52something?"
47:53This is a polite way to enter the
47:55conversation.
47:57You could also say, "I'd like to add one
47:59thing."
48:01"Can I make a quick point?" or "I have a
48:04question about that."
48:06Imagine someone says,
48:08"I think we should launch the new
48:09service next month."
48:11You might respond,
48:13"I agree overall, but I think we need a
48:15little more time for testing."
48:17Notice the phrase, "I agree overall,
48:20but"
48:22This allows you to disagree with one
48:24part of an idea without rejecting
48:26everything the person said.
48:28You can also say, "I see your point, but
48:31I'm not sure that will work for every
48:33customer."
48:34The phrase, "I see your point" means you
48:37understand the other person's reasoning,
48:39even if you do not completely agree.
48:42This is excellent language for
48:44respectful disagreement. Let's practice.
48:48"I see your point."
48:49"I agree to some extent."
48:52"I'm not completely sure about that."
48:54"Could we consider another option?"
48:57"What if we tried a different approach?"
48:59These phrases can help you participate
49:02in discussions without sounding too
49:04direct.
49:05Now,
49:06listen to this short meeting exchange.
49:09"I think we should change the deadline
49:11to Monday."
49:12"I see your point, but Monday might be
49:15too soon for the design team."
49:17"That's fair. What would you suggest?"
49:20"Could we aim for Wednesday instead?"
49:23"That sounds more realistic."
49:25Notice the phrase, "That's fair."
49:28It means you accept that the other
49:29person has made a reasonable point. You
49:32may also hear, "That makes sense."
49:35This means the idea is understandable or
49:38logical.
49:40"We should leave early because traffic
49:42gets worse after 5:00."
49:45"That makes sense."
49:46"I think we should test the new system
49:48before everyone starts using it." "Yeah,
49:51that makes sense."
49:53It is one of the easiest and most
49:55natural responses you can use in
49:57English. Repeat, that makes sense.
50:00That's fair.
50:01What would you suggest?
50:03Could we aim for Wednesday instead?
50:06That sounds more realistic. Now, let's
50:09change situations and talk about
50:11visiting a doctor or discussing a health
50:13problem. You do not need advanced
50:16medical vocabulary to communicate
50:18clearly. You can usually explain when
50:20the problem started, what you are
50:22feeling, and whether it is getting
50:24better or worse. Imagine the doctor
50:27asks, "What brings you in today?"
50:30This is a common way of asking why you
50:32came to the clinic. You could answer,
50:35"I've had a sore throat and a cough for
50:37the past 3 days." The doctor asks, "Have
50:41you had a fever?"
50:43You say, "A little. It was higher
50:45yesterday, but I'm feeling slightly
50:48better today."
50:49The doctor may ask, "Are you taking
50:52anything for it?"
50:53You answer,
50:55"I've been taking an over-the-counter
50:56cold medicine."
50:58Notice the useful structure I've had
51:01for.
51:02You can say,
51:03"I've had this headache for 2 days.
51:06I've had pain in my shoulder for about a
51:08week. I've had a cough since Monday."
51:11When talking about a symptom that
51:13started in the past and continues now,
51:16this pattern is very common. You can
51:19also describe changes. "It seems to be
51:22getting worse. It's a little better
51:24today.
51:25The pain comes and goes.
51:28It hurts more when I walk. It's worse at
51:31night. I haven't noticed any improvement
51:33yet."
51:35These phrases allow you to give the
51:36doctor useful information without
51:39needing complicated vocabulary.
51:42Practice.
51:43"I've had a headache for 2 days. It
51:46seems to be getting worse. The pain
51:48comes and goes.
51:50It hurts more when I move. I'm feeling a
51:53little better today.
51:55Now, imagine you are at a pharmacy.
51:58You say, "Hi, I'm looking for something
52:01for a bad cough."
52:03The pharmacist might ask, "Is it a dry
52:06cough or are you coughing up mucus?"
52:09You answer based on your situation. You
52:12could then ask, "Is there anything you
52:15would recommend?"
52:16The pharmacist may say, "You can try
52:19this, but make sure you follow the
52:21directions on the package." You respond,
52:24"Okay, does it make you sleepy?"
52:27That is an important question if you
52:29need to drive or work.
52:31Other useful pharmacy questions include,
52:34"How often should I take this? Should I
52:37take it with food? Are there any side
52:39effects I should know about? Can I take
52:42this with my other medication?
52:44Do I need a prescription for this?"
52:46These are practical questions that can
52:48help you communicate clearly. Now, let's
52:52move to another everyday responsibility,
52:55calling customer service. This can be
52:57challenging because you often need to
53:00explain a problem clearly. A useful
53:03structure is to begin with what
53:04happened, explain what you expected, and
53:08then say what you need. Imagine you call
53:10your internet company and say,
53:13"Hi, I'm calling because my internet
53:15hasn't been working properly since this
53:17morning." The representative asks, "Are
53:20you able to connect at all?" You answer,
53:23"It connects for a few minutes, but then
53:25it keeps dropping." The representative
53:28says, "Let me check your account." You
53:30respond, "Sure."
53:33The phrase keeps dropping means the
53:35connection repeatedly stops working. The
53:38word keep plus an ing form is useful for
53:42repeated problems.
53:44My phone keeps freezing. The app keeps
53:46crashing. The door keeps getting stuck.
53:50The printer keeps showing the same
53:51error. My payment keeps getting
53:54declined.
53:55Now, imagine the representative gives
53:57you instructions. Please unplug the
54:00router, wait 30 seconds, and plug it
54:02back in.
54:03You can say, "Okay, give me a second."
54:07After trying it, you say, "It's working
54:09now." Or perhaps you say,
54:12"Unfortunately, I'm still having the
54:14same problem."
54:16That is a useful phrase when a suggested
54:18solution does not work.
54:20Listen to this conversation.
54:22Did that fix the issue?
54:24No. Unfortunately, I'm still having the
54:28same problem.
54:29Okay.
54:30Let me try something else.
54:32Sure. I'm going to reset the connection
54:35from my end.
54:36Okay. Should I do anything?
54:39No.
54:40Just give it a minute.
54:42All right. Notice how I'm still having
54:45the same problem can be used in many
54:47situations.
54:49You can say it to technical support, a
54:52mechanic, a doctor, or anyone helping
54:55you solve a problem.
54:57Now,
54:58suppose you ordered something online and
55:01it has not arrived. You call customer
55:03service and say,
55:05"Hi, I'm calling about an order that was
55:08supposed to arrive yesterday, but I
55:10haven't received it yet." The
55:12representative asks for your order
55:14number. You provide it, and they say,
55:17"It looks like the package was delayed
55:19in transit." You might ask, "Do you know
55:22when I can expect it?" The
55:24representative says,
55:26"It should arrive within the next 2
55:28days."
55:29You respond, "Okay.
55:32Is there a way to track it?" The phrase
55:34was supposed to is extremely useful. It
55:38describes something that was expected or
55:40planned.
55:41The package was supposed to arrive
55:43yesterday. The meeting was supposed to
55:46start at 10:00.
55:47I was supposed to call you this morning.
55:49We were supposed to meet at the coffee
55:51shop. The train was supposed to leave 5
55:53minutes ago. Repeat. It was supposed to
55:56arrive yesterday. I was supposed to call
55:59you. We were supposed to meet at 6:00.
56:02Do you know when I can expect it?
56:04Is there a way to track it? Now, let's
56:07practice explaining another customer
56:09service problem.
56:10Imagine you notice an unfamiliar charge
56:13on your bank account. You call and say,
56:16"Hi, I noticed a charge on my account
56:19that I don't recognize." The
56:21representative asks, "What date was the
56:23charge made?" You say,
56:26"It was posted yesterday for $47."
56:29The representative asks,
56:32"Do you recognize the name of the
56:33business?"
56:34You answer, "No, I've never heard of
56:37it." The representative says, "Okay, I
56:41can help you dispute that charge."
56:44Notice how clearly the problem is
56:45explained. You do not need to use long
56:48sentences.
56:50Clear communication is often more
56:52effective than complicated English. Now,
56:55let's switch to social conversations and
56:58making small talk. Small talk is
57:00important because not every conversation
57:03has a serious purpose.
57:05Sometimes people simply want to be
57:07friendly. You might talk about the
57:09weather,
57:10weekend plans, work, food, traffic, or
57:15something happening around you. Imagine
57:18you are waiting in line at a coffee shop
57:20and someone says,
57:22"It's really busy in here today." You
57:24could respond, "Yeah, I wasn't expecting
57:28such a long line." The person says,
57:31"It's usually quieter around this time."
57:34You say,
57:35"Maybe everyone had the same idea
57:37today."
57:38This short conversation does not need to
57:41lead anywhere.
57:42It is simply friendly interaction.
57:45Another common situation is talking
57:47before a meeting.
57:49Someone says,
57:50"How was your weekend?"
57:52Instead of saying only good, you can
57:55give a small detail.
57:57"It was pretty relaxing.
57:59I mostly stayed home and caught up on a
58:01few things." Then ask, "How about
58:04yours?"
58:06This creates a natural exchange. Imagine
58:09this conversation.
58:10"How was your weekend?"
58:12"Pretty good. I went hiking with a few
58:14friends on Saturday."
58:16"Nice. Where did you go?"
58:19"We went to a trail about an hour
58:21outside the city."
58:22"Was it crowded?"
58:24"Not too bad. We got there pretty
58:26early." This is natural because each
58:29person reacts to the previous answer and
58:31asks a related question. A good
58:34conversation is not a list of unrelated
58:36questions. Try to listen for one detail
58:39and respond to it. If someone says, "I
58:43tried a new restaurant last night."
58:45You can ask, "What kind of food was it?
58:48Was it good? Where was it? Would you go
58:51back?"
58:52These questions show real interest and
58:54keep the conversation moving. Now, let's
58:57practice reactions. Someone tells you,
59:00"I finally finished the course I've been
59:02taking." You might say, "That's great.
59:06How did it go?"
59:08Someone says, "I'm moving to a new
59:10apartment next month."
59:12You say, "Oh, nice. Is it in the same
59:16neighborhood?" Someone says, "My flight
59:19got canceled yesterday." You respond,
59:22"Oh, no. What happened?" Someone says,
59:26"I got a promotion at work." You say,
59:29"Congratulations.
