55: English Short Story: Unexpected Guest - Practice Your English Listening

To Fluency Podcast: English with Jack

In this English lesson, you're going to practice your listening skills with the story The Uninvited Guest. After the story, we'll explore seven key phrases that will help you understand how to convey suspense, tension, and emotional depth in English. Whether you're here to improve your vocabulary, comprehension, or overall fluency, this lesson will give you practical tools to use in everyday conversations.
Chapters: 00:00 intro to the story
01:00 the story
07:24 learn phrases from the story
RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ENGLISH
Affiliate Disclosure Some links in this description may be affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!
Fantastic courses from a teacher friend: https://www.tofluency.com/espresso/
Find a language teacher online here: https://go.italki.com/tofluency
Learn English through TV: https://www.tofluency.com/fluentu/
Learn English with AI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cIvJsDPmXw
Speaking method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7PGRbvJBkQ
Writing method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDkiY1lcfgw
The first phrase: A knot form in her stomach 💬 Laura felt a knot form in her stomach when she saw David at the door. 💬 I felt a knot in my stomach before the exam. 💬 She had a knot in her stomach when she realized she'd made a mistake.
The second phrase: Good to see you again 💬 David said, "Good to see you again," to James in a neutral way. 💬 It's good to see you again after all these years. 💬 Good to see you again! How have you been?
The third phrase: Never one to miss an opportunity 💬 David was described as never one to miss an opportunity, meaning he always took advantage of chances. 💬 She's never one to miss an opportunity to help others. 💬 He's never one to miss an opportunity to show off his knowledge.
The fourth phrase: Stick with you 💬 David said some memories stick with you, meaning they remain in your mind for a long time. 💬 The kindness of strangers during my trip really stuck with me. 💬 That lesson stuck with him and shaped how he handled challenges.
The fifth phrase: Walking on a tightrope 💬 Laura felt like she was walking on a tightrope during the evening, navigating a delicate situation. 💬 Managing the team while avoiding conflicts felt like walking on a tightrope. 💬 She was walking on a tightrope trying not to upset anyone.
The sixth phrase: Lingering gaze 💬 David's lingering gaze added to the tension, suggesting deeper feelings or intentions. 💬 His lingering gaze told her everything he didn’t say. 💬 The lingering gaze between them hinted at something unspoken.
The seventh phrase: Let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding 💬 Laura let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding after David left, feeling relieved. 💬 When the test was over, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. 💬 She finally let out a breath as the situation resolved.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a deeper understanding of these phrases and how to use them effectively in your own conversations. Listen to the story again and focus on how these expressions are used in context. Don’t forget to share this video with friends who are learning English—it helps the podcast grow and reach more learners. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next lesson!