30 Useful English Phrases from October — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Intro

A: Today is different. No new topic — we’re going back over October.

B: Thirty phrases from this month, in six groups, and each group ends with a short conversation.

A: Feelings, hotels and home, the gym and your phone, movies and TV, work, and plans and holidays.

B: Then one long week that brings the groups together, and a quick review at the end. Every episode we mention is linked below.

A: You can practice these phrases in Recursio — the link is in the description.

B: Let’s start with how you feel.

Feelings

A: Group one — from “How to Say How You Really Feel” and “Ten Mistakes People Make Talking About Feelings.”

B: Number one: I’m over the moon. You’re very, very happy. “I got the job — I’m over the moon!”

A: Number two: I’m a bit down. You’re feeling a little sad or unhappy.

B: Number three: to cheer someone up. To help a sad person feel better. “Let’s cheer her up with pizza.”

A: Number four: I’m fed up with something. You’ve had enough of it, and you’re tired of it. “I’m fed up with this rain.”

B: And number five: What a relief! Something you were worried about is over or turns out okay, and you can relax.

A: Let’s use them. I’m calling you on a gray Monday evening.

B: Hi. You sound quiet.

A: Yeah, I’m a bit down. I’m fed up with my commute — two hours on the train every day.

B: Oh no. Do you want me to come over and cheer you up?

A: Maybe. Wait — I’ve got a message from my manager.

B: What does it say?

A: I can work from home on Fridays! What a relief!

B: That’s great news.

A: Honestly? I’m over the moon.

B: Five phrases, and one very good Monday.

A: One small mistake from the feelings episode is worth a second look.

B: “It makes me to feel”?

A: Exactly. There’s no “to.” It makes me feel happy. It makes me feel nervous.

B: And one more: “I’m worry” is wrong. You’re worried — with “-ed” at the end.

Hotels and home

A: Group two — from “Twelve Phrases for Your Hotel Stay,” “Who Does the Dishes?” and “Ten Mistakes People Make Talking About Home.”

B: Number six: I have a reservation under… — then your name. The first thing you say at the front desk.

A: Number seven: Could I get a late checkout? You ask to leave your room later than usual.

B: Number eight: to do the chores. All the small jobs at home — cleaning, cooking, washing.

A: Number nine: to take out the trash. To carry the garbage out of the house. In British English, it’s often “take out the rubbish.”

B: And number ten: It’s your turn. Now it’s your time to do something. “I did the dishes yesterday. It’s your turn.”

A: Two scenes this time. First, a hotel. You’re the receptionist.

B: Good afternoon. How can I help you?

A: Hi. I have a reservation under Kim.

B: Yes, two nights. Here’s your key card.

A: Thank you. And on Sunday — could I get a late checkout? My train is at four.

B: Of course. Twelve o’clock is no problem.

A: Perfect. Now, back home, one week later.

B: Okay. I’m your roommate.

A: The kitchen is a mess. Who’s doing the chores this weekend?

B: I vacuumed on Wednesday. It’s your turn.

A: Fair. I’ll do the dishes, and I’ll take out the trash.

B: Five phrases, one hotel and one clean kitchen.

A: And one from the home mistakes episode that people say every evening.

B: “Close the light”?

A: Yes. In English, you turn off the light — and you turn on the TV. You don’t open it.

The gym and your phone

B: Next — let’s get moving.

A: Group three — from “Twelve Gym Phrases,” “My Phone Died!” and “Ten Tech Words Learners Get Wrong.”

B: Number eleven: to warm up. To do easy exercises before you train hard.

A: Number twelve: I’m sore. Your muscles hurt — usually the day after the gym.

B: Number thirteen: My phone died. The battery is empty, and the phone turned off.

A: Number fourteen: It keeps crashing. It stops working again and again. “This app keeps crashing.”

B: And number fifteen: Have you tried restarting it? The first question everybody asks about a tech problem.

A: Let’s put them in one scene. We’re at the gym, early in the morning.

B: You look tired.

A: I’m sore from Monday. I didn’t warm up.

B: Always warm up. Anyway, can you film my squat?

A: Sure. Oh no. My phone died.

B: Use mine. Wait — the camera app keeps crashing.

A: Have you tried restarting it?

B: Okay… It works now. You’re a genius.

A: Five phrases, and one very short video.

B: And one pair from the tech mistakes episode.

A: Charge or charger?

B: You charge your phone. A charger is the device you use to charge it. “Can I borrow your charger?”

A: If you want to keep these phrases, save them in Recursio — it brings them back before you forget.

Movies and TV

B: Group four — from “No Spoilers! Twelve Phrases for Movies and TV.”

A: Number sixteen: Have you seen…? The easiest way to start talking about a movie or a show. “Have you seen the new Batman?”

B: Number seventeen: What’s it about? You ask for the story — just the start, not the ending.

A: Number eighteen: It’s worth watching. It’s good, and it’s worth your time.

B: Number nineteen: to binge-watch. To watch many episodes, one after another. “I binge-watched the whole season on Sunday.”

A: And number twenty: No spoilers! Don’t tell me what happens.

B: A coffee break at work. I’ll start.

A: Go ahead.

B: Have you seen that new detective show?

A: Not yet. What’s it about?

B: A police officer in a small town. Everybody has a secret.

A: Is it worth watching?

B: Definitely. I binge-watched six episodes last night.

A: Six? So how does it…

B: Oh, the ending is crazy — the officer is…

A: Stop! No spoilers!