59:31That's exciting." Natural conversation
59:34depends heavily on these short
59:35reactions. "That's great. That sounds
59:38nice. Oh, no. Really? That's
59:42interesting. That must have been
59:43stressful. Good for you. I'm glad to
59:46hear that." They help show emotion and
59:48interest. Now, let's look at the phrase
59:51"that must have been".
59:53You can use it to respond to another
59:55person's experience.
59:57Someone says,
59:59"I was stuck in traffic for 3 hours."
1:00:02You say,
1:00:03"That must have been frustrating."
1:00:05Someone says, "I had to give a
1:00:07presentation to 200 people." You say,
1:00:11"That must have been nerve-racking."
1:00:14Someone says, "We finally found our lost
1:00:17dog." You say, "That must have been such
1:00:19a relief." Repeat. "That must have been
1:00:22stressful. That must have been
1:00:24frustrating. That must have been
1:00:26exciting. That must have been a relief."
1:00:29This pattern helps you respond with
1:00:31empathy and keeps conversations from
1:00:33feeling mechanical. Now, let's do
1:00:36another speaking exercise. Imagine your
1:00:39co-worker asks for an update and you are
1:00:42almost finished. Say, "I'm almost done.
1:00:45I just need another hour or so and then
1:00:48I'll send it over." Repeat. "I'm almost
1:00:51done. I just need another hour or so and
1:00:55then I'll send it over."
1:00:57Imagine you disagree slightly with
1:00:59someone during a meeting. Say, "I see
1:01:02your point, but I think we should
1:01:04consider another option." Repeat. "I see
1:01:07your point, but I think we should
1:01:09consider another option." Imagine you
1:01:12are speaking to a doctor about a problem
1:01:14that started 3 days ago. Say, "I've had
1:01:18a sore throat for about 3 days and it
1:01:21seems to be getting worse.
1:01:23Repeat.
1:01:24I've had a sore throat for about 3 days,
1:01:27and it seems to be getting worse.
1:01:30Imagine you are calling customer service
1:01:32because your delivery is late. Say,
1:01:35"My order was supposed to arrive
1:01:37yesterday, but I still haven't received
1:01:40it."
1:01:41"Could you check the status for me?"
1:01:43Repeat. "My order was supposed to arrive
1:01:45yesterday, but I still haven't received
1:01:48it. Could you check the status for me?"
1:01:51Now, imagine a friend tells you they had
1:01:54an extremely stressful day.
1:01:56Instead of immediately talking about
1:01:58your own day, respond to what they said.
1:02:01You can say, "That sounds exhausting.
1:02:04What happened?"
1:02:05Repeat. "That sounds exhausting. What
1:02:08happened?"
1:02:10This is an important conversation skill.
1:02:13English fluency is not only about
1:02:15producing correct sentences, it is also
1:02:18about responding appropriately.
1:02:20When someone shares good news, react
1:02:23positively.
1:02:24When someone describes a difficult
1:02:26experience, show understanding.
1:02:30When someone asks for information,
1:02:32answer clearly.
1:02:34When you do not understand, ask for
1:02:36clarification.
1:02:38These habits make your English sound
1:02:40much more natural.
1:02:42Let's review several expressions in a
1:02:45smooth sequence.
1:02:46"Do you have a minute?"
1:02:49"I'm in the middle of something right
1:02:50now. I'm on track to finish today. I'm
1:02:53running a little behind. I'll do my
1:02:55best. Could you take a quick look at
1:02:57this?" "Let me check and get back to
1:03:00you. I see your point. That makes sense.
1:03:03I've had this problem for a few days.
1:03:06I'm still having the same issue.
1:03:09It was supposed to arrive yesterday.
1:03:11That must have been frustrating. That
1:03:13sounds great. These are the kinds of
1:03:16expressions that allow you to
1:03:17participate in real conversations
1:03:19instead of translating every thought
1:03:22word by word. The goal is to make these
1:03:24phrases automatic. When someone asks you
1:03:27for an update, you want expressions
1:03:30like, "I'm almost done." "I'm making
1:03:33good progress." and "I'm running a
1:03:36little behind." to come to mind
1:03:38naturally.
1:03:39When there is a problem, you want
1:03:42phrases like, "I'm still having the same
1:03:44issue." "Could you take a look?" and
1:03:48"Let me know what I should do next." to
1:03:50feel automatic as well.
1:03:53When you are having a social
1:03:54conversation, you want reactions like,
1:03:57"That sounds great." "That must have
1:04:00been difficult." and "How did it go?" to
1:04:03feel easy.
1:04:05Continue practicing these complete
1:04:07phrases aloud. Do not worry about
1:04:10speaking extremely fast. A comfortable,
1:04:13natural rhythm is more important. Listen
1:04:16to the sentence. Understand the
1:04:18situation. Repeat the sentence. And then
1:04:22imagine yourself using it in a real
1:04:24conversation.
1:04:25The more often you practice English in
1:04:27realistic situations, the easier it
1:04:30becomes to respond without stopping to
1:04:32translate every sentence in your head.
1:04:35Now, let's continue with another
1:04:38situation that appears constantly in
1:04:40everyday life. Talking with friends,
1:04:43neighbors, co-workers, and other people
1:04:47about plans, preferences, opinions, and
1:04:50decisions.
1:04:52At an intermediate level, it is
1:04:54important to move beyond simple answers
1:04:57like, yes, no, good, or bad.
1:05:01You want to give a reason, add a detail,
1:05:04and sometimes ask a follow-up question.
1:05:07For example,
1:05:08if someone asks, "Do you like living in
1:05:11this neighborhood? You could say, "Yeah,
1:05:14I do. It's pretty quiet and everything I
1:05:17need is within walking distance. The
1:05:20only downside is that parking can be
1:05:22difficult."
1:05:24This answer sounds natural because you
1:05:26give both a positive point and a small
1:05:28negative point.
1:05:30The expression the only downside is is
1:05:33very useful when you want to mention a
1:05:35disadvantage.
1:05:37You can say,
1:05:38"The apartment is great.
1:05:40The only downside is that the kitchen is
1:05:42pretty small.
1:05:44I really like working from home.
1:05:46The only downside is that I sometimes
1:05:48miss talking to people in person. The
1:05:51restaurant was excellent. The only
1:05:53downside was the long wait." A similar
1:05:56expression is the good thing is. For
1:05:59example, "The commute is long, but the
1:06:02good thing is that I can work from home
1:06:04twice a week." Repeat after me. "The
1:06:08only downside is the long commute. The
1:06:11good thing is that it's close to work.
1:06:13Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. It
1:06:16depends on what you're looking for."
1:06:19These phrases are useful when giving
1:06:21balanced opinions. Imagine a friend is
1:06:23thinking about moving to a new
1:06:25neighborhood and asks,
1:06:27"What do you think of this area?" You
1:06:29could say, "I like it. It's safe. There
1:06:33are plenty of restaurants nearby and
1:06:36public transportation is convenient. It
1:06:38can get noisy on weekends,
1:06:40though." Notice the word though at the
1:06:43end of the sentence. In everyday
1:06:45conversation, people often use though to
1:06:49add a contrasting idea.
1:06:51"The apartment is small. It's really
1:06:53affordable, though.
1:06:55The restaurant was crowded. The food was
1:06:57great, though.
1:06:59The drive took a long time. The scenery
1:07:01was beautiful, though."
1:07:03Let's practice. "It's a little
1:07:05expensive. The location is great,
1:07:08though. The room is small. It's
1:07:11comfortable,
1:07:12though.
1:07:13It was a difficult week. I learned a
1:07:15lot, though. Adding though in this way
1:07:19can make your spoken English sound much
1:07:21more natural. Now, imagine a friend asks
1:07:25you for advice. They say, "I'm thinking
1:07:28about joining a gym, but I'm not sure if
1:07:30I'll actually go." You might answer,
1:07:34"Maybe you could start with a monthly
1:07:35membership instead of signing up for a
1:07:37whole year." Your friend says, "That's a
1:07:40good idea. I don't want to commit to
1:07:42something if I'm not going to use it."
1:07:45You respond, "Exactly. Try it for a
1:07:47month and see how you feel." Notice the
1:07:50phrase "maybe you could." It is a gentle
1:07:53way to give advice.
1:07:55"Maybe you could talk to your manager.
1:07:57Maybe you could try going earlier.
1:08:00Maybe you could compare a few options
1:08:02first. Maybe you could ask them for more
1:08:05information." This sounds friendlier
1:08:07than giving a direct command. Another
1:08:10useful phrase is, "If I were you, I'd"
1:08:14You can say, "If I were you, I'd call
1:08:17them before going there.
1:08:19If I were you, I'd give yourself a
1:08:21little more time.
1:08:23If I were you, I'd wait until tomorrow."
1:08:26This expression is common when offering
1:08:29personal advice, but remember that
1:08:31advice often sounds better when it is
1:08:34gentle rather than too strong. Practice.
1:08:37"Maybe you could try a different
1:08:39approach.
1:08:40If I were you, I'd call first. It might
1:08:43be worth checking. You could always
1:08:46ask." The phrase "it might be worth" is
1:08:49especially useful. It means that
1:08:52something may be useful enough to try.
1:08:55"It might be worth asking for a
1:08:56discount.
1:08:58It might be worth checking another
1:08:59store. It might be worth getting a
1:09:02second opinion. Now, let's move into
1:09:05conversations about household
1:09:07responsibilities.
1:09:09These conversations may seem simple, but
1:09:11they include many useful phrases.
1:09:14Imagine someone at home says, "Could you
1:09:17take out the trash when you get a
1:09:18chance?"
1:09:20You respond, "Sure, I'll do it in a
1:09:22minute."
1:09:23Later, someone asks, "Did you remember
1:09:26to run the dishwasher?" You say, "Not
1:09:29yet. I was going to do it after dinner."
1:09:32The phrase "I was going to" describes
1:09:35something you intended to do. For
1:09:38example, "I was going to call you this
1:09:40afternoon.
1:09:41I was going to clean the kitchen after
1:09:43lunch. I was going to stop at the store
1:09:46on the way home.
1:09:47I was going to ask you the same thing."
1:09:50This pattern is extremely common in
1:09:52everyday conversations.
1:09:54Imagine this exchange. "Are we out of
1:09:57coffee?"
1:09:58"Almost. There's enough for tomorrow
1:10:00morning."
1:10:01"Okay, I'll pick some up after work.
1:10:04Could you get some milk, too?" "Sure.
1:10:07Anything else?"
1:10:08"I think that's it." "Okay. Send me a
1:10:11message if you remember anything." This
1:10:13conversation contains several simple
1:10:15expressions that you can use constantly.
