Into the Story: Learn English with True Stories

Into the Story is back with new episodes on January 2, 2024!

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When Luke’s daughter loses something important, he goes on a mission through Paris to get it back.

Level: Advanced

Accent: United Kingdom (London)

🚐 Ready to take your English further? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOR FULL EPISODE PACKAGE⁠ with vocabulary, test, and transcript!

5words and expressions in today's story:

- TO NOT FIT IN: When you don't feel like you belong or are accepted in a specific group or situation.

- TO PUNCH SOMETHING OR SOMEONE: A strong hit made with a closed fist, often used in sports or as a sign of aggression.

- TO BE SEEDY OR DODGY: A part of town that is considered run-down, disreputable, or unsafe, often due to crime or lack of cleanliness.

- TO TURN UP SOMEWHERE: To arrive or appear at a specific place or event.

- TO BE FAST ASLEEP: Being in a deep sleep, often used to describe someone who is sleeping soundly and not easily awakened.

Episode Links:

- Find out more about Luke Thompson at ⁠Teacherluke.co.uk⁠

- Listen to The Superpower of Starting English Early with Kids on Luke’s English Podcast

- Watch Bree and Luke on YouTube

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Clive tells his story of opening businesses in different countries, working as a chef on private jets and yachts, in a search for new experiences and human connection.

Level: Upper-intermediate
Accent: North American (Canada)

5 words and expressions in today's story:

TO TALK YOURSELF / YOUR WAY INTO SOMETHING: To talk yourself into something" means convincing yourself to do it using persuasive words, like when someone persuades themselves to ride a roller coaster despite being scared. Clive explains it as "to talk your way into an opportunity," which is using convincing words or arguments to get someone to give you a chance or access to something,. For example, "He talked himself into a job interview by impressing the hiring manager with his skills"

PINNACLE: the highest point or peak of something, often used to describe achieving success or excellence. For example, "Winning the championship was the pinnacle of his career" or "Reaching the summit of the mountain was the pinnacle of our hike."

TO RIP APART: This means to completely dismantle and reconstruct something, often referring to buildings or structures. For instance, "They had to rip apart the old house and rebuild it due to extensive damage" or "He decided to rip apart the old engine and rebuild it from scratch."

RELENTLESS: Relentless describes something that is continuous, persistent, or unyielding in its effort or pursuit. For example, "His relentless dedication to his studies paid off with excellent grades" or "The relentless rain continued for days."

TO BELONG / TO LAY ROOTS SOMEWHERE: To belong means feeling like you are a part of a particular group, place, or community where you fit in and are accepted. It's the sense of being connected or included. For instance, "Moving to a new city made it hard for him to feel like he belonged at first. "To lay roots somewhere means to establish a stable presence in a specific location. It involves making a place your home and investing time and effort in it to build connections and a sense of belonging. For example, "After years of traveling, John decided to lay roots in a small coastal town."

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Mark tells the story of organizing a unique TEDx event hosted at the US-Mexico border.

Level: Advanced
Accent: North American (California)

6 words and expressions in today's story:

TO COME UP WITH: To think of or create something, like an idea or a plan. Examples: "I need to come up with a new recipe for dinner tonight." or "She came up with a brilliant solution to the problem."

IT’S ALL ON YOU: You are responsible for something; everything depends on you. Examples: "If you want to succeed, it's all on you to study hard." or "The success of the project is all on you now."

TO BE MESSED UP: To make a mistake or cause a problem. Examples: "I messed up my presentation by forgetting the main points." or "Don't worry if you mess up; we all make mistakes."

TO DODGE A BULLET: To narrowly avoid a dangerous or problematic situation. Examples: "I really dodged a bullet by missing that car accident." or "He felt lucky to have dodged a bullet and passed the difficult exam."

TEAR DOWN / TAKE DOWN / PUT UP (a stage): Tear down and take down means to disassemble or remove a structure or stage. Put up means to assemble or set up something. Examples: "After the concert, they quickly tore/took down the stage." or "Let's put up the tent for our camping trip."

ELATION / A SENSE OF ELATION / TO BE ELATED: A strong feeling of happiness or joy. Examples: "Winning the game gave us a sense of elation." or “She felt a sense of elation when she achieved her goal."

