Talk - Pratiquez votre anglais

I found that nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks nothing. Nelson Mandela said there is no passion to be found playing small and settling for a life that's less than the one you're capable of living. Now I'm sure in your experiences in school and applying to college and picking your major and deciding what you want to do with life. I'm sure people have told you to make sure you have something to fall back on make sure you got something to fall back on honey but I never understood that concept, having something to fall back on. if I'm going to fall I don't want to fall back on anything except my faith. I want to fall forward. I figure at least this way I'll see what I'm going to hit full forward this is what I mean. Reggie Jackson struck out 2600 times in his career the most in the history of baseball but you don't hear about the strikeouts people remember the home runs, fall forward. Thomas Edison conducted 1 000 failed experiments did you know that. I didn't know that because the one thousand and first was the light bulb, fall forward. every failed experiment is one step closer to success you've got to take risks and I'm sure you've probably heard that before you will fail at some point in your life accept it you will lose you will embarrass yourself you will suck at something there's no doubt about it. I'm telling you embrace it because it's inevitable and I should know in the acting business you fail all the time early on in my career I auditioned for a part in a Broadway musical perfect role for me. I thought except for the fact that I can't sing. I didn't get the job. but here's the thing: I didn't quit. I didn't fall back. I walked out of there to prepare for the next audition and the next audition and the next audition. I prayed. I prayed and I prayed, that I continue to fail and fail and failed but it didn't matter because you know what there's an old saying you hang around the barbershop long enough sooner or later you're going to get a haircut. so you will catch a break and I did catch a break. if you don't fail you're not even trying. I'll say it again: if you don't fail you're not even trying. my wife told me this great expression to get something you never had you have to do something you never did Les Brown's a motivational speaker he made an analogy about this he says imagine you're on your deathbed and standing around your deathbed are the ghosts representing your unfulfilled potential the ghost of the ideas you never acted on the ghost of the talents you didn't use and they're standing around your bed angry disappointed and upset they say we we came to you because you could have brought us to life they say and now we have to go to the Grave together so I ask you today how many ghosts are going to be around your bed when your time comes so you got to get out there you got to give it everything you got whether it's your time your talent your prayers or your Treasures so the question is what are you going to do with what you have I'm not talking about how much you have some of you are business majors some of you are theologians nurses sociologists some of you have money some of you have patience some of you have kindness some of you have love some of you have the gift of long-suffering whatever it is whatever your gift is what are you going to do with what you have [Music] sometimes it's the best way to figure out where you're going your life will never be a straight path and I can't think of a better message as we send you off today to not only take risks but to be open to life to accept new views and to be open to new opinions because the chances you take the People You Meet the people you love the faith that you have that's what's going to Define you never be discouraged never hold back give everything you got and when you fall throughout life and maybe even tonight after a few mini glasses of champagne remember this fall forward foreign

Hello, you wonderful people. Welcome. My name is Roy, your British English teacher and guide to speaking English more naturally and confidently. And in today’s lesson, we’re going to talk about something really important. We’re going to learn how to introduce yourself in English - clearly, naturally, and without sounding like a textbook. So, as I’ve already said, my name is Roy. I’ve kind of already introduced myself, but I’ve been a teacher of English for nearly 15 years, and I’ve helped thousands of students in their goal towards mastering British English, a modern British RP accent, and learning more about British culture. So, if that sounds good, welcome to English Right Now, and please do consider subscribing. But in this lesson today, we are talking about how to introduce yourself. So whether you’re meeting somebody for the first time, maybe starting a new English class, or answering that classic (but terrifying) job interview question: “Tell me about yourself” - this video will show you exactly what to say. You’re going to learn a simple structure for self-introduction. You’ll also learn some useful phrases, natural expressions, and we’ll also talk about some real-life examples that you can copy and adapt too. So if you’re looking to improve your English speaking skills and make that strong first impression, you are in the right place. And if you want to learn even more about this subject, there is a free PDF that you can download in the description below. It’s free - just click on the link, and you can learn even more. The Importance of Introductions So, why is introducing yourself such a big deal? Well, it’s because it’s the first impression that people get of you. And in interviews, it’s often your first chance to kind of connect, to show your personality, and also build trust. Self-introductions are your first impression, and in many situations, sadly, you do only get one. So whether you’re meeting new people, you’re starting a language class, you’re joining a group, you’re speaking in a meeting, or you’re answering that awful interview question: “Tell me about yourself”, you want to sound clear, confident, and relaxed. Not robotic. Not stiff. Not like you memorised a school textbook. But here’s the problem: Most learners, most English learners, either say too little: “Hi, my name’s Roy. I’m from England.” Or they say way too much, and then they end up feeling nervous or unprepared. So today, I’m going to show you a natural, step-by-step method that really actually works in real life, plus how to adapt it for interviews. And I really hope that during this lesson, you introduce yourself. Let me know who you are, where you’re watching from, things that you like. But we’ll get into that. So let’s talk, first of all, about some vocabulary for saying hello. Ways to Greet People in English Let’s start right at the beginning. Saying hello isn’t just “hello”. There are many ways to greet people in English depending on the situation, the formality, and tone. Some casual greetings: Of course, you could say **“hello”**, but you could also say: **Hi** **Hey** **Hello there** **Hey there** **Morning — which is short for “Good morning”** I often say “Morning”. I don’t like to assume it’s a good morning! Alternatively, you could say **“Afternoon”** or **“Evening”**. **att!