1:10:18"Are we out of I'll pick some up.
1:10:21Anything else?
1:10:22I think that's it."
1:10:24To be out of something means that you
1:10:26have no more of it.
1:10:28"We're out of milk. I'm almost out of
1:10:30shampoo.
1:10:32Are we out of paper towels?
1:10:34The store is out of my usual brand."
1:10:37Notice the difference between "We're out
1:10:39of coffee" and "We're almost out of
1:10:41coffee."
1:10:43The second means there is still a little
1:10:45left. Repeat. "We're almost out of milk.
1:10:49I'll pick some up later.
1:10:51Anything else? I think that's it.
1:10:54Send me a message if you remember
1:10:56anything." Now,
1:10:58imagine you share an apartment with
1:11:00someone and you want to discuss chores
1:11:02politely. You could say,
1:11:05"Hey, could we talk about the cleaning
1:11:07schedule for a minute?" The other person
1:11:09says, "Sure, what's going on?" You say,
1:11:14"I've noticed that the kitchen has been
1:11:15getting pretty messy lately. Could we
1:11:18take turns cleaning it?" This is a calm
1:11:20way to raise a small problem. The
1:11:22phrase, "I've noticed that,"
1:11:25can help you discuss something without
1:11:27sounding too accusatory.
1:11:29"I've noticed that the door doesn't
1:11:31close properly.
1:11:33I've noticed that we're spending more on
1:11:35groceries lately.
1:11:37I've noticed that the internet gets
1:11:38slower at night."
1:11:40You describe what you have observed
1:11:42instead of immediately blaming another
1:11:44person.
1:11:45Suppose your roommate responds, "Yeah,
1:11:48that's fair. I've been really busy this
1:11:51week, but I can clean it tonight." You
1:11:53say, "Thanks. I can take care of it next
1:11:56time." Take care of can mean handle or
1:11:59complete something.
1:12:01"I'll take care of the dishes. Can you
1:12:03take care of the laundry?"
1:12:05"Don't worry about the reservation. I'll
1:12:07take care of it."
1:12:09Now, let's move into conversations with
1:12:12neighbors. Imagine you recently moved
1:12:14into an apartment building and meet
1:12:17someone in the hallway.
1:12:18They say, "Hi, I don't think we've met.
1:12:22I'm Jason. I live across the hall."
1:12:25You respond, "Nice to meet you.
1:12:28Jason, I'm Emma. I just moved in last
1:12:32week." Jason says, "Oh, welcome to the
1:12:36building. How are you liking it so far?"
1:12:39You answer, "So far, so good. Everyone
1:12:44has been really friendly." The phrase,
1:12:46"So far, so good," means that things
1:12:49have gone well until now. You can use it
1:12:52in many situations.
1:12:54Someone asks, "How's the new job?" So
1:12:57far, so good. Someone asks, "How's your
1:13:00trip going?" So far, so good. Someone
1:13:03asks, "How's the new laptop working?" So
1:13:06far, so good. Imagine the neighbor says,
1:13:10"Let me know if you need anything." You
1:13:12can respond, "Thanks. I appreciate
1:13:15that." Later,
1:13:18you might need help. You could say,
1:13:20"Hey, sorry to bother you, but do you
1:13:23know what day they pick up the
1:13:24recycling?" The phrase "Sorry to bother
1:13:27you" is useful when you are asking
1:13:29someone for help or interrupting them
1:13:31briefly.
1:13:32Practice. "Sorry to bother you, but
1:13:35could I ask you something?
1:13:37Do you know what day they pick up the
1:13:38trash?
1:13:39Thanks. I appreciate it.
1:13:42Let me know if you need anything.
1:13:44So far, so good.
1:13:46Now, let's practice conversations around
1:13:49invitations.
1:13:51Imagine a co-worker says,
1:13:53"A few of us are getting dinner after
1:13:55work on Friday. Do you want to join us?"
1:13:58You could answer,
1:14:00"That sounds fun. What time are you
1:14:02going?"
1:14:03If you want to accept, you might say,
1:14:05"Yeah, count me in."
1:14:08Count me in means you would like to
1:14:09participate. If you cannot attend, you
1:14:12can say, "Thanks for inviting me, but I
1:14:15already have plans Friday night." You
1:14:18could also say, "I'm not sure yet.
1:14:21Can I let you know tomorrow?"
1:14:23That is a very natural response if you
1:14:25need time to decide. The person might
1:14:28say, "Sure, no problem." Then you can
1:14:31say, "Thanks. I just need to check my
1:14:34schedule." Repeat. Count me in.
1:14:38Thanks for inviting me. I already have
1:14:41plans.
1:14:42Can I let you know tomorrow?
1:14:44I just need to check my schedule.
1:14:47These phrases are useful for invitations
1:14:49to dinners, parties, meetings, events,
1:14:54trips, and many other activities.
1:14:57Now, imagine that you invited someone to
1:15:00your home.
1:15:01You might say, "Come over around 7:00.
1:15:04We'll probably eat around 7:30."
1:15:07Your friend says,
1:15:09"Should I bring anything?" You respond,
1:15:11"You don't have to,
1:15:13but you can bring something to drink if
1:15:15you want." Your friend says, "Sounds
1:15:18good.
1:15:19Do you need me to pick anything up on
1:15:20the way?" You answer, "Actually, if you
1:15:24don't mind, could you grab a bag of
1:15:26ice?" Your friend says, "Sure. No
1:15:30problem."
1:15:31Notice the expression, "If you don't
1:15:33mind."
1:15:35It makes a request softer.
1:15:37"If you don't mind, could you close the
1:15:39window?"
1:15:40"If you don't mind, could you send that
1:15:42to me again?"
1:15:44"If you don't mind, could we sit
1:15:45somewhere quieter?"
1:15:47These are natural polite requests.
1:15:50Now, let's talk about making decisions
1:15:52with another person.
1:15:54Imagine you and a friend are deciding
1:15:56where to eat. You say, "What are you in
1:15:59the mood for?" This means, "What kind of
1:16:02food do you feel like eating?" Your
1:16:04friend says, "I'm not sure. Maybe
1:16:07Mexican food?" You reply, "That works
1:16:10for me. There's a place nearby that I've
1:16:13been wanting to try." Your friend says,
1:16:16"Okay.
1:16:17Let's go there."
1:16:18The expression, "I've been wanting to"
1:16:21means you have wanted to do something
1:16:23for some time.
1:16:25"I've been wanting to try that
1:16:26restaurant." "I've been wanting to watch
1:16:29that movie."
1:16:30"I've been wanting to visit Seattle."
1:16:33"I've been wanting to ask you about
1:16:35that." This is very common in
1:16:37conversation. Imagine your friend says,
1:16:40"Actually, that restaurant looks pretty
1:16:43expensive."
1:16:44You answer, "You're right. We could go
1:16:47somewhere more casual."
1:16:49Your friend says, "How about the taco
1:16:52place on Main Street?"
1:16:54You respond, "Yeah, I'm good with that.
1:16:57I'm good with that." Means the
1:16:59suggestion is acceptable to you.
1:17:02Practice. What are you in the mood for?
1:17:04I've been wanting to try that place. We
1:17:07could go somewhere more casual. I'm good
1:17:09with that. Let's go with that option.
1:17:12Now, let's move into talking about
1:17:14preferences. Someone might ask, "Do you
1:17:17prefer working in the morning or at
1:17:19night?"
1:17:20Instead of just saying morning, you can
1:17:22give a fuller answer.
1:17:24"Definitely in the morning. I can focus
1:17:27much better before lunch.
1:17:29And I usually have more energy."
1:17:32Another person might say,
1:17:34"I'm more of a night person.
1:17:36I tend to get more done when everything
1:17:38is quiet." The phrase "I'm more of a"
1:17:41helps describe your preference or
1:17:43personality. "I'm more of a coffee
1:17:45person. I'm more of a morning person.
1:17:48I'm more of a stay-at-home person. I'm
1:17:51more of a planner."
1:17:52You can also compare options by saying,
1:17:55"I'd rather."
1:17:56For example,
1:17:58"I'd rather cook at home tonight. I'd
1:18:00rather take the train than drive.
1:18:03I'd rather go early and avoid the
1:18:05crowds."
1:18:06Remember that "I'd rather" is followed
1:18:09by the basic form of the verb. "I'd
1:18:11rather stay home.
1:18:13I'd rather wait.
1:18:15I'd rather call them first."
1:18:17This is a natural and useful structure
1:18:19for everyday preferences.
1:18:22Repeat. "I'd rather stay home tonight.
1:18:25I'd rather take the train. I'm more of a
1:18:28morning person. I prefer something a
1:18:30little quieter.
1:18:32Either option works for me."
1:18:34Now, let's talk about conversations when
1:18:36something goes wrong at home. Imagine
1:18:39your kitchen sink is leaking. You call
1:18:41your landlord or building manager and
1:18:43say,
1:18:44"Hi,
1:18:46I'm calling because there seems to be a
1:18:47leak under my kitchen sink." The manager
1:18:50asks, "When did you notice it?"
1:18:53You say, "I noticed it this morning, but
1:18:56it seems to be getting worse." The
1:18:59manager asks, "Is there a lot of water?"
1:19:02You answer, "Not a huge amount, but I've
1:19:05put a towel underneath it for now." The
1:19:08phrase there seems to be is useful when
1:19:11you notice a problem, but are not
1:19:13completely sure what is causing it.
1:19:16There seems to be a problem with the
1:19:17heater.
1:19:18There seems to be a mistake on my bill.
1:19:21There seems to be something wrong with
1:19:23the lock.
1:19:24This sounds natural and professional.
1:19:27The manager says, "I can have someone
1:19:30come by this afternoon."
1:19:32You ask, "Do you know around what time?"
1:19:35The manager says, "Probably between 2:00
1:19:38and 4:00."
1:19:39You respond, "Okay, that works. I'll be
1:19:43home."
1:19:44If you cannot be there, you could say,
1:19:47"I won't be home then. Is there another
1:19:50time available?" Now,
1:19:53imagine your air conditioner stops
1:19:55working on a hot day. You call and say,
1:19:58"Hi, my air conditioner doesn't seem to
1:20:01be working. It turns on,
1:20:04but it isn't cooling the apartment." The
1:20:06manager says, "Have you checked the
1:20:08thermostat?" You say,
1:20:11"Yes, I have. Everything looks normal."