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Bonnie tells a story about receiving news about a terrorist attack in Nice, France, where her daughter and family were vacationing, highlighting the power of staying grounded and present in the face of uncertainty.

Level: intermediate
Accent: North American (Canada)

5 words and expressions in today's story:

TO SCROLL: Scrolling refers to the action of moving the content up or down on a digital screen using your finger or mouse. It's what you do to see more information on websites, social media, or documents. For example: I was scrolling through my social media feed to see pictures from my friends' vacations. She scrolled down the webpage to read the entire article.

MAYHEM: Mayhem means a state of chaos, disorder, or extreme confusion. It often describes situations where there is a lot of noise, movement, and unpredictability. For example: After the soccer match, there was mayhem in the stadium as fans celebrated their team's victory. The sudden thunderstorm caused mayhem at the outdoor picnic, with people scrambling for cover.

TO REGISTER: To register means to become aware of or notice something. It's when you suddenly understand or realize information. For example: It took a moment for me to register that I had left my keys at home. She didn't immediately register the importance of the message until her friend explained it to her.

TO PACE: Pacing refers to the act of walking back and forth, often nervously or restlessly, usually in a small area. It's a way people move when they're feeling anxious or impatient. For example: He couldn't sit still, so he paced around the room while waiting for his turn to speak. She paced back and forth in her office, trying to come up with a solution to the problem.

TO MAKE YOUR WAY SOMEWHERE: To make your way somewhere means to travel or move in a specific direction or to a particular destination. It's about journeying from one place to another. For example, They made their way to the top of the mountain, enjoying the scenic hike along the trail. After the concert, they made their way to the nearby café for a late-night snack.

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Keena makes a long trip home after spending the summer in Greece. This episode originally aired April 2021.

Level: upper intermediate
Accent: North American (Canada)

5 words and expressions in today's story:

FANNY PACK: A small bag or pouch with a strap, typically worn around the waist, used for carrying personal items. In British English, it's known as a "bum bag." Example: "She kept her keys and phone in her fanny pack while hiking."

STASH: A hidden or secret supply of something. Example: "She had a stash of snacks in her desk drawer for when get got hungry."

TO GET RID OF SOMETHING: To dispose of something, eliminate, or remove. Example: "I need to get rid of these old clothes that no longer fit."

TO PICK AT YOUR FOOD: To eat small amounts of food without much appetite or enthusiasm. Example: "When she's nervous, she tends to pick at her food rather than eating a full meal."

TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF: To make the most of an opportunity or situation. Can be used positively or negatively. Example: "He decided to take advantage of the holiday to visit his family." / "She took advantage of his kindness to manipulate him."

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Alicia was sick with cancer, for the second time. She was at her lowest low. It was 3 am, and she made a decision: if she could find one person a day to talk to and effect positively, then she knew she could make it through.

Level: intermediate
Accent: North American (Texas)

5 words and expressions in today's story:

TO PULL YOURSELF OUT OF SOMETHING means to remove oneself from a difficult or undesirable situation. It is like freeing yourself from a problem or challenge. Example: "After a difficult breakup, she had to pull herself out of the sadness and start afresh."

TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE means to start a conversation in a friendly or informal manner, often with someone you don't know well or have just met. Example: "At the party, I struck up a conversation with a stranger who shared similar interests."

TO HEAL, TO BE HEALED, TO BE HEALING are related to the process of recovering from an injury, illness, or emotional distress. Example: "With proper care, the wound will heal in a few days."

A LIFELINE refers to a person or thing that provides crucial help or support in difficult or desperate situations. Example: "During her tough times, her best friend became her lifeline, offering constant encouragement and support."

A PURPOSE / A CALLING refers to a sense of meaning or direction in life, a reason for existence, or a strong conviction that drives someone to pursue specific goals or fulfill a particular role. Example: "She found her purpose in volunteering to help disadvantaged communities."

Do you want to take your English to the next level? CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LEARNING MATERIALS, INCLUDING TRANSCRIPT, COMPREHENSION EXERCISES AND OTHER GOODIES!

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Thanks for being a part of the Into the Story community.

Alicia was sick with cancer, for the second time. She was at her lowest low. It was 3 am, and she made a decision: if she could find one person a day to talk to and effect positively, then she knew she could make it through.

