Think in English with 99 Easy Sentences: One Day from Alarm Clock to Voice Message
Emily starts with a question: “Have you ever had a tiny thought, like, I’m cold, and needed ten seconds to say it in English?” (00:00) Paul agrees: “Ten seconds for two words.” (00:07) Her explanation is a picture: “Your head takes a long road, and the English arrives late.” (00:12)
This episode is built to shorten that road. Paul and Emily walk through one whole day, from the alarm clock to a voice message at night, and give you short sentences you can have ready before you need them. They tell two stories, Emily’s about a beeping washing machine and Paul’s about a hook in a hardware store, they teach three small tools, and at the end they play two role plays in which you answer in the pauses.
The episode is for A1 and A2 learners (00:27). It is about 39 minutes long, the sentences are slow and short, and many of them are followed by a pause for you to say them.
Watch the episode: Watch the episode on YouTube
Time: about 39 minutes to listen. The practice below takes about 15 minutes. The chapter list at the bottom lets you jump to one moment of the day.
Before you listen: think of one thing you wanted to say in English this week and did not say. How long did it take your head to build the sentence? After the episode, compare it with Emily’s laundry room story.
How to use this page: listen once for the stories and for the day. Then pick one moment, for example lunch (17:21), play it again and say every sentence out loud in the pause, before Paul does. The full transcript is at the bottom if a line goes too fast.
What You’ll Learn
- Why your English arrives late: your head takes a long road, and short sentences make the trip shorter
- Ninety-nine short sentences for nine moments of one day: waking up, getting ready, the way to work, work or school, lunch, other people, feelings, the supermarket and a voice message
- Three tools: the sandwich (keep the start of a sentence, change the end), the camera (see a thing and say one line about it) and the window (describe a word you cannot find)
- A small difference between very strong and quiet: I’m so nervous and I’m a little nervous
- How to move from present to past in the evening: I have becomes I had, I miss becomes I missed
- Two role plays: a washing machine in a laundry room and a bag at a supermarket
- The pocket line: Think small. Speak now.
Key Idea
Think small. Speak now.
Emily gives you this line at 00:53 and comes back to it near the end (19:50, 38:19). The idea is in the title: do not wait for a long, perfect sentence. Your head sends “text messages” (02:40). “It never writes a letter.” (02:45) A short sentence that is ready is better than a long one that arrives late.
Ten Seconds for Two Words (00:00)
The hosts open with the problem (00:00) and the promise for today: “Today we walk through one whole day, from the alarm clock to a voice message at night.” (00:30) They say what you will hear: “ninety-nine small sentences, three little tools, and two short role-plays.” (00:37) They also say how to listen: “If you want, repeat after us. Out loud is best, but quietly is okay too.” (00:45)
Emily’s Story: The Beeping Washing Machine (01:04)
Emily moves to a new apartment in another country. On a Tuesday night in her first week the washing machine stops and beeps with the water still inside (01:21). A neighbor asks if everything is okay and the answer does not come out: the sentence in her head is “The machine of washing is not wanting to finish.” (01:44) She says nothing. The neighbor smiles and solves it with two buttons.
Later she thinks she only needed three words: “It’s not working.” (02:09) Paul names the lesson: “So the problem was not your English. The problem was the length of the trip.” (02:20) Notice that the right sentence was already in her English. It was not ready, so it did not arrive.
Text Messages, Not Letters (02:40)
Paul asks what Emily’s head says at that moment and she answers: “I’m thirsty. And, where is my pen?” (02:35) The picture is Paul’s: your head sends text messages, short and fast, and never a letter. Then the game starts: nine moments, eleven sentences in each.
Moments 1 and 2: Waking Up and Getting Ready (03:12)
Moment one is the alarm clock. The sentences are the ones you say before you are awake: “My alarm is so loud.” (03:17), “Five more minutes.” (03:47), “I’m still sleepy.” (04:08) and “I should get up.” (04:34) Paul adds a joke: five minutes is “always fifteen.” (03:54)
Moment two (06:19) is the door: “What should I wear?” (06:26), “Where are my keys?” (06:42), “I’m running late.” (06:51), “I forgot something.” (07:21) and “Did I lock the door?” (08:00) Paul’s morning checklist is “Phone, keys, wallet.” (07:31)
Tool 1: The Sandwich (09:18)
Paul notices that three sentences start the same way: “I need coffee” (05:11), “I need a shower” (05:22), “I need an umbrella” (07:50). Emily calls the pattern a sandwich: “The bread is the same every time. Only the inside changes.” (09:30) Keep “I need” (05:11) as the bread and change the inside: I need a minute. I need a nap. I need new shoes. She tries a second bread (06:42): Where are my glasses? Where is my bus card? One sentence is really many sentences.
