TingMate · English Learning

📝 Today's sentences① I went to Costco again.② And I bought a huge box of strawberries.③ It looked like such a good deal.④ But it's just the two of us.⑤ There's no way we can finish it.⑥ Half of it went bad in the fridge.⑦ I do this every single time.⑧ I know it's a trap, but I can't help it.⑨ The big packs are always cheaper per unit.⑩ It feels like I'm losing money if I don't.⑪ But I always end up wasting more.⑫ And I'll do the exact same thing next time.⑬ I guess I just never learn.🔑 Vocabulary• a good deal /ə ɡʊd diːl/• the two of us /ðə tuː əv ʌs/• no way /noʊ weɪ/• went bad /went bæd/• can't help it /kɑːnt help ɪt/• per unit /pər ˈjuːnɪt/• end up /end ʌp/• never learn /ˈnevər lɜːrn/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

📝 Today's sentences① My hair is getting long again.② But I keep avoiding the haircut.③ Getting one here is expensive.④ It's like sixty or seventy bucks, before tip.⑤ And it's kind of a gamble.⑥ They don't always know how to cut Asian hair.⑦ Last time, I came home and fixed it myself.⑧ So I'd rather just wait.⑨ And get it all done back home.⑩ It's cheaper there, and they do it right.⑪ But you know how I am.⑫ Some things I just save for home.⑬ So now I've got one more excuse to fly home.🔑 Vocabulary• getting long /ˈɡetɪŋ lɒŋ/• before tip /bɪˈfɔːr tɪp/• a gamble /ə ˈɡæmbl/• know how to /noʊ haʊ tuː/• fixed it myself /fɪkst ɪt maɪˈself/• I'd rather /aɪd ˈræðər/• do it right /duː ɪt raɪt/• save for /seɪv fɔːr/• one more excuse /wʌn mɔːr ɪkˈskjuːs/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

📝 Today's sentences① I was at the store today, using self-checkout.② I scanned a few things and bagged them.③ Then the machine started beeping at me.④ It kept saying, unexpected item in the bagging area.⑤ But I didn't do anything wrong.⑥ I took it out and put it back.⑦ It still wouldn't work.⑧ The line behind me kept getting longer.⑨ I felt like everyone was staring at me.⑩ I was so embarrassed.⑪ Finally, I had to wave down an employee.⑫ She tapped one button, and it was fine.⑬ Next time, I'm just going with a real cashier.🔑 Vocabulary• self-checkout /self ˈtʃekaʊt/• put it back /pʊt ɪt bæk/• wouldn't work /ˈwʊdnt wɜːrk/• kept getting longer /kept ˈɡetɪŋ ˈlɒŋɡər/• staring at me /ˈsterɪŋ ət miː/• embarrassed /ɪmˈbærəst/• wave down /weɪv daʊn/• a real cashier /ə riːl ˈkæʃɪr/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

📝 Today's sentences① I've been back in Austin for a few days now.② And I finally figured out what I miss most.③ It's not the California sunshine.④ It's the little café right by my old place.⑤ Back there, it was within walking distance.⑥ I could just shuffle over in my slippers.⑦ Here, everything is a drive.⑧ If I want a coffee, I have to get on the road.⑨ That's a half hour round trip.⑩ So now I just make it at home.⑪ But it's not the same.⑫ Maybe it's not really about the coffee.⑬ It's the whole way of life that came with it.🔑 Vocabulary• figured out /ˈfɪɡjərd aʊt/• within walking distance /wɪˈðɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˈdɪstəns/• everything is a drive /ˈevriθɪŋ ɪz ə draɪv/• get on the road /ɡet ɒn ðə roʊd/• round trip /raʊnd trɪp/• make it at home /meɪk ɪt ət hoʊm/• not the same /nɒt ðə seɪm/• way of life /weɪ əv laɪf/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

📝 Today's sentences① I just landed back in Austin.② The heat hit me the second I stepped outside.③ It's like walking straight into a wall.④ Three weeks of Bay Area weather, gone just like that.⑤ And I already miss it.⑥ I got in my car and cranked up the AC all the way.⑦ On the drive home, I kept asking myself why.⑧ Why do I keep doing this to myself?⑨ But deep down, I already know the answer.⑩ There's no state income tax in Texas.⑪ And my rent here is about half the Bay Area price.⑫ So I wiped the sweat off and reminded myself.⑬ This is what I signed up for.⑭ Maybe I'll get used to it in a few days.⑮ I'm here now, but my heart hasn't caught up yet.🔑 Vocabulary• landed /ˈlændɪd/• hit me /hɪt miː/• the second I /ðə ˈsekənd aɪ/• just like that /dʒʌst laɪk ðæt/• cranked up /kræŋkt ʌp/• deep down /diːp daʊn/• signed up for /saɪnd ʌp fɔːr/• get used to /ɡet juːst tuː/• caught up /kɔːt ʌp/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

① I just booked my flight back to Austin.② I've been in the Bay Area for three weeks now.③ I've had three weeks of nothing but beautiful sunshine.④ Now it's time to head back to Texas.⑤ And the weather there is just brutal.⑥ I haven't even started packing, and I already feel awful.⑦ When I got this job, I thought it was my dream company.⑧ Moving to a new city was no big deal to me.⑨ I told myself I'd move to Mars for it.⑩ But it's only been five months, and I feel like I can't keep going.⑪ I guess people are right.⑫ Life comes first, and work is just part of life.⑬ Or maybe I'm just being a little greedy.⑭ I mean, every time I reach a goal, I just want more.⑮ Once I get something, I stop appreciating it.🔑 Vocabulary• booked /bʊkt/• nothing but /ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt/• head back /hed bæk/• brutal /ˈbruːtl/• dream company /driːm ˈkʌmpəni/• no big deal /noʊ bɪɡ diːl/• keep going /kiːp ˈɡoʊɪŋ/• comes first /kʌmz fɜːrst/• I mean /aɪ miːn/• stop appreciating /stɑːp əˈpriːʃieɪtɪŋ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about An annual checkup, a pain level of eight, and a big mix-up over the American pain scale. 16 simple sentences. Word by word. About 17 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① This trip back, I also saw my family doctor for my annual checkup.② My stomach has been bothering me lately. I wake up with a stomachache every morning.③ The doctor asked, on a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?④ I thought about it and said, probably an eight.⑤ She was shocked and said, you should have come in way sooner.⑥ She ordered a CT scan and blood work, all marked stat.⑦ That freaked me out a little.⑧ I said, I've been like this for years. Maybe Texas just made it worse.⑨ She said, either way, go get the tests done first.⑩ I had no idea what those medical terms meant. So I took a photo and asked ChatGPT.⑪ ChatGPT said, an eight means severe pain, like you'd be rolling on the floor.⑫ That's when it hit me.⑬ She meant the standard pain scale doctors use. I was rating how miserable I felt.⑭ What was I even thinking?⑮ Fine, I'll still get the tests done.⑯ But I'll tell them, it's not stat. Don't charge me for that.🔑 Vocabulary• annual checkup /ˈænjuəl ˈtʃekʌp/• bothering me /ˈbɑːðərɪŋ miː/• on a scale of one to ten /ɑːn ə skeɪl əv wʌn tə ten/• blood work /blʌd wɜːrk/• stat /stæt/• freaked me out /friːkt miː aʊt/• either way /ˈiːðər weɪ/• severe /sɪˈvɪr/• it hit me /ɪt hɪt miː/• miserable /ˈmɪzərəbl/• charge me /tʃɑːrdʒ miː/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

