Episode 394
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Hi! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.
By the way, did you know I also teach one-on-one English conversation classes? If you'd like to practice speaking with me personally, you can find more information at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/classes
Halloween is almost here!
Today, I've prepared a short Halloween Mini-Story. You'll learn some typical Halloween words and expressions while practicing your spoken English.
I'll tell you a little bit of the story and ask you some easy questions.
Try to answer before I give you the correct answer. And don't worry about making mistakes. Even a short answer is fine.
The idea is to help you think and respond in English without translating in your head.
And today's story is about a man who doesn't really like Halloween costumes. Unfortunately for him, his dog has other plans!
Let's get started!
Speaking practice
Mini-Story
Answer the questions out loud. Short answers are perfect.
Daniel is 45 years old, and he lives with his dog, Max.
His neighbor invites him to a Halloween costume party.
But Daniel is reluctant. He doesn't like dressing up.
Does Daniel like wearing costumes?
No, he doesn't. He's reluctant to wear one.
Who invites Daniel to a party?
His neighbor. She invites him to a Halloween costume party.
Daniel's neighbor tells him that dogs are welcome, too.
She finally convinces him to come.
Does Daniel agree to go?
Yes. His neighbor convinces him to go.
Can Daniel bring his dog?
Yes! Dogs are welcome at the party.
Halloween night is getting close.
People decorate their homes with pumpkins, skeletons, and fake spiderwebs.
The streets look spooky.
Daniel's neighbor even plays creepy music outside her house.
Do the houses look normal or spooky?
Spooky! They're full of Halloween decorations.
Are the spiderwebs real?
No! They're fake spiderwebs.
What kind of music does Daniel's neighbor play?
Creepy music. Perfect for Halloween!
On Halloween night, children dress up as ghosts, witches, and monsters.
They go from door to door shouting, 'Trick or treat!'
The neighbors give them candy.
What do children say when they knock on doors?
Trick or treat!
Do they ask for money?
No! They ask for candy.
What do they wear?
Costumes! Some dress up as ghosts, witches, or monsters.
Now, Daniel needs a costume, too.
He orders a vampire costume online at the last minute, just two days before Halloween.
When does he order it?
At the last minute. Only two days before Halloween.
Does he order a witch costume?
No. He orders a vampire costume.
On Halloween afternoon, the package arrives.
Daniel opens it and finds a tiny vampire costume.
It's made for a dog, not a person!
There's been a mix-up.
Is the costume big enough for Daniel?
No! It's much too small.
Who can wear the costume?
A dog! It's a vampire costume for dogs.
Did Daniel order the right size?
No. There's been a mix-up!
Daniel has only two hours before the party.
But then he figures out a plan.
He puts the vampire costume on Max.
It fits perfectly!
Does Daniel find a solution?
Yes. He figures out a plan.
Who wears the vampire costume?
Max, the dog!
Does it fit Max?
Yes! It fits him perfectly.
Daniel puts on his old pajamas and carries an empty coffee cup.
He decides to be the vampire's tired assistant.
It's a difficult job. The vampire sleeps all day!
What does Daniel wear?
His old pajamas.
Is Daniel a vampire?
No! He's the vampire's tired assistant.
Who is the vampire?
Max, of course!
At the party, people wear all kinds of costumes.
There's a witch, a ghost, and even a man dressed as a giant pumpkin.
Daniel feels a little awkward in his pajamas.
But Max stands out.
Everyone notices the little vampire!
Does Daniel feel comfortable?
Not really. He feels awkward in his pajamas.
Who stands out at the party?
Max! Everyone notices him.
Does Max look like a pumpkin?
No! He's dressed as a vampire.
Soon, everyone wants to take pictures with Max.
The little vampire steals the show.
There's also a costume contest.
And unexpectedly, Max wins first prize!
Who steals the show?
Max! Everyone wants a picture with him.
Does Daniel win the costume contest?
No! Max wins first prize.
Was Daniel expecting Max to win?
No. Max wins unexpectedly!
And what's the prize?
A big bag of dog treats!
Does Max win a new car?
No, no! He wins dog treats!
In the end, the party turns out much better than Daniel expected.
Daniel spent money on a costume he couldn't wear.
Max got a party, a prize, and all the attention.
And Daniel?
Well, he got to wear his old pajamas in public.
Not bad for a Halloween party!
Did the party turn out badly?
No. It turned out very well!
Who had the best Halloween?
Max, of course!
That's our Mini-Story for today.
Remember, you can listen again and try to answer the questions a little faster. The more familiar the story becomes, the easier it is to respond in English.
I hope you enjoyed our Halloween story.
If you'd like more speaking practice, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and check out my premium courses.
Happy Halloween, and I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye!
Review
Vocabulary from This Episode
Review the 12 key words and expressions before listening again.
01 reluctant
not wanting to do something.
02 convince
make someone agree to something.
03 spooky
a little scary, especially at Halloween.
04 creepy
strange or scary in an unpleasant way.
05 at the last minute
just before something happens.
06 mix-up
a mistake that causes confusion.
07 figure out
find an answer or solution.
08 awkward
feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed.
09 stand out
be easy to notice.
10 steal the show
get more attention than everyone else.
11 unexpectedly
in a way no one expected.
12 turn out
end or happen in a particular way.
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