Moment 3: On the Way (10:26)
At the bus stop: “It’s so crowded.” (10:35), “The bus is late.” (10:50), “There’s a free seat.” (11:00), “My phone is almost dead.” (11:16) and “What a nice morning.” (11:29) Paul explains that free here is not about money: it means nobody is sitting there. When you cannot find your way, I think I’m lost is softer than I’m lost, and when you arrive you can say “I’m almost there.” (12:12) and then “I made it.” (12:49) Emily says you can use I made it “after a long walk, a hard test, or a first day.” (12:57)
Tool 2: The Camera (13:49)
The second tool is for the street. Your eyes are the camera, and each picture gets a caption: “I see a green door. It’s open.” (14:23) Then I see a cat on a car. It’s asleep. Paul likes the idea because it is “a class with fresh air and no homework.” (14:44)
Moment 4: At Work or School (14:48)
The sentences here are the ones that carry you through a task: “Where do I start?” (14:53), “Okay, emails first.” (15:02), “I can do this.” (15:13), “What does this mean?” (15:23) and “Let me check.” (15:31) When you are stuck there is an honest sentence (“I don’t understand.” (15:40)) and a next step (“I should ask someone.” (15:52)). Paul calls should “a gentle push.” (15:55) The day ends with “Done for today.” (16:36)
Moment 5: Lunch (17:18)
At a café: “I’m so hungry.” (17:28), “What’s for lunch?” (17:37), “Is this table free?” (17:46), “That looks delicious.” (17:59) and “I’ll have this one.” (18:12) Then the small problems and pleasures of the meal: “It’s too expensive.” (18:33), “This is so good.” (18:46), “It’s a little salty.” (18:57) and “I’m full.” (19:07) The bill sentence is “Let’s split the bill.” (19:25) Paul explains split as “cut in two. Half for you, half for me.” (19:28) At sentence fifty-five Paul says he is still fresh, and Emily answers: “Because the sentences are tiny.” (19:43)
Moment 6: Other People (20:18)
Paul says this is the hard moment, because “when people talk to me, my own language comes back very fast.” (20:24) The sentences are short answers for a conversation: “Nice to meet you.” (20:39), “What’s her name again?” (20:49), “Can you say that again?” (20:59), “That’s so funny.” (21:18), “Me too!” (21:27), “I didn’t know that.” (21:38), “Good to know.” (21:44), “That makes sense.” (21:49) and “I’m not sure.” (21:59) For a missing word there is a whole sentence: “How do I say this?” (22:09) Emily’s point: “Every word is English.” (22:18) You are still inside the language, even when you are stuck.
Tool 3: The Window (23:14)
Emily’s third tool is for a word you do not know. The front door is locked, but a window is open: describe the thing with easy words. The thing for washing hair. The place for buying bread. Paul tells a story (23:50): in a hardware store he needed a small metal thing to hang a painting, did not know the word and walked around for twenty minutes. Then a man in an orange shirt asked if he could help, and Paul said “I need the thing for hanging a picture on the wall.” (24:18) The man said “oh, a hook.” (24:25) Emily sums it up: “Twenty minutes alone, and two seconds with the window.” (24:30)
Moment 7: Feelings (25:00)
Short sentences for feelings: “I can’t wait!” (25:16), “I’m a little nervous.” (25:30), “That was embarrassing.” (25:43), “It’s not a big deal.” (26:02), “I made a mistake.” (26:13), “It’s okay. Try again.” (26:21), “Never mind.” (26:35), “I feel better now.” (26:54), “I’m so happy for you.” (27:03), “I’m proud of myself.” (27:15) and “I miss my family.” (27:32) Then the sandwich comes back for feelings: the start stays (“I’m a little” (25:30)) and the end changes. Emily’s note on the volume: “Notice how a little works like a volume knob.” (27:53) To practice the difference, read So, Too or a Little? Turn the Volume of a Feeling Up and Down in English.
Moment 8: At the Supermarket (28:33)
At the supermarket the sandwich works again: “I’m out of milk.” (28:49), “I’m out of eggs.” (29:01), “I’m out of coffee.” (29:03), and Paul adds “I’m out of time.” (29:05) Other sentences: “Where is the bread?” (29:14), “Is this on sale?” (29:22), “How much is it?” (29:32), “That’s a good price.” (29:39), “Which one is cheaper?” (29:47), “They don’t have it.” (29:59), “The line is so long.” (30:07), “Can I pay by card?” (30:18) and “I forgot my bag.” (30:25) At the end: “I got everything.” (30:35), and Paul: “Except the yogurt.” (30:39)
Moment 9: A Voice Message About Your Day (30:56)
In the evening you send a voice message to your mom, and the sentences move to the past. Emily gives the change: “I have becomes I had. I miss becomes I missed. Small changes.” (31:22) Paul then tells his day in the past: “I woke up late.” (31:37), “I missed the bus.” (31:49), “I had soup for lunch.” (32:02), “I asked a question.” (32:17), “I made a small mistake.” (32:35), “I bought milk and eggs.” (32:50) and “I’m glad I tried.” (33:05) The ninety-ninth sentence comes at 33:09. After it you tell three things about your day, and then comes a place lap, in which Emily names a place and you answer with one sentence from the day (33:47).
Two Role Plays (35:16)
Emily says “A thought is a draft. Speaking is pressing send.” (35:24) Then the laundry room scene from her story plays again, this time with Paul as Emily. His draft is “It’s not working.” (02:09) and he presses send with: “Hi. It’s not working. Can you help me?” (35:55) The neighbor answers and ends the scene with a new friend: “Ten seconds of silence became a new friend.” (36:15) In scene two (36:46) Paul is the cashier and you are the customer: you forgot your bag, you ask if you can pay by card, and you say “I got everything. But they don’t have my yogurt.” (37:26)
Today’s Task and Your Challenge (37:40)
Tonight before you turn off the light, say three past sentences about your day, out loud, “Under six words each.” (37:52) One minute is enough. The challenge for the comments is “three small thoughts you had this morning, in English” (39:00), three to five words each. The next episode is about small talk at the coffee machine at work.
