English lesson based on the series "Anna’s Travels in Asia" – Japan, Korea
Practise B1 travel English with Anna in Tokyo and Seoul: react to a soup-machine surprise, explain what was replaced, and join a casual karaoke chat.
Anna’s travel conversations in Tokyo and Seoul give you a lively model for B1 English listening and speaking. In Tokyo, a vending machine gives her hot corn soup instead of the cold water she expected, and the conversation turns to practical advice before a job interview. In Seoul, she and Minji chat about a norebang singing room, comfort, confidence and time. The lesson stays with these everyday exchanges rather than treating them as a plot summary.
As you listen, you will notice useful phrases for reacting to surprising news, explaining a simple replacement with instead, and joining a relaxed social conversation about confidence and enjoyment. Short study tasks help you repeat these patterns and adapt them to your own travel moments. Start the lesson now and practise one natural surprise opener, one clear instead sentence and one comfortable comment for a casual chat.
What you'll learn
- Use a natural opener to react when travel news is unexpected.
- Explain a replacement situation accurately with instead and clear B1 detail.
- Follow short advice about communication before a nervous event.
- Describe confidence and comfort in a casual social exchange.
- Recognise simple descriptive language for a room or atmosphere.
Language focus
- Surprise openers and follow-up reactions
- Replacement and contrast with instead
- Pre-event advice vocabulary: job interview, communicate, mention
- Persuasion with talk me into + -ing
- Adjectives for confidence, comfort and enjoyment
English transcript
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.
Good morning!
Today we will practice English with a conversation between Anna and Yuki in Tokyo before Anna's job interview.
Listen carefully and repeat after me.
Our first sentence, you will not believe what happened to me before breakfast today.
Repeat.
You will not believe what happened to me before breakfast today.
Let's practice the phrase believe what happened.
Here are five examples.
Example one, I cannot believe what happened at the station this morning.
I cannot believe what happened at the station this morning example two she could not believe what happened during the meeting she could not believe what happened during the meeting example three nobody will believe what happened at the restaurant last night nobody will believe what happened at the restaurant last night example four I do not believe what happened to my phone I do not believe what happened to my phone Example 5.
He will not believe what happened on the train.
He will not believe what happened on the train.
I understand.
Believe what happened is about being surprised by something.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I wanted cold water, but the machine gave me hot corn soup instead.
Repeat.
I wanted cold water, but the machine gave me hot corn soup instead.
Let's practice the word instead.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
I wanted tea, but I drank coffee instead.
I wanted tea, but I drank coffee instead.
Example 2.
She wanted to walk, but she took a taxi instead.
She wanted to walk, but she took a taxi instead.
Example 3.
He wanted a small bag, but he bought a big one instead.
He wanted a a small bag but he bought a big one instead example four we wanted to stay home but we went out instead we wanted to stay home but we went out instead example five I wanted to call you but I sent a message instead I wanted to call you but I sent a message instead I understand instead means one thing was replaced by another exactly next sentence I have a job interview today at a small English school.
Repeat.
I have a job interview today at a small English school.
Let's practice the phrase job interview.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
My job interview is tomorrow morning.
My job interview is tomorrow morning.
Example 2.
She was very nervous before her job interview.
She was very nervous before for her job interview.
Example three, he wore a clean shirt to the job interview.
He wore a clean shirt to the job interview.
Example four, the job interview lasted about 30 minutes.
The job interview lasted about 30 minutes.
Example five, I have a job interview at a small school next week.
I have a job interview at a small school next week.
I understand.
A job interview means a meeting to try to get a job.
Exactly Next sentence Hold the top stick like a pencil and the bottom one like a small bird Repeat Hold the top stick like a pencil and the bottom one like a small bird Let's practice the word hold.
Here are five examples.
Example one, please hold the door for me.
Please hold the door for me.
Example two, she held the baby very gently.
She held the baby very gently.
Example three, he can hold his breath for one minute.
He can hold his breath for one minute.
Example 4.
Hold the cup with both hands.
Hold the cup with both hands.
Example 5.
I held the ticket tightly in my hand.
I held the ticket tightly in my hand.
I understand.
Hold means to keep something in your hands.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
Tell them the truth.
You love Japan and you want to help people communicate.
Repeat.
Tell them the truth.
You love Japan and you want to help people communicate.
Let's practice the word communicate.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
Good teachers help students communicate with confidence.
Good teachers help students communicate with confidence.
Example 2.
We communicate every day by email.
We communicate every day by email.
Example 3.
It is hard to communicate when the line is bad.
It is hard to communicate when the line is bad.
Example 4.