① California sunshine is a love-hate thing for me.② I love it, but it's rough on my skin.③ This time, I forgot to bring my sunscreen.④ And I'm pretty stubborn about it.⑤ I only use one brand. It's this Chinese brand you can only buy back home.⑥ So these days, I go out with a hat and sunglasses.⑦ I keep putting off going to Sephora. And it's literally a five-minute drive.⑧ I know I really should buy a new one.⑨ I feel like my sunspots are coming back.⑩ By the end of the year, I'm flying back to China.⑪ I'll probably stop in Korea on the way.⑫ I want to get laser treatment for these spots.🔑 Vocabulary• love-hate /ˌlʌv ˈheɪt/• sunscreen /ˈsʌnskriːn/• stubborn /ˈstʌbərn/• putting off /ˈpʊtɪŋ ɔːf/• literally /ˈlɪtərəli/• sunspots /ˈsʌnspɒts/• on the way /ɒn ðə weɪ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A restaurant taxed the tip before the tax, so I got the bill fixed. 13 simple sentences. Word by word. About 13 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Today I went out for dinner with a friend.② The food was great, and so was the service.③ When the bill came, I was about to leave a 20% tip.④ But then I noticed something was off.⑤ Normally, you only pay tax on the food itself.⑥ And the tip just gets added on top. It shouldn't be taxed.⑦ But this restaurant added the tip before the tax.⑧ So my tip got taxed too, and that's definitely not right.⑨ You know I'm good with numbers, especially when it comes to money.⑩ My friend told me to just tip 15% and let it go.⑪ But I didn't want to. So I asked the manager if there was a mistake.⑫ In the end, they fixed the bill, and I still left an 18% tip.⑬ I guess I can be really particular about these things.🔑 Vocabulary• tip /tɪp/• something was off /ˈsʌmθɪŋ wəz ɔːf/• on top /ɒn tɒp/• got taxed /ɡɒt tækst/• when it comes to money /wen ɪt kʌmz tə ˈmʌni/• let it go /let ɪt ɡoʊ/• particular /pərˈtɪkjələr/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A lazy weekend, a farmers market across the street, and a little businessman at one stand. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 13 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① This weekend, I slept in really late.② I skipped breakfast and went out for some porridge.③ Then I noticed a lively crowd across the street.④ I love a good crowd, so I went over to check it out.⑤ It turned out to be a farmers market, and I absolutely loved it.⑥ Local farmers were selling homegrown veggies and homemade food.⑦ I bought tomatoes in all kinds of colors.⑧ I also got some yellow cherries called Rainier.⑨ At one stand, a Mexican boy was translating for his dad.⑩ He counted out my change, but he didn't seem very good at math.⑪ His dad did the math in his head really fast.⑫ Then he told his son in Spanish, and the boy told me in English.⑬ I wanted to say, I already did the math myself.⑭ But I just told him, Good job, businessman!🔑 Vocabulary• slept in /slept ɪn/• skipped breakfast /skɪpt ˈbrekfəst/• across the street /əˈkrɔːs ðə striːt/• check it out /tʃek ɪt aʊt/• turned out /tɜːrnd aʊt/• homemade /ˌhoʊmˈmeɪd/• all kinds of /ɔːl kaɪndz əv/• change /tʃeɪndʒ/• good at math /ɡʊd ət mæθ/• did the math /dɪd ðə mæθ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about An indie developer says a much bigger company grabbed his trademark, and I hope it ends fairly. 13 simple sentences. Word by word. About 12 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Yesterday, someone using our app told me about something.② There's an indie developer who shared his story online.③ He says a much bigger company grabbed his trademark first.④ It was a small developer up against a much bigger company.⑤ That kind of gap really got to me.⑥ So I reached out to him to hear what happened.⑦ He explained everything to me, and reminded me to protect my own work too.⑧ I also went through the evidence he shared publicly.⑨ Honestly, I haven't had time to verify every detail.⑩ But he's put so much public info out there, and I tend to believe him.⑪ Still, I don't want to jump to conclusions yet.⑫ I just really hope more people pay attention to this.⑬ And I hope it ends with a fair outcome for everyone.🔑 Vocabulary• indie developer /ˈɪndi dɪˈveləpər/• trademark /ˈtreɪdmɑːrk/• up against /ʌp əˈɡenst/• jump to conclusions /dʒʌmp tə kənˈkluːʒənz/• pay attention to /peɪ əˈtenʃən tə/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Halfway through 2026 already, looking back at the year's goals and the one unexpected win. 15 simple sentences. Word by word. About 17 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Someone left a comment on my latest podcast episode today.② She wrote, "Wow, half of 2026 is already gone, just like that."③ Quick note for the folks using my app: I also have a podcast.④ It's called TingMate too, on the Xiaoyuzhou app and the Apple Podcasts app.⑤ Long story short, that comment really made me stop and think.⑥ Time flies, so I looked back at my goals for this year.⑦ Land an offer from a dream company? I actually got it. Nice!⑧ Work out twice a week, sleep before midnight? Almost never.⑨ Read a book a month, take a trip abroad? Nope, neither.⑩ And honestly, a bunch of other plans never happened either.⑪ But there was one surprise win: my TingMate app and podcast.⑫ And that one win honestly makes up for all the misses.⑬ Thanks for all your support. It really means a lot to me.⑭ I know I'm pretty good at complimenting myself! Hope you are too.⑮ I've still got half the year to catch up. I'm a driven person, after all.🔑 Vocabulary• episode /ˈepɪˌsoʊd/• left a comment /left ə ˈkɑːment/• long story short /ˌlɔːŋ ˈstɔːri ʃɔːrt/• stop and think /stɑːp ən θɪŋk/• makes up for /meɪks ʌp fɔːr/• means a lot /miːnz ə ˈlɑːt/• complimenting myself /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ maɪˈself/• catch up /kætʃ ʌp/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A week of working from home, so free but so much less productive, and that's OK. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 11 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① This week, I'm doing remote work.② It just means I don't have to go into the office. I can work from anywhere.③ We only get four weeks of it a year.④ I was saving it for my Christmas holiday.⑤ I planned to fly back to China then.⑥ But this time, I was in San Francisco. I didn't want to go back to Austin.⑦ So I applied for remote work instead.⑧ It feels so free to work from home.⑨ But honestly, I'm less productive.⑩ I don't even eat at regular times anymore.⑪ I was basically lying in bed all day.⑫ And that's OK. I don't need to be productive all the time.⑬ People say a little rest helps you go further.⑭ And I'm telling myself that, too.🔑 Vocabulary• remote work /rɪˈmoʊt wɜːrk/• saving it for /ˈseɪvɪŋ ɪt fɔːr/• applied for /əˈplaɪd fɔːr/• work from home /wɜːrk frəm hoʊm/• productive /prəˈdʌktɪv/• lying in bed /ˈlaɪɪŋ ɪn bed/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Apple raised Mac prices across the board, and the increase alone could buy a whole laptop. 10 simple sentences. Word by word. About 9 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Lately, I've seen a lot of posts about Apple raising prices.② Macs went up across the board.③ Someone online said they hesitated for a long time about buying one.④ Before they could decide, the price jumped.⑤ So I checked Apple's website. It was up a full three thousand yuan.⑥ I was surprised. It's not 300. It's 3,000.⑦ My first computer in college cost about that much.⑧ Out of curiosity, I opened Amazon.⑨ There are still laptops for under three thousand yuan.⑩ I know the quality isn't the same. I'm just saying.🔑 Vocabulary• raising prices /ˈreɪzɪŋ ˈpraɪsɪz/• across the board /əˌkrɒs ðə ˈbɔːrd/• hesitated /ˈhezɪteɪtɪd/• out of curiosity /aʊt əv ˌkjʊriˈɒsəti/• I'm just saying /aɪm dʒʌst ˈseɪɪŋ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Half a year after leaving the Bay Area, the old hiking group gets back together. 12 simple sentences. Word by word. About 12 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① I left the Bay Area about half a year ago.② Now that I'm back, I reached out to my friends right away.③ We used to have a hiking group. We hiked every week for almost a year.④ After I left, everyone got busy. The group went quiet.⑤ This time I posted in the group chat, and everyone showed up.⑥ We hiked Mission Peak, a famous spot in the Bay Area.⑦ On the way up, we caught up on everything.⑧ One friend, a postdoc, finally published his paper.⑨ Another got laid off but landed a new job. And one broke up with his girlfriend.⑩ We looked back on the last time we were here together.⑪ I feel like, whether we come or not, the mountain and nature are always here.⑫ You know what I mean? I guess you do.🔑 Vocabulary• reached out /riːtʃt aʊt/• group chat /ɡruːp tʃæt/• showed up /ʃoʊd ʌp/• caught up /kɔːt ʌp/• got laid off /ɡɒt leɪd ɔːf/• broke up /broʊk ʌp/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Day 40 · ChampionsTonight could be the night. Game 5. New York leads the series three to one.None of us got a ticket. They were way too expensive. So we squeeze in front of one screen.For most of the game, New York is down. At one point, down by sixteen. It looks over.Then Brunson takes over! Thirteen points in a row! We can't believe it!We are all on the edge of our seats.The final minute. New York is ahead. Nobody says a word.The buzzer sounds! Ninety-four to ninety! The Knicks win!They did it! The Knicks are champions! Their first title in fifty-three years!We jump up and start yelling! The whole room goes crazy!Outside, car horns everywhere. People pour into the streets.And tonight, the whole city says it together. Congratulations. The Knicks! You are the champions! Brunson, MVP! The king of New York!Day 41 · Tasting It OnlineMy friends, I have a question for you. Is it crawfish season back in China right now?I've been in Austin, Texas lately. The most famous local supermarket here is H-E-B.There's one almost every two miles. And in summer, crawfish is their thing.They set up a little stall out front. Selling crawfish for a limited time.I parked my car, and the smell hit me right away.I really wanted some. But I wasn't sure how clean they were.So I made a deal with myself. If they're still here when I come out. I'll get some.I went in and grabbed milk, bread, steak, and some fruit.When I came out, they were already sold out.I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time.Back home, I scrolled through tons of crawfish videos. So many flavors, from Changsha to Suzhou.I told myself I'd pretty much tasted every flavor already. Then I saw someone drop instant noodles right into the crawfish sauce.So I dug into my own instant noodles. And honestly, it tasted pretty good too.Day 42 · Don't Suffer AloneI got home around 6:30 today. And man, it was hot.The house hit 84 degrees Fahrenheit. So I turned on the AC right away.I grabbed a drink from the fridge and sank into my rocking chair.But five minutes later, I was still sweating.That's when it hit me. The AC wasn't cooling at all.Now I wasn't just hot. I was getting cranky.I walked to the leasing office. But they were already closed.I knew I could call maintenance. But it was getting late.And honestly, I hate being a bother. So I got stuck in my own head.So I tried asking the neighbor group. My AC doesn't seem to be cooling. Anyone have any advice?And boom. So many people jumped in. Mine too! Mine too!So one neighbor stepped up. He gathered everyone's unit numbers. Then he sent in one maintenance request for all of us.Half an hour later, someone showed up. Turns out the condensation had backed up. Fixed in a minute.And we made a deal in the group. Next time, we tell each other right away.Day 43 · 618 Mid-Year Sale?Hey, do you guys know what day it is? Today's the last day of the 618 mid-year sale.I just paid the balance on my pre-order.And honestly, I was scared I'd messed up the math.These days, you just can't figure out the discount rules.I checked it three times. And I'm good with numbers, especially money.But I still feel like I didn't get every discount.Honestly, what was wrong with the old fifty percent off?You buy one thing, and they throw in a pile of free gifts.But here's the thing. I'm a minimalist. I really don't like hoarding stuff.And yet, I still want to save a little money.So here I am, staring at my cart, kind of stuck.Did I actually save anything? Honestly, I have no idea.Day 44 · Happy Dragon Boat FestivalDragon Boat Festival is almost here. So today I left work early and went to a friend's place.She had everything ready. And we tried wrapping zongzi.And honestly? It's so much harder than it looks.We didn't have red bean filling. Just salted egg yolk and pork.My friend is from the North. She likes dipping hers in white sugar.So I gave it a try.