Useful Language from the Episode
| Phrase | Meaning | Example from the episode |
|---|---|---|
| Five more minutes (03:47) | I want to stay in bed a little longer | “Five more minutes.” (03:47) |
| I’m running late (06:51) | I am behind time | “I’m running late.” (06:51) |
| I’m on my way (08:24) | I have left and I am coming | “I’m on my way.” (08:24) |
| It’s so crowded (10:35) | there are too many people in a small place | “It’s so crowded.” (10:35) |
| There’s a free seat (11:00) | nobody is sitting there | “There’s a free seat.” (11:00) |
| I think I’m lost (11:56) | I am not sure where I am, a softer way to say it | “I think I’m lost.” (11:56) |
| I’m almost there (12:12) | I am close | “I’m almost there.” (12:12) |
| I made it (12:49) | I did it, I arrived | “I made it.” (12:49) |
| Where do I start? (14:53) | I do not know the first step | “Where do I start?” (14:53) |
| I’ll have this one (18:12) | I choose this dish | “I’ll have this one.” (18:12) |
| Let’s split the bill (19:25) | pay half each | “Let’s split the bill.” (19:25) |
| Can you say that again? (20:59) | please repeat | “Can you say that again?” (20:59) |
| That makes sense (21:49) | I understand the reason | “That makes sense.” (21:49) |
| How do I say this? (22:09) | I am looking for the word | “How do I say this?” (22:09) |
| It’s not a big deal (26:02) | it is not important | “It’s not a big deal.” (26:02) |
| Never mind (26:35) | forget it | “Never mind.” (26:35) |
| I’m out of milk (28:49) | I had some and now I have none | “I’m out of milk.” (28:49) |
| Is this on sale? (29:22) | is the price lower for a short time | “Is this on sale?” (29:22) |
| I’m glad I tried (33:05) | I am happy I did it | “I’m glad I tried.” (33:05) |
Mistake and Repair
These are patterns from the episode, with a repair for each. Rows marked “written for this page” are not from the podcast.
| Often said | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| “The machine of washing is not wanting to finish.” (01:44) | “It’s not working.” (02:09) | Three short words are ready, a long sentence is not (01:44 and 02:06). |
| Silence, because you cannot find one word | “How do I say this?” (22:09) or describe it: “the thing for hanging a picture on the wall” (24:18) | Every word of the question is English, and the window works in two seconds (22:09 and 24:30). |
| Translating a whole sentence in your head before you speak | Say the short sentence first: “I think I’m lost.” (11:56) | A thought is a draft; speaking is pressing send (35:24). |
| I have soup for lunch when it already happened (written for this page) | I had soup for lunch. | In the evening your sentences are in the past (31:22). |
| I’m so nervous when you only want to say it quietly (written for this page) | I’m a little nervous. | A little works like a volume knob (27:53). |
Practice with the Episode
1. Change the inside of the sandwich
Keep the bread and change the inside. Write one new sentence for each.
- I need ___.
- Where is my ___?
- I’m out of ___.
- I’m a little ___.
Sample answers (written for this page)
- I need a pen. / I need a break.
- Where is my bag? / Where is my bus card?
- I’m out of rice. / I’m out of time.
- I’m a little tired. / I’m a little shy.
2. Use the camera
Walk around your room or your street and write three captions: I see ___. It’s ___.
Sample answers (written for this page)
- I see a red cup. It’s empty.
- I see a boy with a ball. He’s running.
- I see a bus. It’s late.
3. Use the window
Say one easy description for each thing without using its name: a towel, a courier, a bakery.
Sample answers (from the episode idea, written for this page)
- The thing for drying your hands.
- The person who brings your parcel to the door.
- The place for buying bread.
4. Tell your day in the past
Change these three sentences into the past: I wake up late. I have rice for lunch. I talk to my friend.
Answers
- I woke up late.
- I had rice for lunch.
- I talked to my friend.
5. Say it out loud
Tonight, before you turn off the light, say three sentences about your day. Keep each one under six words. Then write three small thoughts from this morning in the comments of the video.
Keep Practicing
Do you want to say how strong a feeling is, or say that something is a little wrong without a fight? Read So, Too or a Little? Turn the Volume of a Feeling Up and Down in English, a short guide with a fix-it table, three short chats and exercises with answers.
Chapters
- 00:00 Ten Seconds for Two Words
- 01:04 Emily’s Story: The Beeping Washing Machine
- 02:40 Text Messages, Not Letters
- 03:12 Moment 1: Waking Up
- 06:18 Moment 2: Getting Ready and Leaving Home
- 09:18 Tool 1: The Sandwich
- 10:26 Moment 3: On the Way
- 13:49 Tool 2: The Camera
- 14:48 Moment 4: At Work or School
- 17:18 Moment 5: Lunch
- 20:18 Moment 6: Other People
- 23:10 Tool 3: The Window
- 25:00 Moment 7: Feelings
- 28:33 Moment 8: At the Supermarket
- 30:56 Moment 9: A Voice Message About Your Day
- 33:47 Place Lap
- 35:16 Two Role Plays
- 37:40 Today’s Task and Your Challenge
Full Transcript
Emily: Have you ever had a tiny thought, like, I’m cold, and needed ten seconds to say it in English?