1:20:15The manager responds,
1:20:17"Okay, I'll send someone to take a
1:20:19look." You say, "Thanks, I'd really
1:20:22appreciate that." Practice. There seems
1:20:26to be a problem with the air
1:20:27conditioner. It turns on, but it isn't
1:20:30cooling the room. Could you send someone
1:20:32to take a look? Do you know around what
1:20:35time they'll come?
1:20:36I'd really appreciate that. Now, let's
1:20:39move into conversations about money and
1:20:41everyday payments.
1:20:43Imagine you are at a store and your card
1:20:45is declined. The cashier says, "I'm
1:20:48sorry, but this card didn't go through."
1:20:51You could respond calmly,
1:20:53"That's strange. Could you try it one
1:20:56more time?"
1:20:57If it still does not work, you can say,
1:21:00"No problem. Let me use a different
1:21:02card."
1:21:03The phrase didn't go through is commonly
1:21:06used when a payment or transaction is
1:21:08not successfully processed. My payment
1:21:11didn't go through. The online order
1:21:14didn't go through. I tried to send the
1:21:16payment, but it didn't go through.
1:21:19Now,
1:21:20imagine you are splitting a bill with
1:21:22friends. Someone says,
1:21:25"How much do I owe you?"
1:21:26You say, "Your part was about $25."
1:21:30The person says,
1:21:32"Can I send it to you later?"
1:21:34You respond, "Sure. No rush."
1:21:38No rush means there is no need to hurry.
1:21:41You can use this in many situations.
1:21:44Send it when you have time. No rush.
1:21:47You can return the book next week. No
1:21:50rush.
1:21:51Now, imagine you realize you
1:21:53accidentally paid for something twice.
1:21:56You contact customer service and say,
1:21:59"Hi. I think I was charged twice for the
1:22:01same purchase."
1:22:03The representative says,
1:22:05"Let me check that for you." You reply,
1:22:08"Thanks. I can see two identical charges
1:22:11on my account." The representative says,
1:22:14"You're right. One of them should
1:22:16disappear within a few business days."
1:22:19You could ask, "Do I need to do anything
1:22:22on my end?" This means, "Is there
1:22:24anything I need to do myself?"
1:22:27Repeat. I think I was charged twice.
1:22:30Could you check that for me?
1:22:32Do I need to do anything on my end? How
1:22:35long should that take? Okay, thanks for
1:22:37clearing that up. The phrase thanks for
1:22:40clearing that up means thank you for
1:22:42explaining something that was confusing.
1:22:45Now,
1:22:46let's practice telling a short story
1:22:48about something that happened during
1:22:49your day. Storytelling is a very
1:22:52important part of everyday conversation.
1:22:55You do not need to tell a dramatic
1:22:57story. Even simple events can become
1:23:00natural conversation practice.
1:23:02Imagine someone asks, "How was your
1:23:05morning?"
1:23:06You could say, "It was a little chaotic,
1:23:09actually.
1:23:10I left home later than usual, and then I
1:23:13realized I had forgotten my wallet.
1:23:15I had to turn around and go back for it.
1:23:18So, I ended up missing my usual train.
1:23:21Luckily, the next one came about 10
1:23:24minutes later, and I still made it to
1:23:26work on time." Notice the expressions
1:23:29later than usual, I had to turn around,
1:23:33I ended up, and luckily.
1:23:36These help connect your story.
1:23:38I ended up is particularly useful when
1:23:41describing the final result of a
1:23:43situation.
1:23:45We couldn't find a table, so we ended up
1:23:47eating somewhere else.
1:23:49It started raining,
1:23:51so we ended up staying home.
1:23:54I missed the bus, so I ended up taking a
1:23:56taxi. Let's practice.
1:23:59I ended up taking a taxi. We ended up
1:24:02staying home. I ended up buying the
1:24:05cheaper one. Luckily, everything worked
1:24:08out. The phrase worked out means the
1:24:11situation ended successfully. It was
1:24:14stressful at first, but everything
1:24:17worked out. We had a few problems, but
1:24:20it all worked out in the end. Now,
1:24:23imagine your friend tells you, "I had
1:24:25the worst morning. My alarm didn't go
1:24:28off. I spilled coffee on my shirt, and
1:24:32then my car wouldn't start." A natural
1:24:34response might be, "Wow, that sounds
1:24:38like a rough morning. Were you able to
1:24:40get your car started?" Your friend says,
1:24:43"Eventually, my neighbor helped me." You
1:24:47respond, "At least it worked out." At
1:24:50least can help you mention a positive
1:24:52side of a difficult situation. The
1:24:55flight was delayed, but at least it
1:24:57wasn't canceled. The restaurant was
1:24:59crowded, but at least we got a table. I
1:25:03lost my umbrella, but at least it wasn't
1:25:05expensive. Use it when you want to
1:25:07recognize something positive, even
1:25:10though the overall situation was not
1:25:12ideal. Repeat, "At least everything
1:25:15worked out. At least we got there
1:25:17safely. At least it wasn't canceled."
1:25:20That sounds like a rough morning.
1:25:23What happened after that?
1:25:25Now, let's do a longer speaking
1:25:27practice. Imagine a friend asks what you
1:25:30did yesterday. Listen to this natural
1:25:33answer. Yesterday was pretty busy. I had
1:25:37a few errands to run in the morning. So,
1:25:39I went to the grocery store, stopped by
1:25:42the pharmacy,
1:25:43and picked up a package. One after that,
1:25:47I met a friend for lunch. We hadn't seen
1:25:49each other in a few weeks. So, we spent
1:25:52a couple of hours catching up. Later, I
1:25:55went home, finished some work, and made
1:25:58dinner. Nothing too exciting, but it was
1:26:01a productive day.
1:26:03Repeat it in smaller thought groups.
1:26:06Yesterday was pretty busy. I had a few
1:26:09errands to run in the morning. I went to
1:26:11the grocery store, stopped by the
1:26:13pharmacy, and picked up a package. After
1:26:16that, I met a friend for lunch. We spent
1:26:19a couple of hours catching up. Nothing
1:26:22too exciting, but it was a productive
1:26:24day.
1:26:25The phrase I had a few errands to run is
1:26:28very useful.
1:26:29An errand is a short trip you make to
1:26:32complete a practical task, such as going
1:26:34to the bank, grocery store, pharmacy,
1:26:38post office, or dry cleaner.
1:26:41You can say, "I have a few errands to
1:26:44run after work." "I spent the morning
1:26:46running errands." "I need to run a quick
1:26:49errand before lunch." Now, let's try
1:26:52another speaking situation. Imagine
1:26:55someone asks why you are tired today.
1:26:57You can say, "I didn't sleep very well
1:27:00last night. I stayed up later than I
1:27:02planned, and then I had to get up early
1:27:05this morning." Repeat. "I didn't sleep
1:27:08very well last night. I stayed up later
1:27:10than I planned, and then I had to get up
1:27:13early this morning."
1:27:14Imagine someone asks whether you enjoyed
1:27:17a new restaurant. Say, "Yeah, I liked it
1:27:20overall. The food was great, and the
1:27:23service was really friendly.
1:27:25The only downside was that it was pretty
1:27:28noisy." Repeat. "Yeah,
1:27:31I liked it overall.
1:27:33The food was great, and the service was
1:27:35really friendly.
1:27:36The only downside was that it was pretty
1:27:38noisy."
1:27:39Imagine a friend asks for advice about
1:27:42buying a laptop. You could say, "If I
1:27:45were you, I'd compare a few different
1:27:47models before deciding.
1:27:49It might also be worth reading some
1:27:51reviews."
1:27:53Repeat. "If I were you, I'd compare a
1:27:56few different models before deciding.
1:27:59It might also be worth reading some
1:28:01reviews."
1:28:03Now, imagine that something in your
1:28:05apartment needs to be repaired. Say,
1:28:09"There seems to be a problem with the
1:28:10kitchen sink.
1:28:12It started leaking this morning,
1:28:14and it seems to be getting worse.
1:28:17Repeat. There seems to be a problem with
1:28:20the kitchen sink. It started leaking
1:28:22this morning, and it seems to be getting
1:28:24worse.
1:28:26And imagine someone asks about your
1:28:28plans for tonight.
1:28:29You can answer,
1:28:31I haven't decided yet. I might stay home
1:28:34and relax,
1:28:36but a friend invited me out for dinner,
1:28:38so I'm still thinking about it. Repeat.
1:28:41I haven't decided yet. I might stay home
1:28:44and relax, but a friend invited me out
1:28:46for dinner, so I'm still thinking about
1:28:49it. Notice how these answers are longer
1:28:51than beginner-level responses, but they
1:28:54are still clear and manageable.
1:28:56Intermediate English is not about using
1:28:58the most difficult vocabulary you know.
1:29:01It is about expressing complete thoughts
1:29:03naturally.
1:29:05You want to connect ideas with phrases
1:29:07like but, so, because, even though,
1:29:11actually, overall, at least, in the end,
1:29:16and the only downside is
1:29:19These small connecting expressions make
1:29:21a big difference in fluency. Let's
1:29:24practice a few connected thoughts.
1:29:26I wanted to go out, but I was too tired,
1:29:29so I stayed home. The restaurant was
1:29:32expensive, but the food was excellent. I
1:29:35was running late because traffic was
1:29:37worse than usual.
1:29:39Even though it was raining, we decided
1:29:41to go for a walk. I wasn't sure at
1:29:43first, but in the end, I decided to go.
1:29:46The trip was tiring, but overall, I
1:29:49really enjoyed it.
1:29:50Say them again slowly and naturally. I
1:29:53wanted to go out, but I was too tired,
1:29:56so I stayed home. I was running late
1:29:59because traffic was worse than usual.
1:30:02I wasn't sure at first, but in the end,
1:30:05I decided to go.
1:30:07These thought groups can help you speak
1:30:09more smoothly because you are organizing
1:30:12your ideas instead of trying to produce
1:30:15one long sentence all at once.
1:30:17Before we continue remember several
1:30:20expressions from this practice.
1:30:23The only downside is it might be worth
1:30:25checking.
1:30:27I was going to
1:30:28we're almost out of
1:30:30I'll take care of it. So far, so good.
1:30:34Count me in.
1:30:35If you don't mind what are you in the
1:30:37mood for?
1:30:39I've been wanting to I'd rather
1:30:42there seems to be a problem.
1:30:44It didn't go through.
1:30:45I ended up at least
1:30:48and
1:30:49I have a few errands to run.