Day 45 · Out of the BlueThis past Sunday, I got a text from a friend out of the blue.He said he's landing in the Bay Area on Tuesday.He flew from China to New York for an NBA game.I promised to show him around Silicon Valley.I've been really busy lately. It totally slipped my mind.But he's coming all the way from China. I have to keep my word.So I opened the Workday app. And I put in for time off, Monday and Tuesday.Then I emailed my coworkers to let them know.After that, I opened Expedia to book a flight.Oh my god, last-minute flights are so expensive.It's usually a hundred bucks. Now it's jumped to five hundred.I should've booked it when we first made plans.Still, I'm really happy. He's the first friend to visit me from China.Well, okay, he's mostly here for the NBA game. But hey, I'll take it!Day 46 · A Close CallToday I flew to San Francisco to see my friend.I took a cab to the airport. I thought I had plenty of time.But we got stuck in traffic. There were a few accidents.The driver's GPS messed up and took us to the parking lot. I had to help him navigate to departures.So I was already in a hurry. The check-in line was really long.I quickly got my passport ready.I asked the people in front if I could cut in line.They were all so nice and let me go ahead.I checked in and got my boarding pass.I only had thirty minutes left. So I rushed through security.I hurried to the gate. My group was already boarding.I was almost the last one to get on.I sat down, and right away the plane took off.Honestly, that was a close call. But I made it!Day 47 · Just Like Old TimesTexas is two hours ahead of California. This morning I almost overslept.My friend texted me. He landed. I jumped out of bed.Good thing I live close to the airport. I washed my face and drove straight there.The airport roads were confusing. So I followed the signs to arrivals.I put on my hazard lights and waited to pick him up.Perfect timing. My friend just came out.He was looking around. I pulled up right in front of him.And he finally recognized me.We hadn't seen each other in over four years.But it felt like we were back working together.He had a tight schedule, so we headed straight downtown.We hit the Golden Gate Bridge. We drove past 890 California Street. That's where they filmed Inception.Then we went to Fisherman's Wharf. We took tons of photos along the way.We had a lobster roll and some clam chowder there.I dropped him off at his hotel after dark. We'll meet again at nine tomorrow.Day 48 · Google, Apple, StanfordWe had a lot planned today. After picking him up, we went straight to Google.We had the employee breakfast, then rode the colorful bikes to Google headquarters.We saw work areas themed like dinosaurs, forests, and oceans.My friend said: "The working vibe here feels so open."Next we got to the Apple Visitor Center. He borrowed an iPad to see the Apple Park model.He could see the staff inside, in real time. So high-tech.Guess what? We saw the real thing. He told me: "The greenery in Apple Park is amazing!"A friend of mine is a postdoc at Stanford, so she showed us around.We saw the Oval and the church, then climbed Hoover Tower.Last but most important, the bookstore. He bought a few Stanford hoodies as souvenirs for his kids.For dinner, we hit an Italian spot downtown, Doppio Zero.He tried burrata for the first time and loved it.We made a toast: "To our short, happy, 32-hour reunion!"

A slow English story about Back to work after the visit, meetings, a backlog, and just directing my AI assistant. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 14 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Yesterday I saw my friend off. He flew back to China.② I wanted to go back to China too. But as an adult, it's time to go back to work.③ Because of my three days off, my work piled up. Now I've got a huge backlog.④ This morning I had three meetings back-to-back.⑤ One with QA, one with our contractor in India, and our team standup.⑥ So I got nothing done all morning.⑦ After lunch, I finally got into work mode.⑧ I went through my email, tickets, and team channel.⑨ I replied to every message, one by one.⑩ Then I sorted out my priorities.⑪ I synced up with my mentor.⑫ And then it was back to my day-to-day coding.⑬ Well, really, I just told my best assistant Claude what to do.⑭ I'm basically a prompt engineer now.🔑 Vocabulary• saw my friend off /sɔː maɪ frend ɔːf/• piled up /paɪld ʌp/• backlog /ˈbæklɒɡ/• back-to-back /ˌbæk tə ˈbæk/• contractor /ˈkɒntræktər/• standup /ˈstændʌp/• got nothing done /ɡɒt ˈnʌθɪŋ dʌn/• work mode /wɜːrk moʊd/• one by one /wʌn baɪ wʌn/• priorities /praɪˈɔːrətiz/• synced up /sɪŋkt ʌp/• day-to-day /ˌdeɪ tə ˈdeɪ/• prompt engineer /prɒmpt ˌendʒɪˈnɪr/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Touring my friend around Google, Apple, and Stanford in one packed day. 13 simple sentences. Word by word. About 17 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① We had a lot planned today. After picking him up, we went straight to Google.② We had the employee breakfast, then rode the colorful bikes to Google headquarters.③ We saw work areas themed like dinosaurs, forests, and oceans.④ My friend said: "The working vibe here feels so open."⑤ Next we got to the Apple Visitor Center. He borrowed an iPad to see the Apple Park model.⑥ He could see the staff inside, in real time. So high-tech.⑦ Guess what? We saw the real thing. He told me: "The greenery in Apple Park is amazing!"⑧ A friend of mine is a postdoc at Stanford, so she showed us around.⑨ We saw the Oval and the church, then climbed Hoover Tower.⑩ Last but most important, the bookstore. He bought a few Stanford hoodies as souvenirs for his kids.⑪ For dinner, we hit an Italian spot downtown, Doppio Zero.⑫ He tried burrata for the first time and loved it.⑬ We made a toast: "To our short, happy, 32-hour reunion!"🔑 Vocabulary• employee breakfast /ˌemplɔɪˈiː ˈbrekfəst/• themed /θiːmd/• working vibe /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ vaɪb/• real time /riːl taɪm/• high-tech /ˌhaɪ ˈtek/• greenery /ˈɡriːnəri/• postdoc /ˈpoʊstdɒk/• souvenirs /ˌsuːvəˈnɪrz/• for the first time /fər ðə ˈfɜːrst taɪm/• made a toast /meɪd ə toʊst/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Picking up an old friend at the airport and showing him around San Francisco. 15 simple sentences. Word by word. About 17 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Texas is two hours ahead of California. This morning I almost overslept.② My friend texted me. He landed. I jumped out of bed.③ Good thing I live close to the airport. I washed my face and drove straight there.④ The airport roads were confusing. So I followed the signs to arrivals.⑤ I put on my hazard lights and waited to pick him up.⑥ Perfect timing. My friend just came out.⑦ He was looking around. I pulled up right in front of him.⑧ And he finally recognized me.⑨ We hadn't seen each other in over four years.⑩ But it felt like we were back working together.⑪ He had a tight schedule, so we headed straight downtown.⑫ We hit the Golden Gate Bridge. We drove past 890 California Street. That's where they filmed Inception.⑬ Then we went to Fisherman's Wharf. We took tons of photos along the way.⑭ We had a lobster roll and some clam chowder there.⑮ I dropped him off at his hotel after dark. We'll meet again at nine tomorrow.🔑 Vocabulary• two hours ahead /tuː ˈaʊərz əˈhed/• overslept /ˌoʊvərˈslept/• jumped out of bed /dʒʌmpt aʊt əv bed/• arrivals /əˈraɪvəlz/• hazard lights /ˈhæzərd laɪts/• pick him up /pɪk hɪm ʌp/• perfect timing /ˈpɜːrfɪkt ˈtaɪmɪŋ/• looking around /ˈlʊkɪŋ əˈraʊnd/• pulled up /pʊld ʌp/• recognized /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/• tight schedule /taɪt ˈskedʒuːl/• lobster roll /ˈlɒbstər roʊl/• clam chowder /klæm ˈtʃaʊdər/• dropped him off /drɒpt hɪm ɔːf/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A close call at the airport, traffic, a long line, and barely making my flight. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 14 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Today I flew to San Francisco to see my friend.② I took a cab to the airport. I thought I had plenty of time.③ But we got stuck in traffic. There were a few accidents.④ The driver's GPS messed up and took us to the parking lot. I had to help him navigate to departures.⑤ So I was already in a hurry. The check-in line was really long.⑥ I quickly got my passport ready.⑦ I asked the people in front if I could cut in line.⑧ They were all so nice and let me go ahead.⑨ I checked in and got my boarding pass.⑩ I only had thirty minutes left. So I rushed through security.⑪ I hurried to the gate. My group was already boarding.⑫ I was almost the last one to get on.⑬ I sat down, and right away the plane took off.⑭ Honestly, that was a close call. But I made it!🔑 Vocabulary• plenty of time /ˈplenti əv taɪm/• stuck in traffic /stʌk ɪn ˈtræfɪk/• accidents /ˈæksɪdənts/• messed up /mest ʌp/• navigate /ˈnævɪɡeɪt/• departures /dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz/• cut in line /kʌt ɪn laɪn/• boarding pass /ˈbɔːrdɪŋ pæs/• security /sɪˈkjʊrəti/• gate /ɡeɪt/• a close call /ə kloʊs kɔːl/• made it /meɪd ɪt/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A friend texts out of the blue, and I scramble to book a last-minute flight. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 14 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① This past Sunday, I got a text from a friend out of the blue.② He said he's landing in the Bay Area on Tuesday.③ He flew from China to New York for an NBA game.④ I promised to show him around Silicon Valley.⑤ I've been really busy lately. It totally slipped my mind.⑥ But he's coming all the way from China. I have to keep my word.⑦ So I opened the Workday app. And I put in for time off, Monday and Tuesday.⑧ Then I emailed my coworkers to let them know.⑨ After that, I opened Expedia to book a flight.⑩ Oh my god, last-minute flights are so expensive.⑪ It's usually a hundred bucks. Now it's jumped to five hundred.⑫ I should've booked it when we first made plans.⑬ Still, I'm really happy. He's the first friend to visit me from China.⑭ Well, okay, he's mostly here for the NBA game. But hey, I'll take it!🔑 Vocabulary• out of the blue /ˌaʊt əv ðə ˈbluː/• show him around /ʃoʊ hɪm əˈraʊnd/• slipped my mind /slɪpt maɪ maɪnd/• put in for time off /ˌpʊt ɪn fər ˈtaɪm ɔːf/• book a flight /bʊk ə flaɪt/• last-minute /ˌlæst ˈmɪnɪt/• keep my word /kiːp maɪ wɜːrd/• coworkers /ˈkoʊwɜːrkərz/• bucks /bʌks/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Day 35 · The Call Before GaokaoListen, my nephew called me this weekend.He told me his gaokao starts tomorrow morning.And he wanted me to give him a pep talk.Honestly, I was kind of touched.He thought of me at a moment like this.But I didn't really know what to say.I mean, it's the gaokao.I just wanted him to take it easy.So I said, I'm so glad you called me.You've really grown these past three years.I genuinely like who you've become.To me, you already aced your gaokao.Then we started joking about his freshman year. So rebellious.His junior-year crush. His senior-year all-nighter.He laughed. I could feel him relax.We talked a little longer, then hung up.Day 36 · The Gaokao YearThis morning, the streets felt unusually quiet.No one was honking. No one rushing.It hit me. Today is the day.I drove past a school on my way to work.Parents were everywhere, holding flowers.And just like that, I was eighteen again.And just like that, I was back in that exam room.My pencil was shaking.My heart was pounding.Part of me just wanted it over.And part of me wished I had more time.Honestly, that was almost twenty years ago.But it still feels so close.Time really does fly.I hope they ace it. Every single one of them.Day 37 · The Class Dinner NightIt just turned Wednesday. I'm thinking about them again.Today is their last day of gaokao. Probably their only one ever.Just one more exam. English. They'll walk out of that exam room by five. All over.And just like that, they're free. Free from high school.They'll try to keep their cool. And head home to check their answers.Within an hour, the group chats will blow up.Their last class dinner is tonight.They'll sing their class song first.Then someone will put on a pop song.Some girls crying. Some boys way too loud.They'll pretend to drink like grown-ups.Please. Take a million photos.This is what youth looks like.Day 38 · Just AskYesterday was the last day of gaokao. Today, the house is too quiet.He came home past midnight. From the class dinner. With a hangover.It's almost noon. He's still sleeping in. Door closed.There's no rushing this morning. No alarm. No backpack by the door.Mom keeps walking past his door. Listening for any sound.She wants to knock. But doesn't. He wants to ask. But doesn't.It's not the kind of morning you see on TV. No tears. No big hugs.Finally, his door opens. He walks out. His hair is a mess.They eat in silence. Nobody mentions yesterday. Nobody asks the question.Then he says it. Just ask. Probably 420. Enough for a third-tier university.And just like that. Mom and Dad finally let out a breath.Day 39 · Part Time or Travel?My nephew called me Thursday afternoon and said his gaokao went good.He said: I want to do part-time as a delivery guy this summer. Then I can save up for university.Actually, I was so proud, and it reminded me of my own summer long time ago.I was handing out flyers on the street the whole summer.Honestly, I always envied my classmates who got to travel after graduation.So I told him. If you don't mind, I have an offer for you.I can cover 200 yuan a day. You can use it to backpack across China.Only one condition. Study on my TingMate app one hour a day, two whole months. And send me a recording every day.He paused. Then said he never thought about traveling. But it sounds kind of cool.Less than an hour later, I got tons of messages from him. RedNote travel guides. Backpacking routes.He even sent me one. How university students can travel to America.And the most surprising one is his first English recording. I laughed. Haha.

