65: Learn English through Story: The Last Seat (+ Language Analysis)

To Fluency Podcast: English with Jack

Want to improve your English naturally while enjoying a great short story? 📚 This lesson is perfect for practicing listening, reading, and vocabulary! You’ll learn real-life expressions used in everyday conversations, so you can speak more fluently and understand native speakers better.
✅ Listen & Read at the same time
✅ Learn useful phrasal verbs & expressions
✅ Master natural English conversation
Stay until the end, where we break down key phrases from the story!
📖 Key Words & Phrases from the Story
• Cut it close – To almost run out of time.
"Ella was cutting it close to finding a seat on the train."
"I woke up late and cut it close to missing my flight."
• Pull out – To remove something from somewhere.
"The guy pulled out one earbud and turned to look at her."
"She pulled out her phone to check the time."
• Sit up straighter – To adjust your posture and become more alert.
"Jake sat up straighter when Ella spoke to him."
"He sat up straighter when the teacher asked a question."
• Catch up – To talk about things that have happened after time apart.
"It was easy, like they were two old friends catching up."
"Let’s meet for coffee and catch up!"
• Drift into – To slowly move into a topic or activity.
"The conversation drifted from books to travel to childhood memories."
"The meeting drifted into small talk after a while."
• End up – To arrive somewhere or in a situation unexpectedly.
"Jake once got lost on a hike and ended up in the wrong town."
"We took the wrong bus and ended up at the beach."
• Slow down – To reduce speed.
"As the train slowed down, people stood up."
"She slowed down as she reached the traffic lights."
• Pull down – To bring something from a higher place.
"People stood up, pulling down bags and stretching their legs."
"He pulled down a book from the top shelf."
• Hold up – To lift or show something.
"Jake pulled out his phone, holding it up."
"She held up the map so everyone could see."
• Step off – To move off a train, bus, or platform.
"Ella stepped off the train and turned back."
"He stepped off the stage after finishing his speech."🎯
What To Do Next:
✅ Listen to the story again and repeat the phrases.
✅ Practice using these expressions in your own conversations.
✅ Leave a comment: Have you ever met someone interesting while traveling? Which phrase was your favorite? Share it in the comments!