1:30:52Do not try to memorize them as isolated
1:30:54pieces of vocabulary.
1:30:56Connect each expression with a
1:30:58situation.
1:31:00Imagine your refrigerator is almost
1:31:02empty.
1:31:03We're almost out of milk.
1:31:05Imagine a friend invites you somewhere.
1:31:08Count me in.
1:31:09Imagine someone asks you to choose
1:31:11between driving and taking the train.
1:31:14I'd rather take the train.
1:31:16Imagine a payment fails. It didn't go
1:31:19through.
1:31:20Imagine your plans change unexpectedly.
1:31:23I ended up staying home. When the phrase
1:31:26is connected to a realistic moment your
1:31:29brain has a reason to remember it.
1:31:31Keep listening carefully repeating aloud
1:31:34and practicing complete thoughts. Every
1:31:37time you repeat a useful sentence in
1:31:39context you are training yourself to
1:31:42respond more naturally. Over time these
1:31:45expressions stop feeling like something
1:31:47you studied and start feeling like
1:31:49something you simply know how to say.
1:31:52Now let's continue with another
1:31:54important part of real English
1:31:56conversation.
1:31:58Handling unexpected situations and
1:32:00solving small everyday problems.
1:32:03These moments are especially useful for
1:32:05intermediate learners because they
1:32:07require you to explain what happened,
1:32:10ask questions, suggest solutions,
1:32:14and respond naturally when things do not
1:32:16go as planned.
1:32:18Imagine you are at a coffee shop and
1:32:20realize that you received the wrong
1:32:21drink. You could say,
1:32:24"Excuse me,
1:32:25I think there may have been a mix-up. I
1:32:28ordered an iced latte, but I think this
1:32:31is a regular coffee."
1:32:33The employee says, "Oh,
1:32:36I'm sorry about that.
1:32:38Let me remake it for you." You respond,
1:32:41"No problem. Thank you." Notice the
1:32:43expression, "There may have been a
1:32:45mix-up." A mix-up is a small mistake or
1:32:49confusion. This phrase is useful when
1:32:51you want to point out a problem
1:32:53politely. You could say, "I think there
1:32:56may have been a mix-up with my order.
1:32:58There seems to have been a mix-up with
1:33:00the reservation.
1:33:02I think there was a mix-up with the
1:33:03schedule."
1:33:05This is a softer way to explain that
1:33:07something went wrong without immediately
1:33:09blaming someone.
1:33:10Practice. "I think there may have been a
1:33:13mix-up. I ordered something different.
1:33:16Would you mind checking? No problem.
1:33:19Thank you for fixing it."
1:33:21Now, imagine you arrive at a hotel and
1:33:24the room is not what you expected. You
1:33:27say, "Hi, I just checked into my room,
1:33:30but I think there might be a problem
1:33:32with the reservation." The employee
1:33:34asks, "What seems to be the issue?"
1:33:37You answer, "I booked a room with two
1:33:40beds, but the room I was given only has
1:33:43one." The employee says, "Let me take a
1:33:46look at your reservation." You respond,
1:33:50"Sure. I have the confirmation email if
1:33:52that helps." The phrase, "if that
1:33:55helps," is very useful when you are
1:33:57offering additional information.
1:34:00I have a receipt, if that helps. I can
1:34:03show you the email, if that helps. I
1:34:06have a picture of the problem, if that
1:34:08helps. It is a polite way to offer
1:34:11something that may make the situation
1:34:13easier to solve. Now, imagine the
1:34:16employee says, "I see the problem. We
1:34:19can move you to another room, but it
1:34:21won't be ready for about 30 minutes."
1:34:24You might say,
1:34:25"That's okay. Is there somewhere I can
1:34:28leave my luggage while I wait?" The
1:34:30employee says, "Absolutely. We can keep
1:34:33it at the front desk." You answer,
1:34:36"Great. I appreciate your help." Notice
1:34:39how the conversation remains calm and
1:34:41solution-focused.
1:34:43In real life, speaking clearly and
1:34:46politely often makes it easier to solve
1:34:48a problem. Now, let's talk about losing
1:34:52something. Imagine you are at a gym and
1:34:54cannot find your keys. You approach the
1:34:57front desk and say, "Hi. I think I may
1:35:01have lost my keys somewhere in the gym.
1:35:04Has anyone turned in a set of keys?"
1:35:06The employee says, "What do they look
1:35:09like?" You answer,
1:35:11"There are three keys on a black key
1:35:13chain, and there's a small blue tag
1:35:15attached."
1:35:17The employee checks and says, "Yes,
1:35:20someone turned them in about 10 minutes
1:35:22ago." You respond, "That's such a
1:35:25relief. Thank you so much." The phrase
1:35:28has anyone turned in means has anyone
1:35:32found something and brought it to the
1:35:33staff.
1:35:34You can say, "Has anyone turned in a
1:35:37wallet? Has anyone turned in a phone?
1:35:40Has anyone turned in a pair of glasses?"
1:35:43This is a very useful phrase when you
1:35:46lose something in a public place.
1:35:48Now, suppose the item has not been
1:35:50found. The employee says, "No one has
1:35:54turned anything in yet, but you can
1:35:56leave your contact information." You
1:35:59respond, "Okay. Could you call me if
1:36:02someone finds them?" The employee says,
1:36:05"Of course." You say, "Thanks. I'll
1:36:08check again later." Practice.
1:36:11I think I may have lost my keys.
1:36:14Has anyone turned them in?
1:36:16What do they look like?
1:36:18Could you call me if someone finds them?
1:36:20That's such a relief. Now, let's move
1:36:23into conversations about transportation
1:36:26problems.
1:36:27Imagine your car will not start.
1:36:30You call a roadside assistance company
1:36:32and say,
1:36:33"Hi, my car won't start and I'm not sure
1:36:36what the problem is." The representative
1:36:38asks, "Where are you located?" You
1:36:41answer, "I'm in a parking lot near Pine
1:36:43Street and 5th Avenue." The
1:36:45representative asks, "Do you think the
1:36:48battery might be dead?" You say,
1:36:50"Possibly. The lights come on,
1:36:53but the engine won't start." The
1:36:55representative says, "We can send
1:36:57someone to take a look. It may take
1:37:00about 45 minutes." You respond, "That's
1:37:04fine. Is there anything I should do
1:37:06while I'm waiting?" They say, "Just stay
1:37:09somewhere safe and keep your phone
1:37:11nearby." You answer, "Okay. Thank you."
1:37:15Notice the phrase, "I'm not sure what
1:37:18the problem is."
1:37:19This is useful when you know something
1:37:21is wrong, but do not know the cause.
1:37:24My laptop won't turn on, and I'm not
1:37:27sure what the problem is.
1:37:28The washing machine stopped working, but
1:37:31I'm not sure what the problem is. The
1:37:33payment keeps failing, and I'm not sure
1:37:36why.
1:37:37Now, imagine you are at a train station
1:37:40and suddenly hear that your platform has
1:37:42changed. You are not sure whether you
1:37:44heard the announcement correctly.
1:37:47You can ask, "Excuse me, did they just
1:37:50say that the train to Boston is leaving
1:37:52from platform six?" Someone responds,
1:37:55"Yes, they changed it from platform
1:37:58three."
1:37:59You say, "Okay, thanks. I wanted to make
1:38:02sure I heard correctly." The phrase, "I
1:38:05wanted to make sure" is useful whenever
1:38:08you are checking information. "I wanted
1:38:10to make sure the appointment is still at
1:38:12two. I wanted to make sure you received
1:38:15my email. I wanted to make sure this is
1:38:18the right address."
1:38:19"I wanted to make sure I understood the
1:38:21instructions."
1:38:23Repeat. "I wanted to make sure I heard
1:38:25correctly."
1:38:27"Did they change the platform?"
1:38:29"Is this still the right train?"
1:38:31"Thanks."
1:38:32"I just wanted to make sure."
1:38:34Now, let's talk about asking strangers
1:38:37for small favors.
1:38:38This is common when traveling, shopping,
1:38:41or spending time in public places.
1:38:44Imagine you are visiting a tourist
1:38:46attraction and want someone to take a
1:38:49photo for you.
1:38:50You might say, "Excuse me,
1:38:53would you mind taking a quick photo for
1:38:55me?"
1:38:56The person says, "Sure."
1:38:59You hand them your phone and say, "Thank
1:39:02you. Just press this button here."
1:39:05After they take the picture, you say,
1:39:08"That looks great. Thanks so much."
1:39:11The phrase, "Would you mind?" is one of
1:39:13the most useful polite structures in
1:39:15English. "Would you mind taking a
1:39:17picture? Would you mind moving your bag?
1:39:20Would you mind watching my seat for a
1:39:22minute? Would you mind closing the
1:39:24door?"
1:39:26It sounds polite and natural. Remember
1:39:28that when someone asks, "Would you
1:39:31mind?" and you are happy to help, you
1:39:34can answer,
1:39:35"Not at all."
1:39:36"Of course."
1:39:38or "Sure."
1:39:39For example,
1:39:41"Would you mind taking a photo?
1:39:43Not at all.
1:39:45This can sometimes confuse learners
1:39:46because
1:39:48not at all sounds negative,
1:39:51but here it means I do not mind.
1:39:54Practice.
1:39:55Would you mind taking a quick photo for
1:39:57me?
1:39:58Not at all.
1:40:00Thank you. I really appreciate it. Would
1:40:03you mind watching my bag for a minute?
1:40:05Sure. No problem.
1:40:08Now,
1:40:09imagine you are walking in an unfamiliar
1:40:11area and want to ask whether a road is
1:40:14safe. You might say,
1:40:17Excuse me. I'm trying to get to the
1:40:19train station. Is it okay to walk there
1:40:21from here?
1:40:22The person says,
1:40:24During the day, yes,
1:40:26but I'd avoid that street at night. You
1:40:28ask, Is there another route you'd
1:40:31recommend?
1:40:32They say,
1:40:33You can take Oak Avenue. It's a little
1:40:36longer, but it's busier and better lit.
1:40:39You respond, That sounds better. Thanks
1:40:42for the advice. Notice the phrase I'd
1:40:45avoid. It is useful for giving
1:40:48recommendations about something that may
1:40:50not be a good idea. I'd avoid driving
1:40:53downtown during rush hour.
1:40:55I'd avoid that restaurant on Friday
1:40:57nights because it gets extremely
1:40:59crowded. I'd avoid taking that road
1:41:01because there's construction.