She communicates well with children.
She communicates well with children.
Example 5.
People communicate in many different ways.
People communicate in many different ways.
I understand.
Communicate means to share ideas and information.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
We are all just people pressing buttons and hoping for the best.
Repeat.
We are all just people pressing buttons and hoping for the best.
Let's practice the phrase, hoping for the best.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
The weather looks bad, but we are hoping for the best.
Example 2.
She did not study much, but she is hoping for the best.
She did not study much, but she is hoping for the best.
Example 3.
We are hoping for the best with the new plan.
Example 4.
He is hoping for the best at his job interview.
Example 5.
The train is late, but we are hoping for the best.
I understand.
Hoping for the best means wishing for a good result.
Exactly.
Next sentence, smile a lot, speak slowly, and do not mention the vending machine.
Repeat.
Smile a lot, speak slowly, and do not mention the vending machine.
Let's practice the word mention.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
Please do not mention my mistake to anyone.
Please do not mention my mistake to anyone.
Example 2.
She mentioned your name in the meeting.
Example 3.
He did not mention the broken window.
Example 4 I will mention it to my teacher tomorrow Example 5 Do not mention it to my teacher tomorrow I will mention it to my teacher tomorrow Example 5 Do not mention the soup spot on your shirt Do not mention the soup spot on your shirt.
I understand.
Mention means to say something about a topic.
Exactly.
Now let's review the most useful words and phrases from today's lesson.
Instead, nervous, hold, communicate, hoping for the best, mention, and breathe.
These are all useful for talking about interviews, feelings, and everyday life.
Thank you.
I feel more confident with these words now.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
link in the description.
New dialogues and stories every day, available in 21 subtitle languages.
Good morning and welcome to today's spoken English lesson.
Today we will practice with a conversation between Anna and Minji in Seoul about a night in a singing room, a norebang.
Listen carefully and repeat after me.
Our first sentence, I have been in Seoul for four days and I already know you can talk me into anything.
Repeat.
I have been in Seoul for four days and I already know you can talk me into anything.
Good.
Let's practice the phrase, talk me into.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
She can talk me into trying any new food.
She can talk me into trying any new food.
Example 2.
My brother talked me into running a race with him.
My brother talked me into running a race with him.
Example 3.
Nobody can talk me into singing in public.
Example 4.
Did your friends talk you into staying out late?
Example 5.
He talked me into buying a very expensive jacket.
I understand.
Talk me into means to persuade me to do something.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
A machine that gives points sounds dangerous for my confidence and my ego.
Repeat.
A machine that gives points sounds dangerous for my confidence and my ego.
Let's practice the word confidence.
Here are five examples.
Example one, singing gave her more confidence.
Singing gave her more confidence.
Example 2.
He spoke with great confidence in the meeting.
Example 3.
My confidence grows when I practice every day.
Example 4.
She lost her confidence after one bad test.
Example 5.
Good friends give you confidence.
Good friends give you confidence I understand Confidence is the feeling that you can do something Exactly Next sentence The room was small but comfortable with a long sofa and a big screen Repeat.
The room was small but comfortable, with a long sofa and a big screen.
Let's practice the word comfortable.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
This chair is very comfortable.
Example 2.
Example 3.
Example 4.
Example 5.
comfortable place to sit.
I understand.
Comfortable means pleasant and easy to be in.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
Sujin said the room has no clock, so the time does not exist inside.
Repeat.
Sujin said the room has no clock, so the time does not exist inside.
Let's practice the word exist.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
That old shop still exists.
That old shop still exists.
Example 2.
Do you think that problem really exists?
Do you think that problem really exists?
Example 3.
The village has existed for hundreds of years.
The village has existed for hundreds of years.
Example 4.
In that room, time seems not to exist.
In that room, time seems not to exist.
Example 5.
A simple idea can exist for a long time.
A simple idea can exist for a long time.
I understand.
To exist means to be real or to be there.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I am not a good singer, but I am a happy one.
Repeat.
I am not a good singer, but I am a happy one.
Let's practice the word happy.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
She was happy to see her friends.
Example 2.
I feel happy when I sing.
Example 3.
They looked happy in the photo.
Example 4.
He was happy with his score.
Example 5.
We are happy to be here tonight.
We are happy to be here tonight.
I understand.
Happy means feeling good and pleased.
Excellent work today.
Let's review the most useful words and phrases.
Talk me into, strangers, confidence, comfortable, enthusiasm, exist, and happy.
These are all natural words you can use in everyday conversation.
You did very well today.
Thank you.
I enjoyed the lesson and I feel more confident now.
you