**--> Please note that “Good night” is a way of saying goodbye, so **“Good evening”** is pretty much your final hello of the day. “What’s up?” - we do sometimes say, “Oh, what’s up?” but it’s a bit more American. It is quite informal. Some people will use it, but it’s not the most common here. Quite informal would be to just say: **“Alright?” “Alright”** is another way to say “Hi”. Now, a lot of people ask me: “What is the correct response to ‘Alright’?” Because it’s not really a question, it’s more a hello. There are two options, realistically: You could just say “Alright” back. So it’s like: “Alright?” “Alright.” This is really, really common. I know it sounds weird. Some people will give an answer, but we don’t go too far. You may say: “Alright?” “Yeah, you?” “How’s it going?” and “How are things?” are two other options for kind of more informal greetings. If we’re going into the territory of being more neutral or slightly more formal, then “Hello” comes into that category. “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, and “Good evening”, using that word “good” makes it slightly more neutral or formal. And of course, saying things like “Nice to meet you”, “Pleasure to meet you”, are other alternatives for greeting or for that initial phase. Now, a lot of students mention the phrase “How do you do?”. There are two things to mention here: “How do you do?” is really, really formal. We don’t often use it. I very rarely hear it - I’ve heard it once, genuinely once, in the last year. The correct response to “How do you do?” is… “How do you do?” It’s a bit like the more formal version of “All right”. I kind of see the word “All right” as a sort of evolution into informality of “How do you do?” Please don’t answer this by saying: “How do you do? I’m fine.” That’s not the correct answer. It’s: “How do you do?” “How do you do?” But again, this is really formal. I don’t often hear it. And I’ll say this: In most modern situations, even in interviews, “Hi” or “Hello” is perfectly fine. Just smile, make eye contact if appropriate, and really start strong. 5 Steps to greet people casually So, let’s talk about the five-step structure for self-introduction. And this is the thing that you can start to write down in the comments to really introduce yourself. I call it the **N-I-P-P-P** formula, because it’s N-I-P-P-P. That will help you remember it. So you start with the **N: your name**. Then you add some **information**, like where you’re from and where you live. Then you can talk about your **profession** or **passion**, that’s the first P. Move on to some **personal** details or hobbies, that’s another P. And finally, **purpose**. Now, this one’s kind of optional. You don’t have to add it. It’s more for networking and things like this. But purpose, the purpose. So you have: Name, Information, Profession/Passion, Personal details, and Purpose. N-I-P-P-P. I’ll write that down in the description so you can remember it. Now, I will say at this point — it doesn’t have to be a monologue when you’re introducing yourself. If you’re meeting somebody for the first time, you don’t need to give them all of the information. It can be kind of a back-and-forth, natural conversation. You start with: **“Hi, I’m Roy.”** And then somebody says: **“Oh, I’m David.” “Oh, nice to meet you.”** **“Where are you from?” “Oh, I’m from...”** So it can be a conversation. But if the conversation is not forthcoming, and you do need to introduce yourself, maybe in a group or a meeting, then this is a good structure to remember. So, let’s break it down. **Name** First of all, we say Name. You could say, “My name is Roy”, but most people will just say: “I’m Roy.” “I’m Deborah.” “I’m Luciana.” (She’s over there next to me!) And if you have a kind of shortened version, you could say: “Hi, I’m Luciana, but my friends call me Lu.” If you have a slightly complicated name, or a name that’s tricky to pronounce, you can actually make a bit of a joke of it. You could say something like: “I know it’s tricky to say at first, but don’t worry, I’m kind of used to it.” **Information** Step two is Information, where you’re from and where you live. Now honestly, I think these days most people don’t tend to talk about age, particularly in job interviews. I wouldn’t really bring my age up at this point, but some people may. I mean, it would be a bit weird for me to bring that up pretty early on. For me, I actually live where I grew up, so I’d probably just say: “I’m from the Isle of Wight.” But I could go into more detail and say: “I was born in Nottingham and I grew up on the Isle of Wight.” Or: “I was born in Nottingham and now I live on the Isle of Wight.” So, a few key pieces of vocabulary: Originally from means where you were born. “I’m originally from Nottingham, but I grew up on the Isle of Wight.” I moved here when I was six. Based in is a way to say where you live now. “I’m based in London.” Or: “I’m based in England.” This is commonly used in business English. Raised in talks about where you grew up. “I was raised in London.” (Or in my case, “on the Isle of Wight”, because we use “on” for islands.) So you’d say: “Raised on the Isle of Wight.” But: “Raised in London.” Or: “Raised in Istanbul.” Or: “Raised in a country, like Brazil.” And currently living is your present location. Remember the preposition “in” for cities or countries, “on” for islands. **Profession** After we’ve got that kind of information out of the way, we can talk about our Profession or Passion. You could say: “I work as an accountant.” “I teach English online.” (That’s actually my job.) Maybe right now you’re a full-time student. Or if you’re not working at the moment, you could say: “I’m between jobs at the moment.” And if you want to be a bit more discreet, you could say: “At the moment, I’m focusing on learning English and preparing for new opportunities.” That’s a great way to talk about your profession or your current situation. **Personal Details** The fourth step is the Personal Touch. This makes your introduction feel real, and it’s what people connect with. I’ll give you a full introduction at the end, but for now you could say something like: “In my free time, I love reading historical fiction and baking cakes.” Or: “I’m really into photography and hiking.” Or: “When I’m not working, I’m probably playing video games or building Lego.” (You can guess which one is true for me.) Some useful phrases here: “I’m really into...” “I’m passionate about...” Both mean a strong interest in something. “I’m really into video games.” (Yep, gave it away.) You could also say: “I spend a lot of time doing...” “I’m learning to...” For example: “I’m learning to play the guitar.” Or, if it’s a recent hobby: “I’ve recently got into stamp collecting.” (Or whatever your hobby may be.) **Purpose** The fifth step is Purpose. Now, this one’s optional, but especially useful for interviews or networking. You could say something like: “I’m here today because I’d love to grow professionally and connect with new people.” Or: “I joined this course to improve my fluency and feel more confident at work.” And those were the five steps. Before we move on to self-introductions in job interviews, let me do mine: Hi everyone, I’m Roy. I live on the Isle of Wight. I’m a British English teacher, and I’ve been helping people learn English for around 15 years. And in my spare time, I love playing video games and building Lego. (See? I gave it away.) And if I wanted to add that purpose, I could say: “I’m here today to help people learning English around the world.” And that’s something that’s also, by the way, my passion. Now, let’s talk about interviews. **Interviews** That common question: “Tell me about yourself.” Now, I will say this — it is not the time in an interview to tell your life story. You don’t need to tell them where you were born, how you were raised, your first meal, your first step... What they want is: A quick summary of who you are professionally A highlight of your experience A hint of your personality And a sense of why you’d be a good fit for the role And like we had that formula with N-I-P-P-P, here I have another one: N-E-P-W. This doesn’t really form a word, but it stands for: **Name, Experience, Passion, and What you’re looking for**. So, you could say something like: “My name is Roy, and I’m a British English teacher. I’ve been a teacher of English for nearly 15 years, and during that time I’ve helped thousands of students from across the world, helping them on their journey towards learning things like British culture, British English, and mastering a modern British RP accent.” So about me, I’ve got a background in linguistics and teaching pronunciation. I’ve worked in some of the most prestigious schools in places like London and Cambridge. And I’ve also worked for BBC Learning English, helping people learn English. Now, I’ve created three courses to help people learning English and achieving their goals. And I’m here today, I’m looking to help as many people as I can on that journey. So that’s a little bit about me. And during that, by the way, don’t forget to smile, keep eye contact, and speak from the heart. Even in formal interviews, show who you are. You are not a robot. You are a real human with a story. Common Mistakes So now let’s talk about a few common mistakes before we wrap this up. Commonly, students will say things like: “My name is Maria and I come from Spain and I have two brothers and I like football.” This is too robotic. It’s a list. And there’s a lot of the word “and” in there. Instead of sounding like a list, maybe just focus on a couple of key things. We don’t need to bring in the whole life story. So you could say something like: “Hi, I’m Maria. I’m from Spain. I grew up in Seville, but now I live in Barcelona. I’m a massive football fan. I never miss a Barcelona match.” Another classic mistake is saying something like: “I am engineer.” Or: “I am teacher.” We need an article there. So we would say: “I’m an engineer.” Or: “I’m a teacher.” Remember: We use the article “an” in front of a vowel sound. And the article “a” in front of a consonant sound. Alternatively, you could say: “I work as a teacher.” Or: “I work as an engineer.” And finally, don’t say: “I have 25 years old.” This is a classic mistake. Say: “I’m 25.” Or: “I’m 25 years old.” (But I’ve already said — talking about age isn’t that common. But if you do want to talk about your age, don’t use the verb “have”. We use the verb “to be”: “I am 25.” Clearly. Look at me.) These few details will make a huge difference. Examples And very quickly before we go, I’ll read you a couple of examples that you may take inspiration from. If you want to be casual, you could write something like this, and change the words for yourself: “Hi, I’m Maya. I’m from Jakarta, but I’ve been living in Melbourne for the past two years. I work as a barista, and I’m currently studying English in the evenings. I love reading graphic novels and going to the beach.” So, that’s quite casual, you can use that structure for yourself down in the comments. Instead, if you’re in an interview, you might write something like this: “Hi, I’m Daniel. I’ve been working in logistics for the past seven years, managing supply chains for large retailers. I’m passionate about efficiency and organisation, I actually enjoy spreadsheets! I’m now looking to take on a new challenge where I can contribute more strategically.” Try creating your own now. Use the structure I gave you. Pause this video, write your version in the comments, and I’ll check a few and give you some feedback. I’m really excited to meet you. So there you go, a complete guide to introducing yourself naturally in English, Whether you’re meeting a new friend, joining a class, or nailing that job interview. And if you found this helpful, please do give it a like, subscribe to the channel, And tell me in the comments: How do you introduce yourself in English? And if you do want to learn more, there is a free PDF of today’s lesson with example phrases and templates. The link is in the description. Thank you very much for watching, and I’ll see you in the next lesson. Bye for now.