1:41:04Now, let's practice talking about events
1:41:06and reservations.
1:41:08Imagine you want to attend a local
1:41:10event. You call and say, Hi. I'm calling
1:41:14to ask whether there are still tickets
1:41:16available for Saturday evening. The
1:41:19employee says, Yes,
1:41:22we still have a few seats available. You
1:41:24ask, Great. What time does the event
1:41:28start? They answer,
1:41:30It starts at 7:30, but doors open at
1:41:337:00.
1:41:34You ask, Do I need to arrive early?"
1:41:37They say, "We recommend arriving about
1:41:4020 minutes before the start." You
1:41:42respond, "Perfect. I'd like to book two
1:41:45tickets."
1:41:47If there are no tickets left, you might
1:41:49hear,
1:41:50"Unfortunately, Saturday is sold out."
1:41:53You could ask, "Are there any tickets
1:41:55available on Sunday?" or "Is there a
1:41:58waiting list?"
1:42:00The phrase sold out means that all
1:42:02tickets or available items have already
1:42:04been sold.
1:42:06You can use sold out in many situations.
1:42:09The concert is sold out. That show sold
1:42:12out in a few hours.
1:42:14The morning tour is sold out, but there
1:42:16are still spots available in the
1:42:18afternoon. The phrase spots available
1:42:21means places or spaces are still open.
1:42:25Practice. Are there still tickets
1:42:27available? What time does the event
1:42:29start?
1:42:30Is there a waiting list? Saturday is
1:42:33sold out. Are there any spots available
1:42:36on Sunday? Now, let's move into digital
1:42:39life and cybersecurity
1:42:41because these situations are
1:42:43increasingly common in everyday
1:42:45conversations.
1:42:46Imagine you receive an email that looks
1:42:48suspicious. You ask a coworker, "Did you
1:42:52get an email asking you to reset your
1:42:54password?"
1:42:55Your coworker says, "Yeah, but I didn't
1:42:58click the link. It looked suspicious."
1:43:01You respond, "Good idea. I think we
1:43:05should check with the IT department
1:43:06before doing anything." The phrase
1:43:09before doing anything is useful when you
1:43:12want to pause and verify information.
1:43:15Let's check the address before leaving.
1:43:18Call the bank before sending any money.
1:43:20Read the instructions before changing
1:43:22the settings.
1:43:24Let's ask someone before doing anything.
1:43:27Imagine you call technical support and
1:43:29say,
1:43:30"Hi, I received a message asking me to
1:43:33verify my account, but I'm not sure if
1:43:36it's legitimate.
1:43:37The support person says,
1:43:40"Please don't click any links.
1:43:42Can you forward the message to our
1:43:43security team?" You say, "Yes, I can do
1:43:48that." They respond,
1:43:50"We'll check it and let you know." You
1:43:52say,
1:43:53"Okay. Thanks. I wanted to be careful."
1:43:58The phrase "I wanted to be careful" is
1:44:01simple but useful.
1:44:03You can also say, "I didn't want to take
1:44:05any chances."
1:44:07That means you did not want to risk a
1:44:09bad result.
1:44:10"The road looked icy, so I didn't want
1:44:13to take any chances.
1:44:15I wasn't sure whether the email was
1:44:17real, so I didn't want to take any
1:44:19chances." Repeat.
1:44:22"I'm not sure if it's legitimate. I
1:44:24didn't click the link. I wanted to be
1:44:26careful. I didn't want to take any
1:44:28chances.
1:44:30Could you check this for me?"
1:44:31Now, let's move into school and
1:44:34education-related conversations.
1:44:37Even if you are not currently a student,
1:44:39the same language can be useful when
1:44:41discussing deadlines, courses,
1:44:44training, and learning.
1:44:47Imagine you need extra time for an
1:44:49assignment. You might say, "Hi. I wanted
1:44:53to ask about the assignment that's due
1:44:54Friday. I've been dealing with a few
1:44:57unexpected issues this week, and I'm
1:44:59worried I may not be able to finish it
1:45:01on time." The teacher or instructor may
1:45:04say,
1:45:05"How much extra time do you think you
1:45:07need?" You could answer,
1:45:09"Would it be possible to submit it on
1:45:11Monday instead?" The instructor says,
1:45:15"That should be fine, but please make
1:45:17sure it's submitted by Monday morning."
1:45:19You respond, "Absolutely. Thank you. I
1:45:23really appreciate the extra time."
1:45:25Notice how the request includes a short
1:45:28explanation and a specific alternative.
1:45:31Instead of simply saying, "I need more
1:45:33time." you explain the situation and
1:45:36suggest a reasonable deadline.
1:45:38Practice. I wanted to ask about the
1:45:41assignment. I'm worried I may not be
1:45:43able to finish it on time.
1:45:45Would it be possible to submit it on
1:45:47Monday instead?
1:45:49I really appreciate the extra time.
1:45:52Now, imagine you are working on a group
1:45:54project and need access to a shared
1:45:57online folder.
1:45:58You message a teammate and say,
1:46:01"Hey,
1:46:02I'm trying to open the shared folder,
1:46:04but it says I don't have permission."
1:46:06Your teammate says,
1:46:08"Really? Let me check the settings." You
1:46:11respond, "Thanks. I think I might need
1:46:14access to the whole folder, not just the
1:46:17document." Your teammate says, "Okay. I
1:46:21just updated it. Try again."
1:46:24You say, "Got it. It works now." The
1:46:27phrase, "I don't have permission." is
1:46:30common when talking about digital files,
1:46:33apps,
1:46:34or workplace systems. You might say, "I
1:46:37don't have permission to edit this file.
1:46:40It says I don't have access. Could you
1:46:42give me access to the folder? Could you
1:46:45check the sharing settings?" Now, let's
1:46:48practice declining something politely.
1:46:50Imagine your coworker says, "Can you
1:46:53join another meeting at 4:00?"
1:46:55But you already have important work to
1:46:57finish. You can say, "I'm afraid I won't
1:47:01be able to join at 4:00 because I'm
1:47:02working on something that needs to be
1:47:04finished today. Could you send me the
1:47:06notes afterward?" This is polite, clear,
1:47:10and solution-focused.
1:47:12You could also say, "I have a conflict
1:47:15at that time."
1:47:16A conflict in scheduling means you
1:47:18already have another commitment.
1:47:20"I have a scheduling conflict at 3:00.
1:47:23I'm afraid I have another meeting at
1:47:25that time.
1:47:26Would it be possible to move it to later
1:47:28in the day? Practice. I'm afraid I won't
1:47:31be able to join. I have a conflict at
1:47:34that time. Could you send me the notes
1:47:36afterward? Would it be possible to move
1:47:39it to later? Now, let's look at
1:47:41conversations about rent and deposits.
1:47:44Imagine you are considering renting an
1:47:46apartment and asking questions before
1:47:49making a decision. You might say, "Could
1:47:51you tell me what's included in the
1:47:53monthly rent?" The property manager
1:47:56says, "Water and trash are included, but
1:47:58electricity and internet are separate."
1:48:01You ask, "Okay, and how much is the
1:48:04security deposit?" They answer, "It's
1:48:07equal to 1 month's rent." You respond,
1:48:10"Is the deposit refundable when I move
1:48:12out?" These are important practical
1:48:14questions.
1:48:16You might also ask, "How long is the
1:48:18lease?
1:48:19Is parking included? Are there any
1:48:22additional fees? When is rent due each
1:48:25month?
1:48:26What happens if I need to end the lease
1:48:28early?"
1:48:29The expression, "Are there any
1:48:31additional fees?" is useful whenever you
1:48:33want to understand the total cost of
1:48:35something. You can use it with
1:48:37apartments, hotels, services, tickets,
1:48:41memberships, or purchases.
1:48:44Now, imagine you already rent an
1:48:46apartment and notice a mistake in your
1:48:49rent payment. You say, "Hi, I noticed
1:48:52that I was charged an additional fee
1:48:54this month, and I'm not sure what it's
1:48:56for."
1:48:57The manager says, "Let me check your
1:49:00account." You respond, "Thanks. I just
1:49:03wanted to understand the charge before
1:49:05making the payment."
1:49:07Now, let's move into conversations about
1:49:09giving and receiving feedback at work.
1:49:12Imagine your manager says, "Do you have
1:49:15a few minutes to talk about your
1:49:16presentation? You answer, "Sure."
1:49:20Your manager says, "Overall, you did a
1:49:23good job. The information was clear, but
1:49:26I think the introduction could be
1:49:28shorter." A natural response is, "That
1:49:31makes sense. I appreciate the feedback."
1:49:34You can also say, "Thanks for pointing
1:49:37that out. I'll keep that in mind next
1:49:39time. That's helpful to know.
1:49:42Is there anything else you think I
1:49:43should work on?"
1:49:45These responses show that you are
1:49:46listening and open to improvement.
1:49:49Practice.
1:49:51I appreciate the feedback.
1:49:53Thanks for pointing that out.
1:49:55I'll keep that in mind.
1:49:57Is there anything else I should work on?
1:49:59Now, imagine you need to give feedback
1:50:02to someone else.
1:50:04It is often helpful to begin with
1:50:06something positive and then explain what
1:50:08could be improved.
1:50:10You might say, "I think the report is
1:50:13really clear overall.
1:50:15One thing I'd suggest is making the
1:50:16summary a little shorter."
1:50:18Or, "The presentation looks good. I
1:50:21think the last section could use a
1:50:23little more detail."
1:50:25The phrase, "One thing I'd suggest is,"
1:50:28is useful because it makes feedback
1:50:30sound constructive rather than harsh.
1:50:34"One thing I'd suggest is adding an
1:50:36example.
1:50:37One thing I'd suggest is checking the
1:50:39final numbers again.
1:50:41One thing I'd suggest is simplifying
1:50:43this section."
1:50:45Now,
1:50:46let's practice a few complete real-life
1:50:48responses.
1:50:50Imagine your restaurant order is wrong.
1:50:52Say, "Excuse me, I think there may have
1:50:55been a mix-up. I ordered the chicken
1:50:58sandwich, but I received the turkey
1:51:00sandwich." Repeat. "Excuse me, I think
1:51:04there may have been a mix-up. I ordered
1:51:07the chicken sandwich, but I received the
1:51:09turkey sandwich."
1:51:11Imagine you lost your wallet in a public
1:51:14building. Say, "Hi, I think I may have
1:51:17lost my wallet somewhere in the
1:51:19building. Has anyone turned one in?"