Paul: Ten seconds for two words. I know that feeling very well.
Emily: Your head takes a long road, and the English arrives late.
Paul: By then the bus has left, and the shop assistant is looking at the next customer.
Emily: Welcome to English Practice Daily. I’m Emily.
Paul: And I’m Paul. This podcast is for A1 and A2 learners.
Emily: Today we walk through one whole day, from the alarm clock to a voice message at night.
Paul: You will hear ninety-nine small sentences, three little tools, and two short role-plays.
Emily: We speak slowly. If you want, repeat after us. Out loud is best, but quietly is okay too.
Paul: And here is our sentence for today. Think small. Speak now.
Emily: Keep it in your pocket. We will come back to it. Paul, I have a story about this.
Paul: Oh, good. Those are my favorite.
Emily: A few years ago, I moved to a new apartment in another country. It was my first week.
Emily: The building had one laundry room in the basement, next to the bicycles.
Emily: On Tuesday night, at nine o’clock, I put my clothes in a machine and pressed the green button.
Emily: After ten minutes, the machine stopped. Beep, beep, beep. The water was still inside.
Paul: Wet clothes and a beeping machine. That’s a bad evening.
Emily: Then a woman from the third floor walked in and asked, everything okay?
Emily: It was an easy question. But my head took the long road, and the answer never came out.
Emily: The machine of washing is not wanting to finish. That was the sentence in my head.
Paul: That’s a long sentence. And a strange one.
Emily: I said nothing. I just stood there. After ten seconds, she smiled, pressed two buttons, and the machine started again.
Emily: Later, on my bed, I thought, I only needed three words. It’s not working.
Paul: Three words you already knew.
Emily: I knew them for years. But they were not ready. They were not waiting in my head.
Paul: So the problem was not your English. The problem was the length of the trip.
Emily: Yes. So today we make small sentences that are ready before you need them.
Paul: Emily, what does your head say right now?
Emily: It says, I’m thirsty. And, where is my pen?
Paul: See? Your head sends text messages. Short and fast. It never writes a letter.
Emily: Text messages, not letters. So the game today is simple. We have nine moments in one day, and each moment has eleven sentences.
Paul: I say a sentence after you. And you, at home, say it too.
Emily: Maybe your head still starts in your own language. Don’t worry. Say the English sentence again, and let it sit in your mouth.
Emily: Moment one. You are in bed. Something is ringing next to your ear.
Emily: My alarm is so loud.
Paul: My alarm is so loud. Mine sounds like a fire truck. I chose it, and I hate it.
Emily: Your hand finds the clock. What time is it?
Paul: What time is it? My eyes are closed, but my hand knows the way.
Emily: You see the numbers. It’s so early.
Paul: It’s so early. The sky outside is still dark blue.
Emily: Then a very famous one. Five more minutes.
Paul: Five more minutes. I think five minutes is a lie. It’s always fifteen.
Emily: Say it with Paul. Five more minutes.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: Now your eyes open a little. I’m still sleepy.
Paul: I’m still sleepy. So, sleepy is when my eyes want to close again?
Emily: Yes. Your foot touches the floor. It’s cold today.
Paul: It’s cold today. My house is cold until the heater wakes up too.
Emily: Then a small, serious voice says, I should get up.
Paul: I should get up. So I know it’s right. But my body says no.
Emily: Say it with us. I should get up.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: You look for something on the table. Where’s my phone?
Paul: Where’s my phone? Under the pillow, usually. Or on the floor.
Emily: You shuffle to the kitchen. The kettle is cold, and so are you. I need coffee.
Paul: I need coffee. Before coffee, I’m a sleepy potato.
Emily: Then you pass the bathroom. I need a shower.
Paul: I need a shower. Ten minutes of hot water, and I’m a person again.
Emily: And the last sentence for this moment. You stand at the kitchen door, cup in hand. Okay, let’s go.
Paul: Okay, let’s go. That’s eleven. And I’m not even dressed.
Emily: Quick round. You say it before Paul. You have three seconds.
Emily: Your alarm rings, very loud.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: My alarm is so loud.
Emily: You close your eyes again.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’m still sleepy.
Emily: And what do you hear in your head right now, Paul?
Paul: The alarm, then a bird outside. And the words come after the sounds.
Emily: That’s the idea. Moment two. You had your coffee. Now you get ready.
Emily: You open your closet. What should I wear?
Paul: What should I wear? I stand there for two minutes. Then I take the gray sweater. Always.
Emily: At the door, you check the shelf where the keys always live. The shelf is bare. Where are my keys?
Paul: Where are my keys? This happens to me every week.
Emily: Then you check your watch. I’m running late.
Paul: I’m running late. The clock on the oven agrees with me.
Emily: Think of a clock on the wall. It is far ahead, and you are far behind it.
Paul: Now I see two people, me and the clock. I’m running late.
Emily: Say it with us. I’m running late.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: On the stairs, your hand goes to your bag, and your face changes. I forgot something.
Paul: I forgot something. My stomach drops a little when I think this.
Emily: So you touch your pockets, one by one. Phone, keys, wallet.