Hello and good morning! Well, we're off to a good start in the south this week, as most of the rain from the weekend has disappeared – just a few patches of cloud and maybe some showers here on the east coast. They'll all clear up by lunchtime, though. Over the next day or so, London and the area around Kent can expect a couple of isolated showers, but mostly dry through until Thursday. It's not such good news for the north-west this week, I'm afraid: more wet weather, and not a lot of sunshine. Some of today's showers will be heavy – and even thundery in Manchester and across the Pennines. Leeds will escape the thunderstorms, with drizzle and light rain only throughout the rest of the day and tonight. Elsewhere it becomes dry today, but with some foggy patches towards Wales. In England, tomorrow morning will see a dry, bright start in most places, with high temperatures throughout the week. We might see one or two thunderstorms appearing as the week goes on, with temperatures everywhere at 29 to 30 degrees. By the weekend, unfortunately, the dry weather will make way for mostly cloudy skies and rain. The rain will move from Scotland, down towards the north and reach the south coast by Saturday afternoon. Temperatures, at least, will stay mostly warm at around 21 degrees for the weekend. It might feel like a nice change from the high twenties and early thirties we'll see in the week. That's all from me until tomorrow. Enjoy the mini-heatwave while you can!

Next, you will reach C2, the expert level. Here, language sounds effortless, elegant, and emotional. You will hear subtle ideas, rare words, and gentle rhythm. My name is Elellanena, and over the years, I've realized that the hardest part of life isn't making decisions. It's understanding what they mean. When we're young, we imagine that every choice is a doorway to something better. A better job, a better city, a better version of ourselves. We walk through those doors one after another, rarely stopping to notice what we leave behind. But eventually, you look back and see that every decision carries both gain and loss. Something found, something left. For a long time, I chased progress without direction. I changed jobs, changed cities, changed dreams, always telling myself I was moving forward. But sometimes I wasn't moving toward anything. I was just running away from stillness. There's a strange fear in stillness. As if silence might reveal what we've tried to hide from ourselves. It took me years to understand that silence isn't empty. It's full of resonance. Quiet truths that only emerge when the noise finally fades. These days I live differently. My mornings are slow. I make coffee, open the window, and let the light spill across the floor. That small moment, gentle, ephemeral, feels like the most honest part of my day. I don't rush to check messages or plans. I just sit there and listen to the hum of the world, to my own thoughts, to whatever speaks in the space between things. I used to think meaning came from action. Now I know it grows out of reflection. I still work. I'm a consultant. But my relationship with work has changed. What once felt like pressure now feels like practice. Yes, it's technical and logical, but I try to find the human part inside all that structure. Real progress, I think, isn't when systems become faster. It's when people inside them begin to feel understood. You can redesign a whole organization. But if you don't transform the metamorphosis within its people, how they see themselves, how they connect, then nothing truly changes. Outside of work, I write, not for an audience, for awareness. Writing is a mirror that doesn't flatter. It tells the truth. It shows me where my thoughts begin and where they resist ending. Some days I write about the past, not to live there, but to learn. Other days I write about the future, not to predict, but to make peace with not knowing. Sometimes words bring a sense of ineffable clarity. A feeling that can't be captured, but can still be felt. Lately, I've been thinking about time, not as something that passes, but as something we move through. Some moments feel wide and endless. Others disappear before we even notice. I've realized that the quality of time depends less on what we do and more on how awake we are while we do it. A single moment of presence can last longer than an entire day spent rushing. I used to think growth meant collecting things, achievements, recognition, experience. Now I see it differently. Growth to me is subtraction. The art of letting go. It's choosing what to release so that what matters has room to remain. We live in a world that worships addition. More goals, more motion, more noise. But true wisdom lies in knowing when to stop, when to rest, when to say, "This is enough." Maybe that's what freedom really is. Not doing whatever we want, but knowing we don't need to. Freedom to me is the quiet equinimity that comes when you no longer measure life by how much you can hold, but by how much you can appreciate. The older I get, the more I see that peace isn't something waiting at the end of the road. It's something that walks beside us in the rhythm of our own footsteps, in the warmth of early sunlight, in the silent certainty that life is happening right now and that right now is already enough. All right, if you understood this story easily, congratulations. Your English is near native level. You can follow complex arguments and emotional expression with ease. But remember, fluency isn't an ending. Even at C2, there is always something new to explore, new stories to hear, and new ways to express who you are. And that brings us to the end of today's journey from A1 to C2. You've listened, reflected, and tested your understanding through six different levels of English. Maybe you found one level easy and another a little challenging. That's completely normal. Language learning isn't a straight line. It's a process of growth. Thank you so much for listening to another episode of English Unleashed. I'm Tom and until next time, keep going, keep learning, and remember, fluency isn't a finish line, it's a way of life. Bye for now.