1:51:22Repeat. "Hi, I think I may have lost my
1:51:26wallet somewhere in the building. Has
1:51:28anyone turned one in?"
1:51:30Imagine you are unsure whether an email
1:51:32is safe. Say,
1:51:35"I received an email asking me to verify
1:51:38my password, but it looks suspicious.
1:51:41I'd like to check before clicking
1:51:43anything." Repeat.
1:51:45"I received an email asking me to verify
1:51:48my password, but it looks suspicious.
1:51:51I'd like to check before clicking
1:51:53anything."
1:51:54Imagine you cannot attend a meeting.
1:51:56Say,
1:51:58"I'm afraid I won't be able to join the
1:52:00meeting at 3:00 because I already have
1:52:02another commitment. Could you send me
1:52:04the main notes afterward?"
1:52:06Repeat. "I'm afraid I won't be able to
1:52:09join the meeting at 3:00 because I
1:52:11already have another commitment.
1:52:14Could you send me the main notes
1:52:15afterward?" Imagine you want to ask
1:52:18about an apartment. Say, "Could you tell
1:52:21me what's included in the rent and
1:52:23whether there are any additional monthly
1:52:25fees?" Repeat. "Could you tell me what's
1:52:28included in the rent and whether there
1:52:30are any additional monthly fees?"
1:52:33Now, notice what all of these examples
1:52:35have in common. You are not only
1:52:38producing grammatically correct English.
1:52:41You are managing real situations.
1:52:43You are explaining problems politely,
1:52:46checking information, asking for help,
1:52:49requesting changes, protecting yourself
1:52:52when something seems suspicious,
1:52:55and communicating clearly when
1:52:57expectations are not met.
1:52:59This is why intermediate conversation
1:53:01practice should focus on complete
1:53:03situations rather than isolated
1:53:05sentences.
1:53:07If you only memorize vocabulary, you may
1:53:10know the word refund, but you may still
1:53:12struggle when you need to explain why
1:53:14you want one. If you practice the whole
1:53:17situation, you learn phrases like I'd
1:53:20like to return this.
1:53:22It wasn't what I expected. Would it be
1:53:24possible to get a refund? And Do you
1:53:28need the original receipt?
1:53:30The situation gives the vocabulary
1:53:32meaning.
1:53:33Let's review some of the key expressions
1:53:35we have practiced here.
1:53:37There may have been a mix-up. If that
1:53:40helps. Has anyone turned it in? I'm not
1:53:43sure what the problem is. I wanted to
1:53:45make sure. Would you mind? I'd avoid.
1:53:49Are there any tickets available? I
1:53:52didn't want to take any chances.
1:53:54Would it be possible? I don't have
1:53:56permission.
1:53:58I have a conflict at that time.
1:54:00Are there any additional fees?
1:54:03I appreciate the feedback. And One thing
1:54:06I'd suggest is
1:54:08say them again and connect each one to a
1:54:11real situation.
1:54:13There may have been a mix-up.
1:54:15Imagine receiving the wrong order.
1:54:17Has anyone turned it in?
1:54:19Imagine losing your phone.
1:54:22I wanted to make sure. Imagine
1:54:24confirming a train platform. Would you
1:54:27mind? Imagine asking someone to take a
1:54:29photo.
1:54:31I didn't want to take any chances.
1:54:33Imagine receiving a suspicious message.
1:54:36I have a conflict at that time.
1:54:39Imagine declining a meeting.
1:54:41I appreciate the feedback. Imagine
1:54:44talking to your manager.
1:54:46This kind of practice trains your brain
1:54:48to connect language with action.
1:54:51The next time you experience a similar
1:54:53situation, you will not need to invent
1:54:55every sentence from the beginning.
1:54:58You will already have useful language
1:55:00ready to use.
1:55:02Keep speaking aloud as much as possible.
1:55:04Listen to the complete thought,
1:55:07pause, repeat it naturally, and then
1:55:10imagine changing one detail. If the
1:55:13sentence is,
1:55:14"I think there may have been a mix-up
1:55:16with my order." Change it to,
1:55:19"I think there may have been a mix-up
1:55:21with my reservation."
1:55:23Then try,
1:55:24"I think there may have been a mix-up
1:55:26with the schedule." This is how one
1:55:29useful pattern can become many different
1:55:31sentences.
1:55:33Try the same technique with, "I wanted
1:55:35to make sure." Say, "I wanted to make
1:55:38sure the meeting is still at 3:00." "I
1:55:41wanted to make sure you received the
1:55:42file."
1:55:44"I wanted to make sure this is the right
1:55:46platform."
1:55:47"I wanted to make sure my reservation
1:55:49was confirmed." When you practice this
1:55:52way, you are doing more than repeating.
1:55:54You are learning how to adapt English to
1:55:56your own life. And that is one of the
1:55:59most important steps towards speaking
1:56:01with confidence and flexibility.
1:56:04Now, let's bring everything together
1:56:06with more natural conversation practice
1:56:08that combines the skills you have been
1:56:10developing throughout this lesson.
1:56:12In real life, conversations rarely stay
1:56:15inside one simple category.
1:56:18You may start by talking about work,
1:56:20then move to weekend plans, explain a
1:56:23problem,
1:56:24give an opinion,
1:56:26ask for advice, and make a decision, all
1:56:29in the same conversation. This is why
1:56:32flexible speaking practice is so
1:56:34important. Imagine a co-worker asks,
1:56:38"Do you have any plans after work
1:56:40today?" You could say, "Nothing definite
1:56:43yet. I was thinking about stopping by
1:56:45the grocery store,
1:56:47but a friend asked if I wanted to grab
1:56:49dinner."
1:56:50Your co-worker says,
1:56:52"That sounds nice.
1:56:54Are you going to go?" You answer,
1:56:57"Probably. I've had a long week, and it
1:57:00might be nice to get out for a while."
1:57:03Notice how this answer includes
1:57:05uncertainty, a reason, and a natural
1:57:08expression.
1:57:10"It might be nice to get out for a
1:57:11while."
1:57:12You can use "I was thinking about" when
1:57:15you are considering a plan, but have not
1:57:18completely decided. "I was thinking
1:57:20about going for a walk later. I was
1:57:23thinking about calling my sister
1:57:24tonight. I was thinking about trying
1:57:27that new restaurant. I was thinking
1:57:29about taking Friday off."
1:57:31This phrase sounds natural because
1:57:33everyday plans are often not completely
1:57:36certain.
1:57:37Repeat. "I was thinking about going out
1:57:40for dinner.
1:57:41Nothing definite yet. It might be nice
1:57:43to get out for a while.
1:57:45I'll probably decide later."
1:57:47Now, imagine someone asks, "How did your
1:57:51meeting go this morning?"
1:57:53A natural answer could be, "It went
1:57:55better than I expected. We had a few
1:57:58things to work through, but everyone
1:58:00agreed on the main plan in the end."
1:58:02The phrase "work through something"
1:58:05means to discuss or solve something
1:58:07step-by-step.
1:58:09You can say, "We still have a few issues
1:58:11to work through.
1:58:13We worked through the problem together.
1:58:15It took a while, but we eventually
1:58:18worked through it."
1:58:19Your friend might ask, "Was everyone on
1:58:22the same page?" This is a very common
1:58:24expression. To be on the same page means
1:58:28to have the same understanding or agree
1:58:30about what should happen.
1:58:32You could say, "Mostly.
1:58:35We disagreed about the timeline at
1:58:37first, but we eventually got on the same
1:58:39page." Practice.
1:58:41"We still have a few things to work
1:58:43through.
1:58:44I think we're on the same page now.
1:58:46We disagreed at first.
1:58:48In the end, we They a solution that
1:58:51worked for everyone.
1:58:52Now, let's imagine another common
1:58:55situation.
1:58:56Changing your mind, someone asks, "Are
1:58:59you still thinking about buying that new
1:59:01phone?"
1:59:02You could answer, "Actually, I changed
1:59:05my mind. I looked at a few different
1:59:07models, and I realized my current phone
1:59:10still works perfectly well." Your friend
1:59:12says, "That probably makes sense. You
1:59:15can always upgrade later."
1:59:18You respond, "Exactly. I'd rather save
1:59:21the money for now."
1:59:22Change my mind is an extremely common
1:59:25expression.
1:59:26I was going to order pizza, but I
1:59:28changed my mind.
1:59:30She was planning to drive, but she
1:59:32changed her mind and took the train. If
1:59:35you change your mind, just let me know.
1:59:38You can also say,
1:59:39"I'm having second thoughts."
1:59:42This means you are beginning to question
1:59:44a decision you were planning to make.
1:59:47For example, "I was going to sign up for
1:59:49the class, but I'm having second
1:59:52thoughts."
1:59:53"I'm having second thoughts
1:59:55about moving.
1:59:57I was sure yesterday, but now I'm having
2:00:00second thoughts."
2:00:02Repeat, "Actually, I changed my mind.
2:00:06I'm having second thoughts. I'd rather
2:00:08wait a little longer. I can always do it
2:00:11later." Now, let's practice explaining
2:00:17that you misunderstood "I thought you
2:00:19were meeting us at the restaurant at
2:00:206:00." You respond,
2:00:23"Oh, I must have misunderstood. I
2:00:25thought you said 7:00."
2:00:27Your friend says, "No worries. We're
2:00:30still here." You say, "I'm sorry about
2:00:34that. I'll leave now and get there as
2:00:36quickly as I can." The phrase I must
2:00:39have misunderstood
2:00:41is useful when you realize that your
2:00:43understanding was incorrect. You might
2:00:46say, "I must have misunderstood the
2:00:48instructions." "Sorry, I must have
2:00:51misunderstood what you meant." "I
2:00:53thought the appointment was tomorrow. I
2:00:56must have misunderstood."
2:00:58You can also say, "I got the wrong
2:01:00idea." For example, "I thought the event
2:01:03was canceled, but apparently I got the
2:01:06wrong idea."
2:01:07This is more conversational and
2:01:09informal.
2:01:10Practice. "I must have misunderstood. I
2:01:14thought you said seven." "Sorry about
2:01:16the confusion." "I'll get there as
2:01:18quickly as I can." Now, let's move into
2:01:22talking about choices and priorities.
2:01:24Imagine someone asks,
2:01:27"Why did you decide to work from home
2:01:29today?"
2:01:30You might answer, "I had a lot to
2:01:32finish, and I knew I'd be able to focus
2:01:35better at home. Plus, I didn't have any
2:01:38in-person meetings."