Day 40 · ChampionsTonight could be the night. Game 5. New York leads the series three to one.None of us got a ticket. They were way too expensive. So we squeeze in front of one screen.For most of the game, New York is down. At one point, down by sixteen. It looks over.Then Brunson takes over! Thirteen points in a row! We can't believe it!We are all on the edge of our seats.The final minute. New York is ahead. Nobody says a word.The buzzer sounds! Ninety-four to ninety! The Knicks win!They did it! The Knicks are champions! Their first title in fifty-three years!We jump up and start yelling! The whole room goes crazy!Outside, car horns everywhere. People pour into the streets.And tonight, the whole city says it together. Congratulations. The Knicks! You are the champions! Brunson, MVP! The king of New York!Day 41 · Tasting It OnlineMy friends, I have a question for you. Is it crawfish season back in China right now?I've been in Austin, Texas lately. The most famous local supermarket here is H-E-B.There's one almost every two miles. And in summer, crawfish is their thing.They set up a little stall out front. Selling crawfish for a limited time.I parked my car, and the smell hit me right away.I really wanted some. But I wasn't sure how clean they were.So I made a deal with myself. If they're still here when I come out. I'll get some.I went in and grabbed milk, bread, steak, and some fruit.When I came out, they were already sold out.I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time.Back home, I scrolled through tons of crawfish videos. So many flavors, from Changsha to Suzhou.I told myself I'd pretty much tasted every flavor already. Then I saw someone drop instant noodles right into the crawfish sauce.So I dug into my own instant noodles. And honestly, it tasted pretty good too.Day 42 · Don't Suffer AloneI got home around 6:30 today. And man, it was hot.The house hit 84 degrees Fahrenheit. So I turned on the AC right away.I grabbed a drink from the fridge and sank into my rocking chair.But five minutes later, I was still sweating.That's when it hit me. The AC wasn't cooling at all.Now I wasn't just hot. I was getting cranky.I walked to the leasing office. But they were already closed.I knew I could call maintenance. But it was getting late.And honestly, I hate being a bother. So I got stuck in my own head.So I tried asking the neighbor group. My AC doesn't seem to be cooling. Anyone have any advice?And boom. So many people jumped in. Mine too! Mine too!So one neighbor stepped up. He gathered everyone's unit numbers. Then he sent in one maintenance request for all of us.Half an hour later, someone showed up. Turns out the condensation had backed up. Fixed in a minute.And we made a deal in the group. Next time, we tell each other right away.Day 43 · 618 Mid-Year Sale?Hey, do you guys know what day it is? Today's the last day of the 618 mid-year sale.I just paid the balance on my pre-order.And honestly, I was scared I'd messed up the math.These days, you just can't figure out the discount rules.I checked it three times. And I'm good with numbers, especially money.But I still feel like I didn't get every discount.Honestly, what was wrong with the old fifty percent off?You buy one thing, and they throw in a pile of free gifts.But here's the thing. I'm a minimalist. I really don't like hoarding stuff.And yet, I still want to save a little money.So here I am, staring at my cart, kind of stuck.Did I actually save anything? Honestly, I have no idea.