Now you're ready for more advanced English that includes deeper thinking and reflection. Let's move to C1, advanced level. Now, English becomes truly natural and expressive. You will hear more abstract ideas, longer sentences, and deeper reflections about work and life. Listen for how ideas connect and how emotions are expressed through rhythm and choice of words. My name is David and I work as a project manager for a technology company. I've been in this field for nearly 10 years and during that time I've realized something interesting. Managing people is often more complex than managing projects. Projects have timelines, budgets, and measurable results. People, on the other hand, have emotions, ideas, and completely different ways of seeing the same situation. Balancing both is what makes my job so fascinating and at times so challenging. A typical day for me starts early. I like to arrive before everyone else while the office is still quiet. That first hour sets the tone for the rest of the day. I make a coffee, open my laptop, and check the list of ongoing projects. I read messages from clients, go through updates from the team, and try to predict where potential problems might appear. That's my time to think, plan, and prepare before the energy of the day begins. When the team arrives, the office atmosphere changes. There's movement, conversation, and a sense of purpose. Every project is different. Sometimes we're developing a new app. Other times, we're improving an existing system. Each task requires coordination between developers, designers, and clients. My role isn't to do the technical work myself. It's to make sure everyone has what they need to do their best. I connect people, remove obstacles, and keep everyone aligned. In a way, my job is like being a bridge, linking different parts of the process so that communication flows smoothly. When someone on the team feels lost or stressed, my instinct is to listen first, not to give orders. It took me years to learn that leadership doesn't mean having all the answers. It means creating an environment where people feel safe to ask questions and share ideas. Most problems at work don't come from lack of skill. They come from lack of understanding or poor communication. If you can help people feel heard, they usually find their own solutions. I've also learned that good leadership is not about control. It's about trust. When your team trusts you, they'll tell you the truth. They'll admit mistakes, share feedback, and take responsibility. But trust doesn't appear overnight. It's something you build slowly through consistency, fairness, and respect. You can't just demand it. You have to earn it. In my team, I try to be transparent about decisions. If something goes wrong, we talk about it openly. I'd rather have uncomfortable honesty than quiet frustration. People respect clarity even when it's not easy to hear. When the team understands the why behind a decision, they accept it more easily, even if they don't fully agree. And when things go well, I always try to celebrate it, even in small ways. A message of appreciation, a quick team lunch, or a few words of recognition. It costs nothing, but it matters. Of course, things don't always go perfectly. Sometimes deadlines move, clients change their minds, or unexpected technical problems appear. In those moments, my job is to keep everyone calm and focused. If I panic, the team will panic, too. So, I try to stay grounded and remind everyone that mistakes are part of the process, not signs of failure. We talk about what happened, fix it together, and move on. Blaming people doesn't help. Learning does. It's about turning setbacks into lessons. One project I'll never forget was a big software launch two years ago. Everything was ready, or so we thought. 2 days before the release, the system crashed during testing. The entire team stayed late trying to find the issue. Everyone was tired and frustrated. Instead of pushing harder, I asked everyone to take a short break. We ordered food, stepped outside, and talked. not about work but about anything else. An hour later, one developer suddenly realized where the bug was. It took just 10 minutes to fix. That moment taught me something valuable. Sometimes progress happens when you stop forcing it. Pressure can blind you. Perspective brings clarity. I often think about how much my job has taught me about life in general. In work and in life, everything comes down to communication. When we speak clearly and listen carefully, problems become smaller. When we ignore, assume, or rush, small issues grow into big ones. That's why I try to stay honest and calm, even under pressure. I've learned that tone can be more powerful than words. A kind voice can solve what a 100 emails cannot. Another lesson I've learned is about resilience. The ability to recover after things go wrong. Projects fail, clients leave, budgets change. But if you keep your mindset steady, you can always rebuild. I tell my team that resilience is like a muscle. It grows each time you use it. When something doesn't work, we don't see it as wasted time. We see it as training for the next challenge. After long days filled with meetings, screens, and deadlines, I crave silence. That's why I enjoy quiet activities like walking, reading, or cooking. Cooking for me is almost meditative. It's one of the few things where I can focus on one simple task. chopping vegetables, mixing flavors, waiting for something to simmer. It's a small reminder that not everything has to move fast to be meaningful. I also love reading, especially biographies and psychology books. They help me understand people better, which in turn makes me a better manager. Sometimes I see my own behavior reflected in those stories, and it pushes me to grow. Learning, I've realized, doesn't stop when you leave school. It continues quietly every day through the people you meet and the situations you face. People often ask me if I ever feel bored doing such simple things after such a busy workday, but I don't. For me, peace is not something you find by escaping life. It's something you build through how you respond to it. It's a choice, a daily practice. I've learned to separate what I can control from what I can't. That, I think, is one of the hardest but most useful lessons of adulthood. If there's one thing my career has taught me, it's that success isn't just about finishing projects or reaching goals. It's about growing as a person while you do it. Each challenge teaches me something new about patience, listening, and empathy. You don't learn leadership from books or titles. You learn it from experience, from people, from mistakes. You learn it from the moments when things fall apart and you're the one who has to hold them together. And in those moments, you realize that leadership and life are not about control. They're about connection. The more you listen, the more people trust you. The more you trust them, the better they perform. And when the team succeeds, it doesn't feel like your success alone. It feels shared. That's the most rewarding part of my work. Seeing people grow, seeing them become confident enough to lead others one day. So yes, managing projects is complex, but managing people, helping them believe in themselves, helping them find purpose, that's the real challenge and also the real joy. Because at the end of every project, what stays with you isn't the report or the numbers. It's the people, the lessons, and the quiet satisfaction that in some small way you made a difference. Perfect. If that story felt natural and clear, your English is at least C1.