2:01:40Notice the word plus. In casual
2:01:43conversation, plus can introduce an
2:01:46additional reason. "The hotel is
2:01:49cheaper, plus it's closer to downtown. I
2:01:52decided to walk. The weather was nice,
2:01:55plus I needed some exercise." Another
2:01:58useful expression is, "The main reason
2:02:01is." For example, "The main reason I
2:02:04chose this apartment is the location.
2:02:07The main reason I'm taking the course is
2:02:09to improve my speaking."
2:02:11"The main reason we left early was to
2:02:13avoid traffic." Repeat. "The main reason
2:02:17is the location, plus it's more
2:02:19convenient. That was one of the reasons
2:02:22I chose it. For me, convenience is the
2:02:25most important thing." Now, imagine
2:02:28someone asks whether you like cooking at
2:02:30home or eating out. You could say,
2:02:34"I enjoy both, but during the week, I
2:02:36usually cook at home. It saves money,
2:02:39and I have have control over what I eat.
2:02:42On weekends, though, I like trying new
2:02:45restaurants.
2:02:46This is a strong intermediate response
2:02:49because you compare two choices, give
2:02:51reasons, and explain when each
2:02:53preference applies.
2:02:55Now, let's practice another realistic
2:02:58situation involving a decision between
2:03:00two options.
2:03:02Your friend asks, "Should we drive or
2:03:05take the train?"
2:03:06You say, "I'd probably take the train.
2:03:09Parking downtown can be expensive, and
2:03:12we won't have to worry about traffic."
2:03:15Your friend says, "Good point.
2:03:18It might actually be faster, too." You
2:03:20answer, "Exactly.
2:03:23Let's take the train."
2:03:25The expression
2:03:26"Good point." means that the other
2:03:29person has said something useful or
2:03:31convincing.
2:03:32You can use it in casual or professional
2:03:35conversations.
2:03:36"We should call before we go because
2:03:38they might be closed."
2:03:40"Good point. Maybe we should bring an
2:03:42umbrella."
2:03:43"Good point. It looks like it might
2:03:45rain."
2:03:46Now, let's do a fluency exercise with
2:03:49useful response patterns.
2:03:51Listen to each situation and repeat the
2:03:54natural response.
2:03:56Someone asks if you are available
2:03:58tonight, but you are not completely
2:04:00sure. "I might be. Let me check my
2:04:02schedule and get back to you." Repeat.
2:04:05"I might be. Let me check my schedule
2:04:08and get back to you." Someone asks why
2:04:10you returned a product. "It worked fine,
2:04:13but it wasn't quite what I was looking
2:04:14for." Repeat. "It worked fine, but it
2:04:17wasn't quite what I was looking for."
2:04:20Someone asks why you missed the
2:04:22beginning of a meeting.
2:04:23"I'm sorry. I got held up in traffic and
2:04:26arrived later than I expected." Repeat.
2:04:29"I'm sorry. I got held up in traffic and
2:04:32arrived later than I expected." To get
2:04:35held up means to be delayed. You can
2:04:38say, "I got held up at work." "Sorry,
2:04:41I'm late.
2:04:42I got held up in traffic." "She got held
2:04:45up at the airport." This phrase appears
2:04:48often when explaining delays. Now,
2:04:51imagine someone asks if you have
2:04:53finished a task. "Not quite. I'm almost
2:04:57done, but I want to double-check
2:04:59everything before I send it." Repeat.
2:05:02"Not quite. I'm almost done,
2:05:05but I want to double-check everything
2:05:07before I send it." Double-check means
2:05:10check something again to make sure it is
2:05:12correct. "Let me double-check the
2:05:14address." "I want to double-check the
2:05:16time." "Could you double-check the
2:05:18total?" This is useful at work, while
2:05:21traveling, when making appointments, and
2:05:24in many everyday situations. Imagine a
2:05:27friend asks whether you recommend a
2:05:29restaurant. "Yeah, I'd recommend it. The
2:05:32food was excellent. The service was
2:05:35friendly, and the prices were
2:05:37reasonable." Repeat. "Yeah, I'd
2:05:40recommend it. The food was excellent.
2:05:43The service was friendly, and the prices
2:05:46were reasonable."
2:05:47Now, imagine that you are not completely
2:05:51satisfied. "It was okay, but I probably
2:05:54wouldn't go out of my way to eat there
2:05:56again." The expression go out of my way
2:05:59means make a special effort to do
2:06:01something. "I wouldn't go out of my way
2:06:04to visit that store." "She went out of
2:06:07her way to help me."
2:06:09Notice that the meaning can be positive
2:06:11or negative, depending on the sentence.
2:06:14Now, let's practice expressing
2:06:16uncertainty naturally. Intermediate
2:06:19speakers do not always need to sound
2:06:21100% certain. You can say, "As far as I
2:06:25know," when you believe something is
2:06:27true, but are not completely certain.
2:06:30"As far as I know, the meeting is still
2:06:32at 3:00. As far as I know, the store is
2:06:35open until 9:00. As far as I know, we
2:06:39don't need an appointment. You can also
2:06:41say, "I'm pretty sure." For example,
2:06:45"I'm pretty sure I left my keys on the
2:06:47kitchen counter."
2:06:48"I'm pretty sure the train leaves from
2:06:50platform 5." "I'm pretty sure we've met
2:06:53before." Practice. As far as I know,
2:06:57"Nothing has changed." "I'm pretty sure
2:07:00that's the right address." "I could be
2:07:02wrong, though." "Let me double-check."
2:07:05That final sentence is especially
2:07:07powerful because it shows responsible
2:07:09communication. If you are uncertain,
2:07:13you do not need to guess. You can say,
2:07:16"I'm not completely sure." "Let me
2:07:18double-check." This works in
2:07:21professional conversations,
2:07:23travel situations, appointments,
2:07:26shopping, and daily life. Now, let's
2:07:29practice a longer natural response.
2:07:32Imagine someone asks, "How are things
2:07:35going lately?" You could say, "Pretty
2:07:38well overall. Work has been busy, but
2:07:41I'm finally getting caught up. I've also
2:07:44been trying to make more time for
2:07:45exercise and seeing friends.
2:07:48I still have a lot going on, but things
2:07:51feel more manageable than they did a few
2:07:53weeks ago."
2:07:54Repeat this in smaller groups.
2:07:57"Pretty well overall. Work has been
2:07:59busy, but I'm finally getting caught up.
2:08:02I've been trying to make more time for
2:08:04exercise and seeing friends. I still
2:08:07have a lot going on, but things feel
2:08:09more manageable." Now, listen to another
2:08:13response. Someone asks, "What are you
2:08:16doing this weekend?"
2:08:18You say, "I haven't made any definite
2:08:21plans yet. I need to run a few errands
2:08:23Saturday morning, and after that, I
2:08:26might meet some friends for lunch.
2:08:29If the weather is nice, I'd also like to
2:08:31spend some time outside.
2:08:34Notice how many useful patterns appear
2:08:36together.
2:08:37I haven't made any definite plans yet.
2:08:40I need to run a few errands.
2:08:43I might meet some friends.
2:08:45If the weather is nice.
2:08:47These are everyday structures that allow
2:08:49you to speak naturally without needing
2:08:51advanced vocabulary.
2:08:54Let's do one final flexibility exercise.
2:08:57Start with the sentence,
2:08:59I'm not sure yet.
2:09:01Now, extend it.
2:09:04I'm not sure yet. Let me check. Extend
2:09:06it again. I'm not sure yet. Let me check
2:09:09my schedule. And again, I'm not sure
2:09:12yet. Let me check my schedule and get
2:09:15back to you later today. Start with,
2:09:18there's a problem. Make it more natural.
2:09:21There seems to be a problem. Add detail.
2:09:25There seems to be a problem with my
2:09:26reservation.
2:09:28Add a request.
2:09:30There seems to be a problem with my
2:09:31reservation.
2:09:33Would you mind checking it for me?
2:09:35Start with,
2:09:37I'm late.
2:09:38Make it more natural.
2:09:40I'm running a little late.
2:09:42Add a reason.
2:09:43I'm running a little late because
2:09:45traffic is worse than usual.
2:09:48Add useful information. I'm running
2:09:50about 10 minutes late because traffic is
2:09:53worse than usual, but I'm on my way.
2:09:56This is one of the best ways to develop
2:09:58intermediate fluency. Begin with a
2:10:00simple idea and gradually make it more
2:10:02complete. You do not need to create
2:10:05extremely long sentences.
2:10:07You simply add useful information step
2:10:10by step.
2:10:12Let's finish this practice by repeating
2:10:14some of the strongest conversation
2:10:16patterns from everything you have
2:10:17practiced. How's your day going?
2:10:20What have you been up to lately?
2:10:23What did you have in mind?
2:10:25That works for me. Something came up. I
2:10:28didn't quite catch that.
2:10:30Let me check and get back to you.
2:10:32I'm running a little late.
2:10:34Could you take a look at this?
2:10:36I see your point. That makes sense.
2:10:39I'm looking for
2:10:41Could I get
2:10:42Do you have anything available? I'm
2:10:45trying to find
2:10:46There seems to be a problem.
2:10:49I wanted to make sure
2:10:51Would you mind?
2:10:52I'd rather
2:10:54It might be worth checking.
2:10:56I ended up at least So far, so good. I
2:11:00appreciate the feedback. I must have
2:11:03misunderstood.
2:11:04I was thinking about We still have a few
2:11:07things to work through. I think we're on
2:11:10the same page. I changed my mind.
2:11:13The main reason is
2:11:15Good point.
2:11:16Let me double-check. As far as I know
2:11:20And I'm pretty sure
2:11:22Now Try saying some of these expressions
2:11:26without reading them word by word.
2:11:28Imagine real situations as you speak.
2:11:31Imagine a friend asking about your
2:11:33weekend. A co-worker asking for an
2:11:36update.
2:11:37A server taking your order. A customer
2:11:40service representative asking what went
2:11:42wrong. Someone inviting you to dinner.
2:11:45A doctor asking about your symptoms.
2:11:48A stranger giving you directions or a
2:11:51manager giving you feedback. The goal is
2:11:54for your response to feel connected to
2:11:56the situation. When you hear an
2:11:58invitation, think That sounds good.
2:12:02Count me in. I'd love to, but I already
2:12:05have plans.
2:12:06When you hear a problem, think Let me
2:12:09take a look. I'm still having the same
2:12:12issue. Would you mind checking?

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