A slow English story about Wrapping zongzi for Dragon Boat Festival, and missing the red bean paste from my childhood. 11 simple sentences. Word by word. About 12 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Dragon Boat Festival is almost here. So today I left work early and went to a friend's place.② She had everything ready. And we tried wrapping zongzi.③ And honestly? It's so much harder than it looks.④ We didn't have red bean filling. Just salted egg yolk and pork.⑤ My friend is from the North. She likes dipping hers in white sugar.⑥ So I gave it a try.⑦ The soft, sticky rice and that little crunch of sugar. Honestly, so good.⑧ But I still really miss the red bean paste.⑨ When I was little, the grownups made it by hand. Little round balls of red bean paste.⑩ And I always got the last bit left in the bowl. And it would just melt in your mouth.⑪ Happy Dragon Boat Festival, everyone!🔑 Vocabulary• Dragon Boat Festival /ˈdræɡən boʊt ˈfestɪvəl/• wrapping /ˈræpɪŋ/• filling /ˈfɪlɪŋ/• salted egg yolk /ˈsɔːltɪd eɡ joʊk/• dipping /ˈdɪpɪŋ/• sticky rice /ˈstɪki raɪs/• crunch of sugar /krʌntʃ əv ˈʃʊɡər/• red bean paste /red biːn peɪst/• grownups /ˈɡroʊnʌps/• bowl /boʊl/• melt /melt/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Last day of the 618 sale, and I can't figure out if I actually saved anything. 12 simple sentences. Word by word. About 12 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Hey, do you guys know what day it is? Today's the last day of the 618 mid-year sale.② I just paid the balance on my pre-order.③ And honestly, I was scared I'd messed up the math.④ These days, you just can't figure out the discount rules.⑤ I checked it three times. And I'm good with numbers, especially money.⑥ But I still feel like I didn't get every discount.⑦ Honestly, what was wrong with the old fifty percent off?⑧ You buy one thing, and they throw in a pile of free gifts.⑨ But here's the thing. I'm a minimalist. I really don't like hoarding stuff.⑩ And yet, I still want to save a little money.⑪ So here I am, staring at my cart, kind of stuck.⑫ Did I actually save anything? Honestly, I have no idea.🔑 Vocabulary• mid-year sale /ˌmɪdˈjɪr seɪl/• paid the balance /peɪd ðə ˈbæləns/• messed up /mest ʌp/• figure out /ˈfɪɡjər aʊt/• fifty percent off /ˈfɪfti pərˈsent ɔːf/• a pile of /ə paɪl əv/• minimalist /ˈmɪnɪməlɪst/• hoarding stuff /ˈhɔːrdɪŋ stʌf/• pre-order /ˈpriːˌɔːrdər/• scared /skerd/• discount /ˈdɪskaʊnt/• cart /kɑːrt/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about My AC stopped cooling at night, and the neighbor group chat fixed it together. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 16 minutes.📝 Today's sentences① I got home around 6:30 today. And man, it was hot.② The house hit 84 degrees Fahrenheit. So I turned on the AC right away.③ I grabbed a drink from the fridge and sank into my rocking chair.④ But five minutes later, I was still sweating.⑤ That's when it hit me. The AC wasn't cooling at all.⑥ Now I wasn't just hot. I was getting cranky.⑦ I walked to the leasing office. But they were already closed.⑧ I knew I could call maintenance. But it was getting late.⑨ And honestly, I hate being a bother. So I got stuck in my own head.⑩ So I tried asking the neighbor group. My AC doesn't seem to be cooling. Anyone have any advice?⑪ And boom. So many people jumped in. Mine too! Mine too!⑫ So one neighbor stepped up. He gathered everyone's unit numbers. Then he sent in one maintenance request for all of us.⑬ Half an hour later, someone showed up. Turns out the condensation had backed up. Fixed in a minute.⑭ And we made a deal in the group. Next time, we tell each other right away.🔑 Vocabulary• degrees Fahrenheit /dɪˈɡriːz ˈfærənhaɪt/• cranky /ˈkræŋki/• being a bother /ˈbiːɪŋ ə ˈbɑːðər/• leasing office /ˈliːsɪŋ ˈɔːfɪs/• maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/• got stuck in my own head /ɡɑːt stʌk ɪn maɪ oʊn hed/• jumped in /dʒʌmpt ɪn/• stepped up /stept ʌp/• backed up /bækt ʌp/• turned on /tɜːrnd ɑːn/• neighbor /ˈneɪbər/• sweating /ˈswetɪŋ/• gathered /ˈɡæðərd/• condensation /ˌkɑːndenˈseɪʃən/• showed up /ʃoʊd ʌp/• rocking chair /ˈrɑːkɪŋ tʃer/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Craving crawfish at the supermarket, I made a deal with myself — and ended up eating it online. 13 simple sentences. Word by word. About ? minutes.📝 Today's sentences① My friends, I have a question for you. Is it crawfish season back in China right now?② I've been in Austin, Texas lately. The most famous local supermarket here is H-E-B.③ There's one almost every two miles. And in summer, crawfish is their thing.④ They set up a little stall out front. Selling crawfish for a limited time.⑤ I parked my car, and the smell hit me right away.⑥ I really wanted some. But I wasn't sure how clean they were.⑦ So I made a deal with myself. If they're still here when I come out. I'll get some.⑧ I went in and grabbed milk, bread, steak, and some fruit.⑨ When I came out, they were already sold out.⑩ I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time.⑪ Back home, I scrolled through tons of crawfish videos. So many flavors, from Changsha to Suzhou.⑫ I told myself I'd pretty much tasted every flavor already. Then I saw someone drop instant noodles right into the crawfish sauce.⑬ So I dug into my own instant noodles. And honestly, it tasted pretty good too.🔑 Vocabulary• crawfish season /ˈkrɔːfɪʃ ˈsiːzən/• a little stall /ə ˈlɪtl stɔːl/• limited time /ˈlɪmɪtɪd taɪm/• made a deal /meɪd ə diːl/• relieved /rɪˈliːvd/• instant noodles /ˈɪnstənt ˈnuːdlz/• dug into /dʌɡ ˈɪntuː/• famous /ˈfeɪməs/• miles /maɪlz/• smell /smel/• grabbed /ɡræbd/• sold out /soʊld aʊt/• scrolled /skroʊld/• flavors /ˈfleɪvərz/• sauce /sɔːs/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about We couldn't afford a ticket, so we crowded around one screen — and watched the Knicks win it all. 11 simple sentences. Word by word. About ? minutes.📝 Today's sentences① Tonight could be the night. Game 5. New York leads the series three to one.② None of us got a ticket. They were way too expensive. So we squeeze in front of one screen.③ For most of the game, New York is down. At one point, down by sixteen. It looks over.④ Then Brunson takes over! Thirteen points in a row! We can't believe it!⑤ We are all on the edge of our seats.⑥ The final minute. New York is ahead. Nobody says a word.⑦ The buzzer sounds! Ninety-four to ninety! The Knicks win!⑧ They did it! The Knicks are champions! Their first title in fifty-three years!⑨ We jump up and start yelling! The whole room goes crazy!⑩ Outside, car horns everywhere. People pour into the streets.⑪ And tonight, the whole city says it together. Congratulations. The Knicks! You are the champions! Brunson, MVP! The king of New York!🔑 Vocabulary• way too expensive /weɪ tuː ɪkˈspensɪv/• take over /teɪk ˈoʊvər/• in a row /ɪn ə roʊ/• on the edge of our seats /ɑːn ðə edʒ əv aʊr siːts/• pour into /pɔːr ˈɪntuː/• champions /ˈtʃæmpiənz/• Game 5 /ɡeɪm faɪv/• squeeze /skwiːz/• down by sixteen /daʊn baɪ sɪksˈtiːn/• buzzer /ˈbʌzər/• car horns /kɑːr hɔːrnz/• Finals MVP /ˈfaɪnəlz em viː piː/• king of New York /kɪŋ əv nuː jɔːrk/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Day 30 · Cheers to Right NowThis weekend, I went to my friend's housewarming party.Here's the thing. She didn't buy the place. She rented it.But it's still a big deal. Ten years in the US.This is her first time living in a house.Honestly, international student life isn't all that fancy.You're moving abroad, learning English, finding a job, then the H1B lottery.She kept going year after year. Reapplying, waiting, refusing to quit.This year, she finally got picked. The H1B came through.She said she's safe for three years now.She really deserves this moment.Honestly, anyone who keeps going knows this feeling.So I made this episode for her.We raised our glasses. Cheers to right now.Day 31 · Beta is HereHey, are you guys ready? And I've got some good news for you today.First of all, you guys are crazy.I mean, I never expected this many people to love TingMate.So I started working on the app launch.But honestly, the process is slower than I thought.So in the meantime, I built something for you.Yeah! I built a beta version of TingMate.There's a web version, an iOS test app, and an Android install file.I only have limited spots for beta testing.I'd love to hear what you think.Your feedback will literally shape the real launch.So if you want to give it a try, check today's cover.Add me on WeChat. The ID's already on the cover and show notes.Thank you for being here for each other.Day 32 · That "Morning"Monday morning, and I slept in.I drank way too much at the housewarming last night.I can't really drink much, but I just love a good drink.I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door.Just my luck, the elevator was slow.I snuck into the office, hoping no one would notice.Then I saw him. My boss was right by the door.He looked up and said, "Morning!" Real chill.I forced a smile and said, "Morning!" back. Just as chill.I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. My heart was still racing.He glanced at the clock. Then he looked back at me, still smiling.He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.I got the message. Loud and clear.I started typing twice as fast.Day 33 · What a MorningListen, I'm not kidding. This just happened this morning.I woke up pretty early.So I planned to walk my dog for a bit longer.We were on the lakeside path around the apartment.All of a sudden, I saw a snake right on the path.My neighbors actually keep talking about snakes in the group chat.But I didn't really take it seriously.That snake was about five feet long.My dog and the snake just froze.I stood there watching them. Dead silent.I even thought about calling 911.Then the snake stuck its tongue out at me.Oh my gosh, what do I do? Is it venomous?But then she just slithered away.What a way to start the day.Day 34 · What a Way to End the NightListen, I'm so done with this.So I just got pulled over on my way home.I was driving back from dinner at my friend's place.I came up to this stop sign at the corner.And I stopped. I swear, I stopped.But the cop said I didn't come to a full stop.I've been in the States for three years now.And this is the third time. Like, the third!Every single time, it's the middle of the night.There's literally no other car on the road.I mean, you'd see the headlights from a mile away.Are these cops just trying to hit their quota or what?And now I owe, like, three hundred bucks.And to make matters worse, my insurance is gonna go up.And the cop even said, "Drive safe, have a good night."Honestly, what a way to end the night.

Day 35 · The Call Before GaokaoListen, my nephew called me this weekend.He told me his gaokao starts tomorrow morning.And he wanted me to give him a pep talk.Honestly, I was kind of touched.He thought of me at a moment like this.But I didn't really know what to say.I mean, it's the gaokao.I just wanted him to take it easy.So I said, I'm so glad you called me.You've really grown these past three years.I genuinely like who you've become.To me, you already aced your gaokao.Then we started joking about his freshman year. So rebellious.His junior-year crush. His senior-year all-nighter.He laughed. I could feel him relax.We talked a little longer, then hung up.Day 36 · The Gaokao YearThis morning, the streets felt unusually quiet.No one was honking. No one rushing.It hit me. Today is the day.I drove past a school on my way to work.Parents were everywhere, holding flowers.And just like that, I was eighteen again.And just like that, I was back in that exam room.My pencil was shaking.My heart was pounding.Part of me just wanted it over.And part of me wished I had more time.Honestly, that was almost twenty years ago.But it still feels so close.Time really does fly.I hope they ace it. Every single one of them.Day 37 · The Class Dinner NightIt just turned Wednesday. I'm thinking about them again.Today is their last day of gaokao. Probably their only one ever.Just one more exam. English. They'll walk out of that exam room by five. All over.And just like that, they're free. Free from high school.They'll try to keep their cool. And head home to check their answers.Within an hour, the group chats will blow up.Their last class dinner is tonight.They'll sing their class song first.Then someone will put on a pop song.Some girls crying. Some boys way too loud.They'll pretend to drink like grown-ups.Please. Take a million photos.This is what youth looks like.Day 38 · Just AskYesterday was the last day of gaokao. Today, the house is too quiet.He came home past midnight. From the class dinner. With a hangover.It's almost noon. He's still sleeping in. Door closed.There's no rushing this morning. No alarm. No backpack by the door.Mom keeps walking past his door. Listening for any sound.She wants to knock. But doesn't. He wants to ask. But doesn't.It's not the kind of morning you see on TV. No tears. No big hugs.Finally, his door opens. He walks out. His hair is a mess.They eat in silence. Nobody mentions yesterday. Nobody asks the question.Then he says it. Just ask. Probably 420. Enough for a third-tier university.And just like that. Mom and Dad finally let out a breath.Day 39 · Part Time or Travel?My nephew called me Thursday afternoon and said his gaokao went good.He said: I want to do part-time as a delivery guy this summer. Then I can save up for university.Actually, I was so proud, and it reminded me of my own summer long time ago.I was handing out flyers on the street the whole summer.Honestly, I always envied my classmates who got to travel after graduation.So I told him. If you don't mind, I have an offer for you.I can cover 200 yuan a day. You can use it to backpack across China.Only one condition. Study on my TingMate app one hour a day, two whole months. And send me a recording every day.He paused. Then said he never thought about traveling. But it sounds kind of cool.Less than an hour later, I got tons of messages from him. RedNote travel guides. Backpacking routes.He even sent me one. How university students can travel to America.And the most surprising one is his first English recording. I laughed. Haha.