Level: intermediate
Accent: North American (Texas)

5 words and expressions in today's story:

TO PULL YOURSELF OUT OF SOMETHING means to remove oneself from a difficult or undesirable situation. It is like freeing yourself from a problem or challenge. Example: "After a difficult breakup, she had to pull herself out of the sadness and start afresh."

TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE means to start a conversation in a friendly or informal manner, often with someone you don't know well or have just met. Example: "At the party, I struck up a conversation with a stranger who shared similar interests."

TO HEAL, TO BE HEALED, TO BE HEALING are related to the process of recovering from an injury, illness, or emotional distress. Example: "With proper care, the wound will heal in a few days."

A LIFELINE refers to a person or thing that provides crucial help or support in difficult or desperate situations. Example: "During her tough times, her best friend became her lifeline, offering constant encouragement and support."

A PURPOSE / A CALLING refers to a sense of meaning or direction in life, a reason for existence, or a strong conviction that drives someone to pursue specific goals or fulfill a particular role. Example: "She found her purpose in volunteering to help disadvantaged communities."

Do you want to take your English to the next level? CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LEARNING MATERIALS, INCLUDING TRANSCRIPT, COMPREHENSION EXERCISES AND OTHER GOODIES!

If you like Into the Story, share it now with one friend who needs help with their English.

Thanks for being a part of the Into the Story community.

Sam embarks on a seven-day horseback trip with her boyfriend in the picturesque wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in Canada. She reconnects with her childhood love of horse riding after the loss of her mom, finding solace and adventure in the mountains. As they navigate through stunning landscapes, unexpected challenges arise.

Level: intermediate
Accent: Canadian

5 words and expressions in today's story:

• TO BE IN AWE OF: To feel amazed and impressed by something very special. Example: The kids were in awe of the beautiful fireworks on New Year's Eve.
• EERIE: Something that feels a bit scary or strange. Example: Walking through the foggy forest at night felt eerie because of the spooky sounds.
• TO BE UNEASY/ ANTSY/ANXIOUS: To feel a little nervous or worried, not feeling calm. Example: Sarah was uneasy about her first day at a new school. Tom felt antsy before the big test because he wasn't sure if he had studied enough.
• TO FEED OFF OF (ENERGY) "horses feed off of your energy": To get energy or feelings from someone or something else. Example: The happy crowd's cheers fed off of the performer's energy during the concert.
• MEADOW: A beautiful field with grass and flowers. Example: The picnic was set up in a lovely meadow with butterflies flying around.

Do you want to take your English to the next level? Then, CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LEARNING MATERIALS, INCLUDING TRANSCRIPT AND COMPREHENSION EXERCISES.

If you like Into the Story, please share it with one friend who also needs help with their English. Thanks for listening!

Sam embarks on a seven-day horseback trip with her boyfriend in the picturesque wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in Canada. She reconnects with her childhood love of horse riding after the loss of her mom, finding solace and adventure in the mountains. As they navigate through stunning landscapes, unexpected challenges arise.

Level: intermediate
Accent: Canadian

5 words and expressions in today's story:

• TO BE IN AWE OF: To feel amazed and impressed by something very special. Example: The kids were in awe of the beautiful fireworks on New Year's Eve.
• EERIE: Something that feels a bit scary or strange. Example: Walking through the foggy forest at night felt eerie because of the spooky sounds.
• TO BE UNEASY/ ANTSY/ANXIOUS: To feel a little nervous or worried, not feeling calm. Example: Sarah was uneasy about her first day at a new school. Tom felt antsy before the big test because he wasn't sure if he had studied enough.
• TO FEED OFF OF (ENERGY) "horses feed off of your energy": To get energy or feelings from someone or something else. Example: The happy crowd's cheers fed off of the performer's energy during the concert.
• MEADOW: A beautiful field with grass and flowers. Example: The picnic was set up in a lovely meadow with butterflies flying around.

Do you want to take your English to the next level? Then, CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LEARNING MATERIALS, INCLUDING TRANSCRIPT AND COMPREHENSION EXERCISES.

If you like Into the Story, please share it with one friend who also needs help with their English. Thanks for listening!