Now, let's move forward to B2, upper intermediate level. At this stage, you can understand longer stories and detailed ideas. The speaker sounds more fluent and confident. You will hear natural expressions, comparisons, and reflections about life and work. My name is Nina, and I'm a freelance graphic designer. For several years, I worked in a big company creating logos and advertisements for clients. The job was safe, the people were kind, and the salary was good. But after a while, I began to feel bored and stuck. Every day looked exactly the same. The same office, the same projects, the same conversations. I started to realize that even though everything looked fine from the outside, something important was missing. I wasn't growing. I wanted more freedom, more creativity, and more control over my time. So, two years ago, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I left my job and decided to work for myself. I remember my last day in the office very clearly. People brought me flowers and said kind things, but inside I was both excited and terrified. I had no plan, no clients, and no idea how to start. But I knew that if I didn't try, I would always wonder what could have happened. At first, life as a freelancer was really hard. I woke up early every morning, opened my laptop, and tried to find work online. I sent messages to small businesses, emailed old contacts, and made a portfolio website to show my designs. Some days, nobody replied. Other days, a client would ask me for a project, but offer to pay very little money. It was difficult to stay motivated. There were days when I worked 10 hours and earned almost nothing. I cried a few times and thought about going back to my old job. But deep down I knew I had to give it time. I told myself that every small step, every email, every design, every new skill would lead somewhere to improve. I started learning again. I watched free courses online, joined webinars about design, and read articles about marketing and freelancing. I realized that being a freelancer isn't only about talent. It's also about communication and organization. You have to learn how to explain your ideas clearly, how to manage your time, and how to deal with different types of clients. Little by little, things started to change. My designs got better. My confidence grew and new clients started to contact me. Some of them came from recommendations. People who liked my work told their friends about me. That was the moment I knew I was moving in the right direction. Now my life looks very different. I usually start my mornings around 8. I make coffee, check my emails, and write down a list of things I need to do. My living room is also my office. It's small but comfortable. There's a big window with lots of light, and I've decorated it with some plants and art prints. I like working there because it feels calm and personal, not like the old office with gray walls and noisy phones. When I have a busy day, I can spend hours in front of the screen, completely focused. But I always try to take short breaks every couple of hours. I stretch, drink tea, or water my plants. Sometimes I step outside for 10 minutes just to breathe some fresh air. When the weather is nice, I bring my laptop to a cafe nearby and work from there for a few hours. Hearing the sound of people talking and cups clinking helps me feel less alone. The best part of being a freelancer is the freedom it gives me. I can choose which projects I want to do and how I want to do them. If I want to take a few days off, I can. If I want to work late at night, nobody stops me. This flexibility is something I never had before. And it makes a huge difference in how I feel about my work. I can plan my schedule around my energy, not just around office hours. That's a kind of freedom I really value. But of course, it's not always easy. There are challenges that people don't see. Working alone means there's no one to give you feedback or to tell you you're doing a good job. Sometimes I miss having colleagues to laugh with or someone to ask for quick advice. And the money isn't always stable. One month can be amazing, full of projects and good payments, and the next can be very quiet. That's stressful, especially when you have bills to pay. But I've learned to plan ahead. When I earn more, I save part of it for slower months. Freelancing has taught me to be responsible and to think long term. I've also learned how to manage clients and how not to take things personally. In the beginning, I felt bad when someone didn't like my design. Now I understand that every person sees things differently. Good communication is everything. If you listen carefully and ask the right questions, you can usually find a way to make everyone happy. Another big lesson is about believing in yourself. When you work alone, no one is there to motivate you. You have to build that energy from inside. I remind myself that every project, big or small, is a chance to learn and improve. If something goes wrong, I try to see it as part of the process, not as a failure. In the evenings, I like to disconnect from work completely. I close my laptop, put away my phone, and do something that helps me relax. Sometimes I go for a run. Sometimes I meet friends for dinner. And sometimes I just listen to calm music while cooking. I also like drawing, not for clients, but for myself. When I draw for fun, I feel like a child again. There's no pressure, no deadlines, no one watching. It reminds me why I became a designer in the first place. Because I love creating things from nothing. When I finish a small drawing that I actually like, I feel free. That simple joy is exactly what I was looking for when I decided to leave my old job. Looking back now, I'm proud of the risk I took. It wasn't easy. In fact, it was one of the hardest things I've done. But it changed me in ways I didn't expect. I've become more organized, more patient, and much more confident. Most importantly, I've learned that independence doesn't mean being alone. It means taking responsibility for your choices and trusting yourself enough to build your own path. You have to be patient. You have to walk slowly, step by step, and believe that the road you're on will take you somewhere meaningful. And it has. I may not earn as much as before, and I don't have a big team around me, but I wake up every morning feeling proud of what I do. I've created a life that feels like mine. And every time I finish a project or hear that a client is happy with my work, I smile and think, "Yes, this is exactly where I'm meant to be." If you understood this story easily, great job. Your English is upper intermediate or higher.