A slow English story about My nephew wanted to deliver food for the summer — I made him an offer instead. 12 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesMy nephew called me Thursday afternoon and said his gaokao went good.He said: I want to do part-time as a delivery guy this summer. Then I can save up for university.Actually, I was so proud, and it reminded me of my own summer long time ago.I was handing out flyers on the street the whole summer.Honestly, I always envied my classmates who got to travel after graduation.So I told him. If you don't mind, I have an offer for you.I can cover 200 yuan a day. You can use it to backpack across China.Only one condition. Study on my TingMate app one hour a day, two whole months. And send me a recording every day.He paused. Then said he never thought about traveling. But it sounds kind of cool.Less than an hour later, I got tons of messages from him. RedNote travel guides. Backpacking routes.He even sent me one. How university students can travel to America.And the most surprising one is his first English recording. I laughed. Haha.🔑 Vocabulary• part-time /pɑːrt taɪm/• save up for /seɪv ʌp fɔːr/• envied /ˈenvid/• paused /pɔːzd/• tons of /tʌnz əv/• handing out flyers /ˈhændɪŋ aʊt ˈflaɪərz/• an offer for you /ən ˈɔːfər fɔːr juː/• backpack across China /ˈbækpæk əˈkrɔːs ˈtʃaɪnə/• travel guides /ˈtrævəl ɡaɪdz/• travel to America /ˈtrævəl tuː əˈmerɪkə/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about The morning after gaokao — parents tiptoeing, the kid sleeping in, and one quiet line at breakfast. 11 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesYesterday was the last day of gaokao. Today, the house is too quiet.He came home past midnight. From the class dinner. With a hangover.It's almost noon. He's still sleeping in. Door closed.There's no rushing this morning. No alarm. No backpack by the door.Mom keeps walking past his door. Listening for any sound.She wants to knock. But doesn't. He wants to ask. But doesn't.It's not the kind of morning you see on TV. No tears. No big hugs.Finally, his door opens. He walks out. His hair is a mess.They eat in silence. Nobody mentions yesterday. Nobody asks the question.Then he says it. Just ask. Probably 420. Enough for a third-tier university.And just like that. Mom and Dad finally let out a breath.🔑 Vocabulary• hangover /ˈhæŋˌoʊvər/• sleeping in /ˈsliːpɪŋ ɪn/• wants to but doesn't /wɑːnts tuː bʌt ˈdʌznt/• mentions /ˈmenʃənz/• let out a breath /let aʊt ə breθ/• class dinner /klæs ˈdɪnər/• in silence /ɪn ˈsaɪləns/• third-tier university /θɜːrd tɪər ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːrsəti/• just like that /dʒʌst laɪk ðæt/• His hair is a mess /hɪz her ɪz ə mes/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Wednesday midnight, picturing them on their last day of gaokao — and the class dinner ahead. 13 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesIt just turned Wednesday. I'm thinking about them again.Today is their last day of gaokao. Probably their only one ever.Just one more exam. English. They'll walk out of that exam room by five. All over.And just like that, they're free. Free from high school.They'll try to keep their cool. And head home to check their answers.Within an hour, the group chats will blow up.Their last class dinner is tonight.They'll sing their class song first.Then someone will put on a pop song.Some girls crying. Some boys way too loud.They'll pretend to drink like grown-ups.Please. Take a million photos.This is what youth looks like.🔑 Vocabulary• just like that /dʒʌst laɪk ðæt/• blowing up /ˈbloʊɪŋ ʌp/• class song /klæs sɔːŋ/• way too loud /weɪ tuː laʊd/• take a million photos /teɪk ə ˈmɪljən ˈfoʊtoʊz/• last day of gaokao /læst deɪ əv ˈɡaʊˌkaʊ/• exam room /ɪɡˈzæm ruːm/• keep their cool /kiːp ðer kuːl/• check their answers /tʃek ðer ˈænsərz/• last class dinner /læst klæs ˈdɪnər/• like grown-ups /laɪk ɡroʊn ʌps/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Driving past a school full of parents holding flowers — and remembering my own gaokao 20 years ago. 15 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesThis morning, the streets felt unusually quiet.No one was honking. No one rushing.It hit me. Today is the day.I drove past a school on my way to work.Parents were everywhere, holding flowers.And just like that, I was eighteen again.And just like that, I was back in that exam room.My pencil was shaking.My heart was pounding.Part of me just wanted it over.And part of me wished I had more time.Honestly, that was almost twenty years ago.But it still feels so close.Time really does fly.I hope they ace it. Every single one of them.🔑 Vocabulary• honking /ˈhɒŋkɪŋ/• on my way to work /ɒn maɪ weɪ tə wɜːrk/• heart pounding /hɑːrt ˈpaʊndɪŋ/• wished I had more time /wɪʃt aɪ hæd mɔːr taɪm/• time flies /taɪm flaɪz/• unusually quiet /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli ˈkwaɪət/• it hit me /ɪt hɪt miː/• holding flowers /ˈhoʊldɪŋ ˈflaʊərz/• eighteen again /eɪˈtiːn əˈɡen/• exam room /ɪɡˈzæm ruːm/• pencil shaking /ˈpensəl ˈʃeɪkɪŋ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about A phone call from my nephew the night before his gaokao — and what I told him. 16 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesListen, my nephew called me this weekend.He told me his gaokao starts tomorrow morning.And he wanted me to give him a pep talk.Honestly, I was kind of touched.He thought of me at a moment like this.But I didn't really know what to say.I mean, it's the gaokao.I just wanted him to take it easy.So I said, I'm so glad you called me.You've really grown these past three years.I genuinely like who you've become.To me, you already aced your gaokao.Then we started joking about his freshman year. So rebellious.His junior-year crush. His senior-year all-nighter.He laughed. I could feel him relax.We talked a little longer, then hung up.🔑 Vocabulary• pep talk /pep tɔːk/• touched /tʌtʃt/• ace /eɪs/• all-nighter /ˌɔːlˈnaɪtər/• hang up /hæŋ ʌp/• gaokao /ˈɡaʊˌkaʊ/• a moment like this /ə ˈmoʊmənt laɪk ðɪs/• take it easy /teɪk ɪt ˈiːzi/• genuinely /ˈdʒenjuɪnli/• rebellious /rɪˈbeljəs/• crush /krʌʃ/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Day 25 · I Poured Another GlassSo this weekend, I had a picnic with a friend. Out in the park.We laid out a blanket. Wine, bread, fruit. All takeout, honestly. Nothing fancy.The weather was perfect. I just sat there, doing nothing for once.And there were two kids next to us, sharing one ice cream. Both racing to finish it before it melts.It was the sweetest little rush. Honestly, I was kinda jealous.Then it hits me. My life is heavy. Bills, deadlines, Monday's almost here.I poured another glass. The kids kept laughing.Day 26 · Meet a Stranger?Monday morning. A stranger DMed me out of the blue.Turns out, she wanted to ask about my career switch. Switching into tech. Said she's been stuck for a while.Truth is, I don't usually meet people from the internet. Makes me nervous.But I get it. I've been there before. Working up the courage to reach out to other people for help isn't easy.I mean, if I just turned her down, would she ever DM anyone again?You know what? I even flipped a coin. Heads yes, tails no. It came up tails.But I typed back anyway. "Tomorrow after work?" Yeah, I'm a little rebellious, I know.Got her reply right away. Three exclamation marks. "Thanks!!!"I put my phone down. I suddenly felt tomorrow getting closer.Day 27 · Don't Be Too PoliteAfter work, I walked over to the coffee shop on the corner. She was already there.I spotted her right away. The only one with her laptop closed, just staring at the door.She apologized like five times before I even sat down. "Sorry to take up your time," she kept saying.Look, I had to cut her off. If we kept being this polite, we'd waste the whole night.So I asked her straight up. Which companies. How many interviews. Where she was stuck.Then I pulled up my own resume on my laptop. I mean, walked her through the whole thing, showed her what to highlight.We mapped out a four-step plan. Fix the resume. Keep applying to big companies.At least three LeetCode problems a day. And hey, listen to my podcast too. That's how you prepare behavioral questions in English.Honestly, once I got direct, she relaxed too. We focused on the real pain points together.Walking out. Turns out, meeting someone from online isn't as scary as I imagined.Day 28 · Unspoken ThingWednesday. Honestly, it's my favorite day of the week.I know that sounds weird. But let me explain.Here's my theory. Once Wednesday hits, the week's halfway gone. Weekend's right around the corner.Plus, I've got a special Wednesday routine. And it's a good one.There's a bubble tea shop right downstairs from my office.And on Wednesdays, their signature drink is half off. Total hump day lifesaver.I've been showing up the same time every week. Turns out, I'm a regular now.The boss doesn't even ask anymore. Just starts making my usual.But here's the thing. Every time, he doubles up on the pearls.I never asked. But I always tip him a little extra in return.It's our unspoken thing. And honestly, it makes my whole week.Walking back upstairs, sipping. Only two days before the wonderful weekend hits. Hang in there, I can do this.Day 29 · Open SecretWednesday afternoon. Casy came over to my desk with that look in her eye.You know the look. The "I've got something interesting" face.She leaned in to spill the tea. "Did you know Joe and Lin are dating?"My jaw actually dropped. But honestly? In hindsight, it kind of makes sense.Turns out, all those "random" coffee runs? Not so random.I felt a little guilty. Like, should we even be talking about this?Casy waved it off. "Everyone knows. We're literally the last to know."Plus, honestly? We're all rooting for them. They actually click.We agreed to keep it off the record. You know, until they tell people themselves.And walking back to my desk, I caught myself grinning like an idiot.Office gossip is the worst. But honestly, kind of the best.

Beta App invite → WeChat: TingMateEnDay 30 · Cheers to Right NowThis weekend, I went to my friend's housewarming party.Here's the thing. She didn't buy the place. She rented it.But it's still a big deal. Ten years in the US.This is her first time living in a house.Honestly, international student life isn't all that fancy.You're moving abroad, learning English, finding a job, then the H1B lottery.She kept going year after year. Reapplying, waiting, refusing to quit.This year, she finally got picked. The H1B came through.She said she's safe for three years now.She really deserves this moment.Honestly, anyone who keeps going knows this feeling.So I made this episode for her.We raised our glasses. Cheers to right now.Day 31 · Beta is HereHey, are you guys ready? And I've got some good news for you today.First of all, you guys are crazy.I mean, I never expected this many people to love TingMate.So I started working on the app launch.But honestly, the process is slower than I thought.So in the meantime, I built something for you.Yeah! I built a beta version of TingMate.There's a web version, an iOS test app, and an Android install file.I only have limited spots for beta testing.I'd love to hear what you think.Your feedback will literally shape the real launch.So if you want to give it a try, check today's cover.Add me on WeChat. The ID's already on the cover and show notes.Thank you for being here for each other.Day 32 · That "Morning"Monday morning, and I slept in.I drank way too much at the housewarming last night.I can't really drink much, but I just love a good drink.I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door.Just my luck, the elevator was slow.I snuck into the office, hoping no one would notice.Then I saw him. My boss was right by the door.He looked up and said, "Morning!" Real chill.I forced a smile and said, "Morning!" back. Just as chill.I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. My heart was still racing.He glanced at the clock. Then he looked back at me, still smiling.He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.I got the message. Loud and clear.I started typing twice as fast.Day 33 · What a MorningListen, I'm not kidding. This just happened this morning.I woke up pretty early.So I planned to walk my dog for a bit longer.We were on the lakeside path around the apartment.All of a sudden, I saw a snake right on the path.My neighbors actually keep talking about snakes in the group chat.But I didn't really take it seriously.That snake was about five feet long.My dog and the snake just froze.I stood there watching them. Dead silent.I even thought about calling 911.Then the snake stuck its tongue out at me.Oh my gosh, what do I do? Is it venomous?But then she just slithered away.What a way to start the day.Day 34 · What a Way to End the NightListen, I'm so done with this.So I just got pulled over on my way home.I was driving back from dinner at my friend's place.I came up to this stop sign at the corner.And I stopped. I swear, I stopped.But the cop said I didn't come to a full stop.I've been in the States for three years now.And this is the third time. Like, the third!Every single time, it's the middle of the night.There's literally no other car on the road.I mean, you'd see the headlights from a mile away.Are these cops just trying to hit their quota or what?And now I owe, like, three hundred bucks.And to make matters worse, my insurance is gonna go up.And the cop even said, "Drive safe, have a good night."Honestly, what a way to end the night.