B: Five phrases, and one secret still safe.

A: One phrase from that episode for when you didn’t love something.

B: “It was a bit slow.”

A: It’s softer than “It was boring.” You’re honest, but you’re still polite.

At work

B: Next, the office.

A: Group five — from “Can I Take Friday Off?” and “Ten Work English Mistakes.”

B: Number twenty-one: Do you have a minute? A polite way to start a conversation with a busy person.

A: Number twenty-two: I was wondering if… A soft way to ask for something. “I was wondering if I could leave early.”

B: Number twenty-three: I’m swamped. You have too much work and no time.

A: Number twenty-four: to work from home. To do your job at home, not at the office.

B: And number twenty-five: to cover for someone. To do a coworker’s work when they’re away.

A: Let’s hear a talk with the boss. I’m your manager.

B: Hi. Do you have a minute?

A: Sure. What’s up?

B: I was wondering if I could take Friday off. My brother is getting married.

A: Congratulations! But Friday… I know you’re swamped this week.

B: I am. But I’ll finish the report on Thursday, and Sam can cover for me.

A: Okay. And on Monday you can work from home if you need to rest.

B: Thank you so much.

A: Five phrases, and one happy wedding guest.

B: And one pair from the work mistakes episode.

A: Colleague or college?

B: A colleague is a person you work with. A college is a school. “My colleague went to college in Ohio.”

Plans and holidays

A: Group six — from “What Are Your Plans?” and “Trick or Treat?”

B: Number twenty-six: I’m thinking of… with “-ing.” A plan that isn’t decided yet. “I’m thinking of learning Spanish.”

A: Number twenty-seven: It’s still up in the air. It’s not decided. Nobody knows yet.

B: Number twenty-eight: We’ll see. Maybe — we’ll know later.

A: Number twenty-nine: to throw a party. To organize a party for other people.

B: And number thirty: to dress up as something. To wear a costume. “I’m dressing up as a pirate.”

A: This episode comes out on Halloween, so let’s talk about it.

B: Okay. So, what are you doing for Halloween?

A: My sister is throwing a party. I’m thinking of dressing up as a vampire.

B: Nice. And next weekend?

A: Next weekend is still up in the air. Maybe a trip to the mountains.

B: With the weather this month?

A: We’ll see.

B: Five phrases, one party and one maybe.

A: And one small one from the holidays episode.

B: Trick or treat!

A: That’s what kids say at the door on Halloween. And you answer: Happy Halloween! — and give them candy.

One long week

B: That’s all six groups.

A: Before the review, let’s do something harder. One week, Monday to Friday, with phrases from every group.

B: I’ll narrate, you speak.

A: Ready.

B: Monday. It’s raining again, and your bus is late again. A friend texts to ask how you are.

A: Honestly, I’m a bit down. I’m fed up with this weather.

B: She sends you a funny video to cheer you up. It works.

A: Thanks — I needed that.

B: Tuesday. You have three deadlines. A coworker asks you to lunch.

A: Sorry, I can’t. I’m swamped today.

B: In the afternoon, you knock on your manager’s door.

A: Do you have a minute? I was wondering if I could work from home on Friday.

B: She says yes. Your coworker can cover for you at the front desk while you work on the report at home.

A: What a relief!

B: Wednesday. The gym. You didn’t warm up last time, and you’re still sore.

A: This time, I’m warming up first.

B: After the workout, you want to call home, but the screen is black.

A: My phone died. And yesterday the music app kept crashing. I need a new phone.

B: Thursday evening. Your roommate is on the sofa.

A: Have you seen that new detective show? Is it worth watching?

B: She says she binge-watched the whole season. Then she starts to tell you the ending.

A: No spoilers! And by the way, it’s your turn to take out the trash.

B: Friday. You work from home, and your best friend calls.

A: Big news — I got the job in Lisbon. I’m over the moon!

B: She asks when you’re moving.

A: It’s still up in the air. Maybe in January. We’ll see.

B: She says she’s throwing a party for you on Saturday — a Halloween party.

A: Then I’m dressing up as a pirate.

B: One week, one person, and about twenty of today’s phrases.

A: And not one of them needed a long sentence.

B: That’s the thing about B1. You don’t need complicated English. You need the right short sentence at the right moment.

Quick review

A: Six quick questions to finish. Answer in the pause, then listen for the answer.

B: No writing — just say it out loud.

A: You just heard amazing news, and you’re very, very happy. What do you say?

B: I’m over the moon!

B: You’re at a hotel, and you want to leave your room at two, not at eleven. What do you ask?

A: Could I get a late checkout?

A: Your laptop stops working again and again. How do you describe it?

B: It keeps crashing.

B: A friend starts telling you the end of a movie you haven’t seen. What do you say?

A: No spoilers!

A: You want to ask your boss for Friday off, politely. How do you start the question?

B: I was wondering if I could take Friday off.

B: A friend asks about your plans for next month, and nothing is decided. What do you say?

A: It’s still up in the air.

A: And that’s the month.

Outro

B: So that was October: thirty phrases, six groups, thirteen episodes.

A: Feelings. Hotels and home. The gym and your phone. Movies and TV. Work. And plans and holidays.

B: Every episode we mentioned today is linked below, so you can go back to any of them.

A: And if you want more practice, open the Recursio link below and review the phrases again — because what matters isn’t hearing them once, it’s coming back to them.

B: Thank you for a good month of listening — and Happy Halloween.

A: See you in November, and take care.