Paul: Phone, keys, wallet. It’s my morning checklist.
Emily: Everything is there. Now you smile. I’m ready.
Paul: I’m ready. Two words, and I feel strong.
Emily: You look at the sky. Dark and heavy. I need an umbrella.
Paul: I need an umbrella. Mine is broken. One side goes up in the wind.
Emily: On the corner, a worry arrives. Did I lock the door?
Paul: Did I lock the door? Oh, this one makes me turn around. My neighbor sees me twice every morning.
Emily: Before you left, you told your family one thing. See you tonight.
Paul: See you tonight. My little sister always says, bring cake.
Emily: Then you text a friend. I’m on my way.
Paul: I’m on my way. So I left home, and I’m coming to you now.
Emily: And the last one. Here we go.
Paul: Here we go. It sounds like a starting bell. And that’s already twenty-two sentences before breakfast is over.
Emily: Quick round. Before Paul. Ten shirts are on the bed, and you have nothing to wear.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: What should I wear?
Emily: Your friend’s message says, where are you?
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’m on my way. Fast, but true.
Paul: Emily, can I show you something? Three of our sentences start with I need. Coffee, a shower, an umbrella.
Emily: That’s a pattern, and a pattern is a tool. This is our first one. I call it the sandwich.
Paul: The sandwich? Now I’m hungry.
Emily: The bread is the same every time. Only the inside changes. I need is the bread. Coffee is the inside.
Paul: So I can change the inside. I need a minute. I need a nap. I need new shoes.
Emily: Notice that nothing new was learned, only moved. Try another bread. Where are my keys?
Paul: Where are my glasses? Where is my bus card? Where is my other sock?
Emily: Every home has one lost sock. Now you try. Start with I need, and add one thing for today.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Maybe you said, I need a long walk. Or, I need a holiday. One sentence is really ten sentences.
Emily: Moment three. You leave home. You stand at the bus stop with twenty other people, and everyone is pushing a little. It’s so crowded.
Paul: It’s so crowded. I can’t even lift my arm.
Emily: Exactly. Crowded means too many bodies in one small space. You wait for five long minutes. The bus is late.
Paul: The bus is late. My day starts with waiting.
Emily: The bus comes. You get on and see an empty chair. There’s a free seat.
Paul: There’s a free seat. Free here is not about money. It means nobody is sitting there.
Emily: Right. You sit, and you look at your phone. Only five percent. My phone is almost dead.
Paul: My phone is almost dead. A small problem, but a real one.
Emily: Then you look outside. The sky is blue, and the street is quiet. What a nice morning.
Paul: What a nice morning. Same idea works with what a big dog, or what a long day.
Emily: The bus stops at a red light in front of a flower market. Something smells good.
Paul: Something smells good. Roses and fresh mint, I think.
Emily: You get off the bus. Today you go to a new office, and nothing looks familiar. I think I’m lost.
Paul: I think I’m lost. I think gives me a little room. Maybe I’m lost. Maybe not.
Emily: You open the map, turn left, then right. You can see the office. I’m almost there.
Paul: I’m almost there. Almost is a short walk from the finish.
Emily: Let’s go back on the bus for a moment. You see your street, and you stand up. This is my stop.
Paul: This is my stop. For me, it’s the one next to the shoe shop.
Emily: To reach the door, you pass five people. Excuse me, sorry.
Paul: Excuse me, sorry. I say this ten times on every bus.
Emily: Then you enter the office with a cup of tea. You are early. I made it.
Paul: I made it. Good. A happy sentence for a small victory.
Emily: Yes. You can say it after a long walk, a hard test, or a first day.
Paul: I made it. It fits all of them.
Emily: Say it with us. I made it.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: That’s thirty-three sentences, and my day just started.
Emily: Quick round. Before Paul. A warm smell comes out of a bakery door.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Something smells good.
Emily: The streets look strange, and you can’t find the office.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I think I’m lost. And ten minutes later, I’m almost there.
Emily: Now our second tool. This one is for the street. I call it the camera.
Paul: Do I need a phone for it?
Emily: No. And your phone is almost dead anyway. Your eyes are the camera. When you look at something, you take a picture.
Emily: Then every picture gets a small caption, like the words under a photo.
Paul: So first I see a thing. Then I write one little line under it, in my head.
Emily: For example, I see a green door. It’s open.
Emily: I see a girl with a yellow bag. She’s laughing.
Paul: I see a cat on a car. It’s asleep. I see a boy with a kite. It’s windy.
Emily: A few captions on any walk, and your street becomes a picture book in English.
Paul: A class with fresh air and no homework. I like it.
Emily: Moment four. You sit at your desk, and the work is waiting. Where do I start?
Paul: Where do I start? Messages, forms, a phone call.
Emily: Pick the first small piece. Okay, emails first.
Paul: Okay, emails first. The rest can wait in line.
Emily: Then your boss gives you a big task, and it looks heavy. I can do this.
Paul: I can do this. I tell myself like a little cheer.
Emily: In a report, there is a word you have never seen. What does this mean?
Paul: What does this mean? Usually it’s a short word that looks easy.
Emily: You open a dictionary app on your phone. Let me check.
Paul: Let me check. It gives me two seconds to think.
Emily: The app shows five answers, and you still feel lost. I don’t understand.
Paul: I don’t understand. Honest, and a little heavy.