Beta app invite → WeChat: TingMateEn A slow English story about Pulled over for a stop sign — third time in three years, always at night. 16 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesListen, I'm so done with this.So I just got pulled over on my way home.I was driving back from dinner at my friend's place.I came up to this stop sign at the corner.And I stopped. I swear, I stopped.But the cop said I didn't come to a full stop.I've been in the States for three years now.And this is the third time. Like, the third!Every single time, it's the middle of the night.There's literally no other car on the road.I mean, you'd see the headlights from a mile away.Are these cops just trying to hit their quota or what?And now I owe, like, three hundred bucks.And to make matters worse, my insurance is gonna go up.And the cop even said, "Drive safe, have a good night."Honestly, what a way to end the night.🔑 Vocabulary• pulled over /pʊld ˈoʊvər/• full stop /fʊl stɑːp/• come up to /kʌm ʌp tuː/• owe /oʊ/• to make matters worse /tə meɪk ˈmætərz wɜːrs/• on my way home /ɒn maɪ weɪ hoʊm/• stop sign /stɑːp saɪn/• I swear /aɪ swɛr/• the States /ðə steɪts/• every single time /ˈɛvri ˈsɪŋɡəl taɪm/• middle of the night /ˈmɪdl əv ðə naɪt/• headlights /ˈhɛdlaɪts/• from a mile away /frəm ə maɪl əˈweɪ/• hit their quota /hɪt ðɛr ˈkwoʊtə/• three hundred bucks /θriː ˈhʌndrəd bʌks/• gonna /ˈɡʌnə/• drive safe /draɪv seɪf/• have a good night /hæv ə ɡʊd naɪt/• what a way to end the night /wɒt ə weɪ tə ɛnd ðə naɪt/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about An early morning dog walk that turned wild — a five-foot snake right on the path. 15 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentences Listen, I'm not kidding. This just happened this morning.I woke up pretty early.So I planned to walk my dog for a bit longer.We were on the lakeside path around the apartment.All of a sudden, I saw a snake right on the path.My neighbors actually keep talking about snakes in the group chat.But I didn't really take it seriously.That snake was about five feet long.My dog and the snake just froze.I stood there watching them. Dead silent.I even thought about calling 911.Then the snake stuck its tongue out at me.Oh my gosh, what do I do? Is it venomous?But then she just slithered away.What a way to start the day.🔑 Vocabulary• 911 /naɪn wʌn wʌn/• woke up early /woʊk ʌp ˈɜːrli/• take it seriously /teɪk ɪt ˈsɪriəsli/• stuck out /stʌk aʊt/• venomous /ˈvenəməs/• what a way to start the day /wɒt ə weɪ tə stɑːrt ðə deɪ/• froze /froʊz/• slither away /ˈslɪðər əˈweɪ/• lakeside path /ˈleɪksaɪd pæθ/• all of a sudden /ɔːl əv ə ˈsʌdn/• actually /ˈæktʃuəli/• group chat /ɡruːp tʃæt/• five feet long /faɪv fiːt lɔːŋ/• dead silent /ded ˈsaɪlənt/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about Monday morning, an overslept hangover, and a boss who said it without saying it. 14 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesMonday morning, and I slept in.I drank way too much at the housewarming last night.I can't really drink much, but I just love a good drink.I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door.Just my luck, the elevator was slow.I snuck into the office, hoping no one would notice.Then I saw him. My boss was right by the door.He looked up and said, "Morning!" Real chill.I forced a smile and said, "Morning!" back. Just as chill.I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. My heart was still racing.He glanced at the clock. Then he looked back at me, still smiling.He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.I got the message. Loud and clear.I started typing twice as fast.🔑 Vocabulary• slept in /slept ɪn/• threw on /θruː ɒn/• rushed out /rʌʃt aʊt/• just my luck /dʒʌst maɪ lʌk/• forced a smile /fɔːrst ə smaɪl/• glanced at /ɡlænst æt/• heart racing /hɑːrt ˈreɪsɪŋ/• housewarming /ˈhaʊsˌwɔːrmɪŋ/• lightweight /ˈlaɪtweɪt/• snuck into /snʌk ˈɪntə/• chill /tʃɪl/• didn't say a word /ˈdɪdnt seɪ ə wɜːrd/• loud and clear /laʊd ənd klɪər/• twice as fast /twaɪs əz fæst/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Wechat: TingMateEnA slow English story about TingMate beta is here — limited spots for beta testing. 14 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesHey, are you guys ready? And I've got some good news for you today.First of all, you guys are crazy.I mean, I never expected this many people to love TingMate.So I started working on the app launch.But honestly, the process is slower than I thought.So in the meantime, I built something for you.Yeah! I built a beta version of TingMate.There's a web version, an iOS test app, and an Android install file.I only have limited spots for beta testing.I'd love to hear what you think.Your feedback will literally shape the real launch.So if you want to give it a try, check today's cover.Add me on WeChat. The ID's already on the cover and show notes.Thank you for being here for each other.🔑 Vocabulary• crazy /ˈkreɪzi/• launch /lɔːntʃ/• in the meantime /ɪn ðə ˈmiːntaɪm/• beta /ˈbeɪtə/• shape /ʃeɪp/• literally /ˈlɪtərəli/• give it a try /ɡɪv ɪt ə traɪ/• feedback /ˈfiːdbæk/• be here for each other /biː hɪər fɔːr iːtʃ ˈʌðər/• some good news /sʌm ɡʊd njuːz/• install file /ɪnˈstɔːl faɪl/• spots /spɒts/• limited /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/• show notes /ʃoʊ noʊts/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about a friend's housewarming and an H1B that finally came through. 13 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesThis weekend, I went to my friend's housewarming party.Here's the thing. She didn't buy the place. She rented it.But it's still a big deal. Ten years in the US.This is her first time living in a house.Honestly, international student life isn't all that fancy.You're moving abroad, learning English, finding a job, then the H1B lottery.She kept going year after year. Reapplying, waiting, refusing to quit.This year, she finally got picked. The H1B came through.She said she's safe for three years now.She really deserves this moment.Honestly, anyone who keeps going knows this feeling.So I made this episode for her.We raised our glasses. Cheers to right now.🔑 Vocabulary• housewarming party /ˈhaʊsˌwɔːrmɪŋ ˈpɑːrti/• here's the thing /hɪərz ðə θɪŋ/• a big deal /ə bɪɡ diːl/• kept going /kept ˈɡoʊɪŋ/• refusing to quit /rɪˈfjuːzɪŋ tə kwɪt/• came through /keɪm θruː/• deserves /dɪˈzɜːrvz/• raised our glasses /reɪzd aʊər ˈɡlæsɪz/• rented /ˈrentɪd/• year after year /jɪər ˈæftər jɪər/• reapplying /ˌriːəˈplaɪɪŋ/• H1B /eɪtʃ wʌn biː/• got picked /ɡɑːt pɪkt/• fancy /ˈfænsi/• all that /ɔːl ðæt/• cheers to /tʃɪərz tuː/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

Day 19 · Before The MeetingMonday morning. The big week starts now.And before heading out, I looked in the mirror and gave myself a firm nod.I got to the office, made coffee, opened my notes app.I started a new list. Just three things for today.One: I proofread the design doc with ChatGPT. Took half an hour.Two: I shared the deck with everyone on the invite.Three: I dropped a message in the group chat. Reach out anytime. Leave comments by 11.I hit send. Honestly, it felt like half the work was done.Day 20 · Closing The LoopTuesday morning. I refreshed my inbox first thing. Two more had come in overnight.By 9, I pinged the folks who hadn't sent feedback yet.And by 11, all the feedback had come in. Luckily, fewer comments than I expected.I sat down with Claude. We resolved the easy ones first.Just one comment from Lisa was a bit vague. So I set up a quick 1:1 to talk it through.Fifteen minutes. We were on the same page.Back at my desk. I worked all the changes into the deck.Closed the loop. Sent the updated deck out. The draft is locked.Day 21 · Dry RunWednesday morning. I brought the final deck over to my mentor's desk.She walked me through it once more. It all made sense."Let's do a dry run with the team this afternoon." She suggested it. I went with it.4 p.m. sharp. Everyone showed up, laptops open, coffees in hand.Lots of questions came up. One stood out. How do we plug AI into the data flow?We pinned that down as our open question.A teammate gave me a thumbs up. "Don't stress tomorrow."Before heading out, I dropped a quick heads up. 10 a.m. tomorrow.Day 22 · Green LightThursday morning. I came in early to set up the meeting room.I hit record. Everyone started showing up.I took a deep breath. "Thanks for joining today's design review.""Feel free to jump in with any questions."Most comments were already resolved from yesterday. It went smoothly.On the open question about AI, we decided to go with the MCP tool. Sales can upload data directly.The team gave it the green light. A few thumbs up across the room.I wrapped up. My phone buzzed. Mentor: "Drinks on me." Me: "Coming now!"Day 23 · The OvershareAs I said, we went to a bar last night. The waiter was completely on it.Soon as I put my glass down, he'd refill it. Like there's no tomorrow.Two glasses in, I was like, "Wow, this guy gets it!"But three glasses in, I was like, "This might be a problem."The little angel on my shoulder kept whispering "stop." The devil won.I knew I should have said "that's enough." But I started oversharing. Like, my whole life story.Now that I'm sober, I'm just dying of cringe. Don't ask me what I said.I promise I won't hit the bar anymore. Ok, I mean, at least this month! Please pass the water. Thank you.