Now, get ready for B1, intermediate level. If you can follow the whole story and understand the message, you're around B1 or higher. My name is Liam and I work as a computer technician. I fix laptops, install new programs, and help people when their devices don't work. I've done this job for almost 6 years now, and I still enjoy it. I like my job because it's a mix of logic and creativity. Every problem is different and finding the right solution feels like solving a puzzle. I start work at 8:00 in the morning. When I arrive, I make a cup of coffee and check the list of repairs for the day. Sometimes the problems are small, a keyboard that doesn't work or a slow system. But sometimes they're bigger and I have to spend hours testing every part of a computer. It can be frustrating. But when I finally fix something, I feel proud and satisfied. My colleagues are friendly. We often help each other when someone has a difficult case. I think teamwork is one of the most important parts of any job. You can learn a lot from people who think differently from you. After work, I like to clean my head. I don't go home right away. Instead, I walk to the park near my office. I listen to music or just enjoy the quiet. When I get home, I cook dinner and watch something online, usually a documentary or a short film in English. In the evenings, I study online. I take a course about new computer systems because I want to open my own business in the future. It's a lot of work, but I believe it's worth it. I want to be independent and help people in my own way. On weekends, I usually relax. Sometimes I meet friends or I go hiking in the countryside. All right. If this story made sense and felt natural to you, congratulations. Your English is at least B1.

Now let's move on to A2 elementary level. Here English becomes a little richer and more connected. Sentences are longer and you will hear more about routines, plans and daily activities. If you can understand this story without much effort, you are at least A2 level. My name is Mark. I live in a small apartment near the city. It is not big, but it's comfortable for me. There is a small kitchen, a bedroom, and a living room. From my window, I can see a park and some tall trees. In the morning, I often hear birds singing. I work in an office not far from home. I usually walk to work because it only takes 10 minutes. When the weather is bad, I take the bus. I start work at 8:30 and finish at 5. I answer phone calls, send emails, and help my manager with small jobs. My colleagues are friendly. We often talk during our lunch break. At lunchtime, I go to a small cafe with two co-workers. We sit near the window and talk about our families or our weekend plans. Sometimes we laugh a lot because one of my co-workers tells funny stories. After work, I don't go home right away. I usually go to the gym for 1 hour. I do some exercise and listen to music on my phone. When I finish, I feel tired but good. Exercise helps me relax after a long day. At around 7:00, I go home. Before dinner, I take a shower and change my clothes. Then I cook something simple. Sometimes I eat while watching my favorite TV show. On weekends, my routine is different. I meet my friends in the city center. We go for coffee, walk around, and sometimes watch a movie. If the weather is nice, we sit in the park and talk for hours. Okay, well done. If this story felt easy to follow, your English is a two or higher. You can understand short connected sentences about real life, work, and free time.

In this episode, you will learn your English level, beginner, elementary, intermediate, upper intermediate, advanced, or expert. You don't need a test. You don't need a teacher. You just need your ears and a little focus. You will listen to six short stories, one for each level. If one story feels easy and the next one feels difficult, that's perfect. That's how you find your level. The first level is A1 or beginner. In this level, English is simple and clear. The sentences are short. The words are common and easy. If you can understand this easily, you are at least A1. My name is Anna. I am 26 years old. I live with my parents. We have a small dog. His name is Max. I like my dog very much. We live in a small house. The house has three rooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. Our house is clean and quiet. There is a park near the house. I go to the park every evening. I walk with my dog. He runs and plays with other dogs. I sit on a bench and watch him. The park is green and beautiful. Every morning I wake up at 7:00. I get up. I eat breakfast in the kitchen. I drink tea. After breakfast, I brush my teeth. Then I go to work. I work in a small shop. It is near my home. I walk to work. It takes 10 minutes. In the shop, I sell food and drinks. I help customers. I take money and give change. My boss is kind. My work is easy. At 12:00 I eat lunch. I eat rice or a sandwich. Sometimes I drink coffee. At 5:00 I finish work. I go home. I am tired but happy. I cook dinner for my parents. We eat together. We talk and laugh. After dinner, I wash the dishes. In the evening, I watch TV. Sometimes I listen to music. Sometimes I read a small book. At 10:00, I go to bed. I am sleepy. My dog sleeps next to me. Before I sleep, I think about my day. I feel good. My life is simple, but I am happy every day. All right. If you understood this story easily, congratulations. Your English is at least a one. You can understand short sentences and familiar topics.