Emily: Saying it is brave. And a brave sentence leads to a helpful one. I should ask someone.
Paul: I should ask someone. Should is a gentle push.
Emily: A coworker shows you a photo on her phone. Oh, now I get it.
Paul: Oh, now I get it. There’s a little click in my head.
Emily: Late in the afternoon, the last form is on screen. I’m almost done.
Paul: I’m almost done. Almost is a small word with a big smile.
Emily: Then your neck hurts, and your eyes are dry. I need a break.
Paul: I need a break. Tea, stairs, and a little sun.
Emily: At the end of the day, you turn off the screen. Done for today.
Paul: Done for today. Three words, and my shoulders drop. That’s forty-four.
Emily: Quick round. Before Paul. The word in the report is new, and you are stuck.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I don’t understand. So, I should ask someone.
Emily: Stuck, and then a step forward. Keep that order in mind. Now the sandwich again. I need a break. Change the inside.
Paul: I need a pen. I need some air. I need a quiet corner.
Emily: Ha. A bigger desk is a nice dream. Moment five.
Paul: Lunch time!
Emily: At noon, you feel your stomach. I’m so hungry.
Paul: I’m so hungry. My stomach starts a speech.
Emily: Your colleague asks the question of the day. What’s for lunch?
Paul: What’s for lunch? Everyone has an opinion.
Emily: The cafe is busy. You see one small table by the window. Is this table free?
Paul: Is this table free? Free again, like the seat on the bus. Nobody is using it.
Emily: Your friend passes you a menu with a big photo of noodles. That looks delicious.
Paul: That looks delicious. We say it when the picture makes us want to eat.
Emily: The waiter arrives with a pen. You choose a dish from the menu. I’ll have this one.
Paul: I’ll have this one. At a cafe, I can say it, and the waiter understands.
Emily: And you can think the same sentence on the bus. Say it with us. I’ll have this one.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: Then you see the number next to the photo. It’s too expensive.
Paul: It’s too expensive. So I look for a cheaper dish.
Emily: Your bowl comes, hot, with green onion. You try it. This is so good.
Paul: This is so good. Hot noodles on a cold day.
Emily: You taste it again, and there is a problem. It’s a little salty.
Paul: It’s a little salty. Okay, I’ll ask for water, not for a fight.
Emily: Your bowl is empty now. I’m full.
Paul: I’m full. No space left for one more noodle.
Emily: You want the bill, but you can’t find your waiter. Where’s the waiter?
Paul: Where’s the waiter? He was everywhere before. Now he’s gone.
Emily: The bill comes, and you look at your coworker. Let’s split the bill.
Paul: Let’s split the bill. Split means cut in two. Half for you, half for me.
Emily: That’s fifty-five sentences. More than half of them are behind us.
Paul: I’m still fresh. Usually my English battery is low by now.
Emily: Because the sentences are tiny. A tiny sentence costs almost no energy.
Paul: That’s true. Think small. Speak now.
Emily: That’s our sentence. Quick round. Before Paul. The bill has a very big number.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: It’s too expensive.
Emily: Now the sandwich. It’s too expensive. Change the inside.
Paul: It’s too sweet. It’s too loud. It’s too small. It’s too late. I like this sandwich.
Emily: Moment six. Other people. This one is big.
Paul: This is the hard one. When people talk to me, my own language comes back very fast.
Emily: I know. You want to understand every word. So here are short sentences for people. At a friend’s party, you shake hands with someone. Nice to meet you.
Paul: Nice to meet you. Easy. I say it with a big smile.
Emily: You meet someone friendly. You want to use her name. What’s her name again?
Paul: What’s her name again? It’s on the tip of my tongue, but not today.
Emily: A man tells a story very fast, and you lose the middle. Can you say that again?
Paul: Can you say that again? A thought and a question. Very useful.
Emily: But maybe you feel shy about asking. Then your head says, what did he say?
Paul: What did he say? Usually I laugh a little and pretend I understood.
Emily: Your friend tells a funny story about her cat. That’s so funny.
Paul: That’s so funny. I laugh, and I feel smart.
Emily: Your friend says, I hate Mondays. You feel the same. Me too!
Paul: Me too! Two words. Short, fast, friendly.
Emily: Your neighbor says the shop closes at six on Sunday. I didn’t know that.
Paul: I didn’t know that. I always arrive at six fifteen.
Emily: Same here. Good to know.
Emily: A teacher draws the steps on the board, and the steps are clear. That makes sense.
Paul: That makes sense. The puzzle is finished.
Emily: Someone asks, which one is better? You haven’t decided. I’m not sure.
Paul: I’m not sure. It keeps the door open.
Emily: Now a hard moment. The idea is in your head, but one English word is missing. How do I say this?
Paul: How do I say this? I say it in my head with a small frown.
Emily: Listen to the sentence you just said. Every word is English.
Paul: Oh. Then I’m still inside, even when I’m stuck.
Emily: You keep going, you listen, you smile. At the end you leave. That went well.
Paul: That went well. I hear it in my head on the way home.
Emily: That’s sixty-six. Quick round. Before Paul. A tour guide talks very fast at a museum.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Can you say that again?
Emily: Your new neighbor says, I love baking.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Me too!
Emily: Paul, a difficult question. When a word is missing, what does your head do?