Day 25 · I Poured Another GlassSo this weekend, I had a picnic with a friend. Out in the park.We laid out a blanket. Wine, bread, fruit. All takeout, honestly. Nothing fancy.The weather was perfect. I just sat there, doing nothing for once.And there were two kids next to us, sharing one ice cream. Both racing to finish it before it melts.It was the sweetest little rush. Honestly, I was kinda jealous.Then it hits me. My life is heavy. Bills, deadlines, Monday's almost here.I poured another glass. The kids kept laughing.Day 26 · Meet a Stranger?Monday morning. A stranger DMed me out of the blue.Turns out, she wanted to ask about my career switch. Switching into tech. Said she's been stuck for a while.Truth is, I don't usually meet people from the internet. Makes me nervous.But I get it. I've been there before. Working up the courage to reach out to other people for help isn't easy.I mean, if I just turned her down, would she ever DM anyone again?You know what? I even flipped a coin. Heads yes, tails no. It came up tails.But I typed back anyway. "Tomorrow after work?" Yeah, I'm a little rebellious, I know.Got her reply right away. Three exclamation marks. "Thanks!!!"I put my phone down. I suddenly felt tomorrow getting closer.Day 27 · Don't Be Too PoliteAfter work, I walked over to the coffee shop on the corner. She was already there.I spotted her right away. The only one with her laptop closed, just staring at the door.She apologized like five times before I even sat down. "Sorry to take up your time," she kept saying.Look, I had to cut her off. If we kept being this polite, we'd waste the whole night.So I asked her straight up. Which companies. How many interviews. Where she was stuck.Then I pulled up my own resume on my laptop. I mean, walked her through the whole thing, showed her what to highlight.We mapped out a four-step plan. Fix the resume. Keep applying to big companies.At least three LeetCode problems a day. And hey, listen to my podcast too. That's how you prepare behavioral questions in English.Honestly, once I got direct, she relaxed too. We focused on the real pain points together.Walking out. Turns out, meeting someone from online isn't as scary as I imagined.Day 28 · Unspoken ThingWednesday. Honestly, it's my favorite day of the week.I know that sounds weird. But let me explain.Here's my theory. Once Wednesday hits, the week's halfway gone. Weekend's right around the corner.Plus, I've got a special Wednesday routine. And it's a good one.There's a bubble tea shop right downstairs from my office.And on Wednesdays, their signature drink is half off. Total hump day lifesaver.I've been showing up the same time every week. Turns out, I'm a regular now.The boss doesn't even ask anymore. Just starts making my usual.But here's the thing. Every time, he doubles up on the pearls.I never asked. But I always tip him a little extra in return.It's our unspoken thing. And honestly, it makes my whole week.Walking back upstairs, sipping. Only two days before the wonderful weekend hits. Hang in there, I can do this.Day 29 · Open SecretWednesday afternoon. Casy came over to my desk with that look in her eye.You know the look. The "I've got something interesting" face.She leaned in to spill the tea. "Did you know Joe and Lin are dating?"My jaw actually dropped. But honestly? In hindsight, it kind of makes sense.Turns out, all those "random" coffee runs? Not so random.I felt a little guilty. Like, should we even be talking about this?Casy waved it off. "Everyone knows. We're literally the last to know."Plus, honestly? We're all rooting for them. They actually click.We agreed to keep it off the record. You know, until they tell people themselves.And walking back to my desk, I caught myself grinning like an idiot.Office gossip is the worst. But honestly, kind of the best.

A slow English story about office gossip and an open secret. 11 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesWednesday afternoon. Casy came over to my desk with that look in her eye.You know the look. The "I've got something interesting" face.She leaned in to spill the tea. "Did you know Joe and Lin are dating?"My jaw actually dropped. But honestly? In hindsight, it kind of makes sense.Turns out, all those "random" coffee runs? Not so random.I felt a little guilty. Like, should we even be talking about this?Casy waved it off. "Everyone knows. We're literally the last to know."Plus, honestly? We're all rooting for them. They actually click.We agreed to keep it off the record. You know, until they tell people themselves.And walking back to my desk, I caught myself grinning like an idiot.Office gossip is the worst. But honestly, kind of the best.🔑 Vocabulary• spill the tea /spɪl ðə tiː/• in hindsight /ɪn ˈhaɪndsaɪt/• wave it off /weɪv ɪt ɔːf/• the last to know /ðə læst tə noʊ/• off the record /ɔːf ðə ˈrekərd/• Turns out /tɜːrnz aʊt/• click /klɪk/• gossip /ˈɡɑːsɪp/• guilty /ˈɡɪlti/• rooting for /ˈruːtɪŋ fɔːr/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about a Wednesday bubble tea ritual and an unspoken thing. 12 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesWednesday. Honestly, it's my favorite day of the week.I know that sounds weird. But let me explain.Here's my theory. Once Wednesday hits, the week's halfway gone. Weekend's right around the corner.Plus, I've got a special Wednesday routine. And it's a good one.There's a bubble tea shop right downstairs from my office.And on Wednesdays, their signature drink is half off. Total hump day lifesaver.I've been showing up the same time every week. Turns out, I'm a regular now.The boss doesn't even ask anymore. Just starts making my usual.But here's the thing. Every time, he doubles up on the pearls.I never asked. But I always tip him a little extra in return.It's our unspoken thing. And honestly, it makes my whole week.Walking back upstairs, sipping. Only two days before the wonderful weekend hits. Hang in there, I can do this.🔑 Vocabulary• right around the corner /raɪt əˈraʊnd ðə ˈkɔːrnər/• signature drink /ˈsɪɡnətʃər drɪŋk/• hump day /hʌmp deɪ/• lifesaver /ˈlaɪfˌseɪvər/• the usual /ðə ˈjuːʒuəl/• here's the thing /hɪərz ðə θɪŋ/• in return /ɪn rɪˈtɜːrn/• makes my whole week /meɪks maɪ hoʊl wiːk/• Turns out /tɜːrnz aʊt/• bubble tea /ˈbʌbl tiː/• unspoken /ʌnˈspoʊkən/• routine /ruːˈtiːn/• hang in there /hæŋ ɪn ðer/• regular /ˈreɡjələr/• showing up /ˈʃoʊɪŋ ʌp/• doubles up /ˈdʌblz ʌp/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about cutting through the politeness to actually help someone. 10 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesAfter work, I walked over to the coffee shop on the corner. She was already there.I spotted her right away. The only one with her laptop closed, just staring at the door.She apologized like five times before I even sat down. "Sorry to take up your time," she kept saying.Look, I had to cut her off. If we kept being this polite, we'd waste the whole night.So I asked her straight up. Which companies. How many interviews. Where she was stuck.Then I pulled up my own resume on my laptop. I mean, walked her through the whole thing, showed her what to highlight.We mapped out a four-step plan. Fix the resume. Keep applying to big companies.At least three LeetCode problems a day. And hey, listen to my podcast too. That's how you prepare behavioral questions in English.Honestly, once I got direct, she relaxed too. We focused on the real pain points together.Walking out. Turns out, meeting someone from online isn't as scary as I imagined.🔑 Vocabulary• spot /spɒt/• take up your time /teɪk ʌp jʊər taɪm/• cut her off /kʌt hɜːr ɔːf/• straight up /streɪt ʌp/• walk through /wɔːk θruː/• highlight /ˈhaɪlaɪt/• map out /mæp aʊt/• pain point /peɪn pɔɪnt/• stuck /stʌk/• Turns out /tɜːrnz aʊt/• resume /ˈrezʊmeɪ/• behavioral questions /bɪˈheɪvjərəl ˈkwestʃənz/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about a stranger sliding into your DMs for career advice. 9 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesMonday morning. A stranger DMed me out of the blue.Turns out, she wanted to ask about my career switch. Switching into tech. Said she's been stuck for a while.Truth is, I don't usually meet people from the internet. Makes me nervous.But I get it. I've been there before. Working up the courage to reach out to other people for help isn't easy.I mean, if I just turned her down, would she ever DM anyone again?You know what? I even flipped a coin. Heads yes, tails no. It came up tails.But I typed back anyway. "Tomorrow after work?" Yeah, I'm a little rebellious, I know.Got her reply right away. Three exclamation marks. "Thanks!!!"I put my phone down. I suddenly felt tomorrow getting closer.🔑 Vocabulary• DM /diː em/• out of the blue /aʊt əv ðə bluː/• career switch /kəˈrɪr swɪtʃ/• I've been there /aɪv bɪn ðer/• work up the courage /wɜːrk ʌp ðə ˈkʌrɪdʒ/• reach out /riːtʃ aʊt/• turn down /tɜːrn daʊn/• rebellious /rɪˈbeljəs/• Turns out /tɜːrnz aʊt/• stuck /stʌk/• Truth is /truːθ ɪz/• stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/• nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/• exclamation /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃn/• flipped a coin /flɪpt ə kɔɪn/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

A slow English story about a weekend picnic and the quiet weight of everyday life. 7 simple sentences. Word by word.📝 Today's sentencesSo this weekend, I had a picnic with a friend. Out in the park.We laid out a blanket. Wine, bread, fruit. All takeout, honestly. Nothing fancy.The weather was perfect. I just sat there, doing nothing for once.And there were two kids next to us, sharing one ice cream. Both racing to finish it before it melts.It was the sweetest little rush. Honestly, I was kinda jealous.Then it hits me. My life is heavy. Bills, deadlines, Monday's almost here.I poured another glass. The kids kept laughing.🔑 Vocabulary• takeout /ˈteɪkaʊt/• for once /fɔːr wʌns/• racing to /ˈreɪsɪŋ tu/• kinda /ˈkaɪndə/• it hit me /ɪt hɪt miː/• poured /pɔːrd/🎧 New episode every weekdaySubscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.