Send me a text.

Here are the rules for the story-writing activity.
- The story must include at least one of the phrases 1 to 8 shown below.
- The story should not be longer than 80 words.
- The story can only be sent from the link on mobile phones "send me a text" at the top of this page in your podcast app.
- The last day for sending the story is 28th July 2024.
- I'll read two or three of the best stories on my podcast.

1) The voice sounded rather weak, sleepy even.

2) I’ve got a few hours. I thought we could meet up.

3) Thoughts began to go through Stephen’s mind

4) 'Why don’t you come over?' Jane suggested.

5) ‘See you in a bit* then,’ she said and hung up.

6) On such a small island, everybody knew everybody else

7) 'Well, well, well. After all these years!' she said.

8) She had to move piles of papers off the sofa, so Stephen could sit down.

See the full transcript of the story extract at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-197.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.

Today I have joined the two halves of The Quiet Man together so you can enjoy this story in one complete story.

I briefly discuss intonation and give you a task to listen to while enjoying the story.

For more podcasts on intonation at Practising English, go to podcasts: 126, 109, 43, 103. See the podcast numbers at my website...
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-content.htm

The Quiet Man

First part of story. If you can't see the words in red on your app (the stressed words), you can visit my website at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-196.htm:

‘Come on, you’ll like them! They really are super people!’

Simon Willoughby wasn’t convinced. He had never been keen on theatres and actors.

On the only occasion Simon had actually been to the theatre, he had felt terrified. On this visit, he was sitting just two rows back from the front, when, during the play, one of the performers had come down from the stage. She asked if someone would like to come up and take part in the play. As nobody raised their hand, the actress came among the audience to look for someone.

For one terrible moment, Simon thought it was going to be him. He closed his eyes, and his heartbeat raced while sweat poured off his face and hands. Fortunately, for Simon, the actress chose another person, who had been sitting right next to him. Simon could breathe normally again. In fact, feeling worried that the same thing might happen later on in the performance, Simon got up and quietly walked out of the theatre. He’d never been back.

How he had become friends with his department’s manageress, Simon couldn’t even guess. She seemed to like him. Her name was Phillipa, and she had asked Simon to come into her office to talk about his work in the company. He couldn’t really understand why he deserved the attention. His work as a computer programmer was hardly important, as what he did was simple and even rather dull.

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.

Extracts from my stories with examples of SO and REALLY Here are the 4 extracts from my stories I use in this podcast to give examples of the use of SO and REALLY as intensifiers.

Extract 1:

'The fishmonger,' corrected Vanessa again. 'The person who sells fish is called a fishmonger.'

'The fishmonger was REALLY big and fat,' added Jason. 'Then Gran pointed to the fish man and said to me, "Do you know what this gentleman's name is?" And I said, "No, I don't." And Gran said, "His name's Mr Whale!" And Gran laughed, and the big fat fish man looked at me with his big red face and laughed, and everybody in the shop laughed, but I didn't laugh because I didn't understand what was SO funny.

Then Gran said it again, "His name is Mr Whale!" So I said "Oh! I see! His name is Mr Whale, and he's REALLY big and fat like a whale!" And then everybody stopped laughing, and Mr Whale went redder in the face, and then looked the other way, and Gran was REALLY annoyed, but I didn't understand why.'

'Stupid!' said Vanessa angrily. 'It was funny because his name is Mr Whale and he's a fishmonger. Don't you see?'

For extracts 2, 3 and 4, visit my website at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-195.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)