Paul: It jumps to my own language, finds the word, and jumps back with it.
Emily: Every jump like that costs seconds. So here is our third tool. The window.
Paul: We have a sandwich, a camera, and now a window.
Emily: Imagine a house. The front door is locked, that’s the word you don’t know. But a window is open, so you go in that way.
Paul: How do I use a window?
Emily: You describe the thing with easy words. The thing for washing hair. The place for buying bread.
Paul: Shampoo. A bakery. Oh, this is a word puzzle.
Emily: Perfect. And you have a story about a missing word, Paul.
Paul: I do. Last spring, on a Saturday morning, I went to a big hardware store.
Paul: I had a new painting of the sea. I needed a small metal thing to hang it on the wall. I didn’t know the word.
Emily: So the door was locked.
Paul: Locked. I walked around for twenty minutes. Aisle seven, aisle eight, nothing.
Paul: Finally, a man in an orange shirt asked, can I help you? And I said, I need the thing for hanging a picture on the wall.
Emily: The window!
Paul: The window. He said, oh, a hook. Aisle three. It took him two seconds.
Emily: Twenty minutes alone, and two seconds with the window.
Paul: And now I remember the word forever, because I remember the orange shirt.
Emily: Your turn, everyone. I use the window. You find the word.
Emily: The thing for drying your hands.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: A towel.
Emily: The person who brings your parcel to the door.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: A courier.
Emily: Moment seven. Feelings. This part of the day moves fast.
Paul: True. A feeling lasts a moment, and then the moment is a memory.
Emily: Your friend says, the concert is on Friday! I can’t wait!
Paul: I can’t wait! So I’m very excited. Friday, please come faster.
Emily: Before a phone call or an interview, your hands are cold. I’m a little nervous.
Paul: I’m a little nervous. That has a gentle sound.
Emily: Now imagine you call your new boss by the wrong name, in front of the team. That was embarrassing.
Paul: That was embarrassing. Is it the same as shy?
Emily: Not exactly. Shy is before, embarrassing is after. Once I answered, nice to meet you, to the question, how are you? Everybody smiled.
Paul: Oh no. And then?
Emily: My neighbor winked and said, it’s not a big deal.
Paul: It’s not a big deal. Small words, big relief.
Emily: A week later, even I forgot the story. Next one, an honest one. I made a mistake.
Paul: I made a mistake. A short sentence, and the world doesn’t end.
Emily: And then the kind voice in your head. It’s okay. Try again.
Paul: It’s okay. Try again. I like this voice. It’s like a good coach.
Emily: Sometimes the mistake is too tiny to keep. You can drop it. Never mind.
Paul: Never mind. Drop it, move on.
Emily: Say it with us. Never mind.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: You sit in the sun for five minutes. I feel better now.
Paul: I feel better now. Like someone opened a window.
Emily: Your friend gets a new job. I’m so happy for you.
Paul: I’m so happy for you. I can say this one out loud too.
Emily: Then you finally finish a long project you were afraid of. I’m proud of myself.
Paul: I’m proud of myself. I want to say it quietly first.
Emily: Go ahead, in a whisper.
Paul: I’m proud of myself. Nice. I can say it louder tomorrow.
Emily: And a quiet one. You hear a song from your childhood. I miss my family.
Paul: I miss my family. My mom sang that kind of song in the kitchen.
Emily: That’s seventy-seven. Now the sandwich for feelings. The start stays, I’m a little. The end changes.
Paul: I’m a little tired. I’m a little cold. I’m a little shy. I’m a little busy.
Emily: Notice how a little works like a volume knob. I’m so nervous is loud. I’m a little nervous is quiet.
Paul: And the quiet one is the one I choose before calls.
Emily: Quick round. Before Paul. You wait outside the dentist’s door, and your hands are cold.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’m a little nervous.
Emily: A bus splashes water on your shoe.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Never mind. It’s not a big deal.
Emily: Moment eight. Work is finished. On your way home, you stop at the supermarket.
Paul: I go every day, because I never make a list.
Emily: You open the fridge in your head. I’m out of milk.
Paul: I’m out of milk. Out of means I had some, and now I have none.
Emily: The sandwich works here. I’m out of eggs. I’m out of coffee.
Paul: I’m out of time. That’s not food, but it’s very true.
Emily: Inside the shop, you walk and walk. Where is the bread?
Paul: Where is the bread? Always at the back.
Emily: You see a yellow sign. Is this on sale?
Paul: Is this on sale? On sale means cheaper for a short time.
Emily: You pick up a bag of rice. How much is it?
Paul: How much is it? Then I look for the small price tag.
Emily: The price is low. That’s a good price.
Paul: That’s a good price. I put two in the basket.
Emily: There are two kinds of cheese. Which one is cheaper?
Paul: Which one is cheaper? I take the cheaper one. Then I want the other one at home.
Emily: You look for your favorite yogurt, and the shelf is empty. They don’t have it.
Paul: They don’t have it. Sad, but okay. Next time.
Emily: At the front, ten people are waiting. The line is so long.
Paul: The line is so long. A line is people waiting, one behind another.
Emily: When it’s your turn, you ask, can I pay by card?
Paul: Can I pay by card? I never have cash.
Emily: Then your hands are empty. I forgot my bag.
Paul: I forgot my bag. Now I carry six things in my arms, like a juggler.