**Student:** Hi. Excuse me. **Student B:** Yes? **Student:** Where's the library? **Student B:** The library? It's next to the registration office. **Student:** Ah ... sorry, I'm new. Where's the registration office? **Student B:** No problem. See the big building over there? **Student:** Yes. **Student B:** OK, so that's the lecture theatre. Next to that, on the right, is the registration office. And next to that is the library. **Student:** I see. Thanks! **Student:** Hello? **Librarian:** Hello. **Student:** Is this the library? **Librarian:** Yes, it is. Quiet, please. **Student:** Oh, sorry. Thank you. **Librarian:** Can I help you? **Student:** Er, yes, please. I want to borrow some books. What do I need? **Librarian:** You need a library card. Here's the application form. You can take up to six books maximum today. **Student:** OK. Six books. **Librarian:** Yes. You have two weeks to read the books. Then you bring them back. **Student:** And if I'm late? **Librarian:** Every day you are late there is a fee of fifty pence. **Student:** OK, 50p a day. Er, anything else? **Librarian:** Mobile phones must be switched off in the library. You can bring your laptop, but please use headphones to watch videos or listen to music. **Student:** OK, great. **Librarian:** And you can't bring food or drink. **Student:** No food, no drink. And ...? **Librarian:** And please speak quietly! People are working here. **Student:** Oh! Oh, OK. Thank you. **Librarian:** You're welcome.

**John:** Hi, this is John. Thanks for calling. I'm not here at the moment, so please leave a message and I'll call you back. **Marina:** Hi, John, this is Marina Silva calling from Old Time Toys. Your colleague Alex gave me your phone number. She said you can help me. I need some information on your new products. Could you please call me when you are back in the office? My phone number is 0-2-0-8, 6-5-5-7-6-2-1. Also, can you please email me your new brochure and information about your prices? My email address is Marina, that's M-A-R-I-N-A, dot Silva, S-I-L-V-A, at O-L-D-T-I-M-E hyphen toys dot com. Thanks a lot. I look forward to hearing from you.

**Lucy:** Hi, Anna. Do you have a minute to talk about the meeting next Tuesday? **Anna:** Sure. We said 11, didn't we? **Lucy:** Yeah, we did. But I have a bit of a problem with the time. Would it be possible to move it? **Anna:** Oh, I see. We could postpone it to the afternoon, to 1 p.m., for example. Or bring it forward to earlier in the morning. What would suit you? **Lucy:** Could we make it 9 o'clock? That would really help me. I have another important meeting in the central office at 12. **Anna:** No problem. It's important you're there. **Lucy:** Thanks a lot, Anna. **Anna:** Do you need help with any preparation? Did you get the agenda I sent out? **Lucy:** Yes, I did. And no, that's all fine, thanks. My report is ready and I'm looking forward to presenting it. **Anna:** Great. **Lucy:** I can tell Sven about the time change. I'll see him later. **Anna:** Don't worry about telling Sven. I'll send an email to everyone to confirm the time has changed and with an updated meeting invite. **Lucy:** Great. Thanks, Anna. **Anna:** OK. I'm happy that works for you. We really need you there and it's good we don't have to cancel it. **Lucy:** See you then. Have a good weekend in the meantime. **Anna:** You too.

Good morning. Welcome to the city library. How can I help you? Good morning. I'd like to become a member, please. Of course. I just need to take some details. What's your full name? It's Ethan Fernsby. Can you spell your first name, please? Yes, it's E T H A N. And your last name? F E R N S B Y. Thank you. And what's your date of birth? It's the 27th of August, 1986. Great. What's your address? I live at 48 Chesterton Avenue, Birmingham. Could you spell the street name for me? Sure. C H E S T E R T O N. And your phone number? It's 07854329176. Sorry, could you repeat that? Sure. 07854329176. Thanks. Finally, what's your email address? It's e.fernsby86@gmail.com. Could you spell that for me? Yes. E. Feb86@gmail.com. Got it. You are now registered. Here is your library card. Thank you very much. How many books can I borrow at the same time? You can borrow up to three books at once. And how long can I keep them for? You have to bring the books back in 3 weeks, but you can renew them online if needed. I see. Is there free Wi-Fi in the library? Yes, we offer free Wi-Fi. What's the password? The password is LI2459V I S. Sorry, could you repeat that? Of course, it's L I B2459V I S. It's written on the notice board near the entrance. Thanks. Also, where can I find mystery novels? The mystery section is on the second floor near the window area. Great. I'll go check it out. Enjoy your visit and welcome to thelibrary.