Emily: When you walk out, you check once more. I got everything.
Paul: I got everything. Except the yogurt. That’s eighty-eight.
Emily: Quick round. Before Paul. You open the fridge. No milk.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’m out of milk.
Emily: Moment nine, the last one. It’s seven in the evening. You sit at the kitchen table, and you send a voice message to your mom.
Paul: I do this every evening. But today, in English.
Emily: Your day is finished, so the sentences change a little. They are in the past.
Paul: Because it already happened.
Emily: Right. For example, I have becomes I had. I miss becomes I missed. Small changes.
Paul: Okay. Let me start. Hi, Mom. I woke up late.
Emily: I woke up late. Remember the loud alarm and the five more minutes?
Paul: Yes. Five became fifteen. Then, I missed the bus.
Emily: I missed the bus. Here miss means the bus left without you.
Paul: Exactly. Then at lunch, I had soup.
Emily: I had soup for lunch. Say it with Paul. I had soup for lunch.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: At work, I didn’t understand an email. So I asked a question.
Emily: I asked a question. That’s the brave one. And?
Paul: It was easy. Then at the cafe, I talked to someone new.
Emily: I talked to someone new. And the afternoon meeting?
Paul: I made a small mistake, a wrong number. But it was fine.
Emily: It was fine. How did you feel before it?
Paul: I was a little nervous. Just a little.
Emily: Volume down. And on the way home?
Paul: I bought milk and eggs. But no yogurt.
Emily: Poor Paul. Two sentences left. What else happened?
Paul: I learned something new. A hook is a hook, even if you forget the word.
Emily: Ha. And number ninety-nine.
Paul: I’m glad I tried. Love you, Mom. Bye.
Emily: That was ninety-nine, Paul. One whole day in English.
Paul: And every sentence came from a real moment. It was a review, and a real message too.
Emily: Now your turn, everyone. Tell us three things about your day. Past sentences, short ones.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Maybe you said, I woke up early. I had rice for lunch. I talked to my friend. Perfect.
Emily: Now a place lap. I name a place, and you say one sentence from today. Three seconds each.
Emily: The bakery.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Something smells good.
Emily: The crowded bus.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: It’s so crowded.
Emily: The desk.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Where do I start?
Emily: The cafe table.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’ll have this one.
Emily: A party.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: Nice to meet you.
Emily: The concert line.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I can’t wait!
Emily: The market.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: How much is it?
Emily: The front door at night.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: See you tonight.
Emily: Your phone, a voice message.
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: I’m glad I tried.
Emily: Nine places, nine sentences, and your head stayed in English.
Paul: I didn’t even have time to think about my other language.
Emily: Now, the title says start speaking. So let’s take these thoughts out of your head. A thought is a draft. Speaking is pressing send.
Paul: Like writing a message, and then pressing the button.
Emily: Remember my laundry room? Let’s play it again. I am the neighbor. You are me.
Paul: Okay. The machine is beeping. The water is still inside.
Emily: Hi. Everything okay?
Paul: My draft is, it’s not working. Now I press send. Hi. It’s not working. Can you help me?
Emily: Sure. You need to press this button. There. It’s working now.
Paul: Thank you so much. I’m new here. I’m on the second floor.
Emily: Nice to meet you. I’m on the third floor.
Paul: Nice to meet you too. That went well.
Emily: Ten seconds of silence became a new friend. Now everyone, you are in the laundry room. I’m the neighbor.
Emily: Hi. Everything okay?
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: You can say, it’s not working. Can you help me?
Emily: Sure. There you go. Do you live here?
Emily: One… two… three…
Paul: You can say, yes, I’m new here. Nice to meet you.
Emily: Scene two. The supermarket. Paul is the cashier. You are the customer.
Paul: Hello. Do you have a bag?
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: You can say, oh no, I forgot my bag.
Paul: No problem. A bag is ten cents. Is that okay?
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: You can say, yes, please. Can I pay by card?
Paul: Of course. Here you go. Did you find everything?
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: You can say, I got everything. But they don’t have my yogurt.
Paul: Ha. Have a nice evening.
Emily: You did it. Short drafts, and you pressed send. That is speaking.
Emily: Now one small task for today. Tonight, before you turn off the light, say three past sentences about your day. Out loud.
Paul: Short ones. Under six words each. Like, I missed the bus. I had soup. I’m glad I tried.
Emily: One minute is enough. And tomorrow, your head will start the day in English a little faster.
Paul: And I know my first sentence tomorrow morning. What a nice morning.
Emily: I like that plan. And our sentence for today, one more time. Think small. Speak now.
Paul: Think small. Speak now. Everyone, say it with us.
Emily: One… two… three…
Emily: So, today we learned three things. First, your head sends text messages, not letters.
Paul: Second, three little tools. The sandwich, the camera, and the window.
Emily: And third, the past. I have becomes I had. So you can tell your day to someone you love.
Paul: Now we want to hear from you. Write three small thoughts you had this morning, in English. In the comments.
Emily: Three to five words each. We read every comment.
Paul: In our next episode, we talk about small talk at the coffee machine at work.
Emily: If this lesson helped you, please subscribe, so you can find us again.
Paul: Thank you for learning with us. I’m Paul.
Emily: And I’m Emily. See you next time. Think small, and keep talking.