Lesson based on dialogues between Sarah and Michael – Part 1
Practise B1 English with Michael and Sarah's first dating-app chat: greetings after matching, talking about work, describing loneliness and sharing personal dreams.
Michael and Sarah have just matched on a dating app, and their first online conversation gives you a realistic model for early small talk. You see how a simple greeting develops into getting-to-know-you details: where Michael works downtown, a past feeling of loneliness, and a personal dream for the future. The dialogue stays in the dating-app chat, so the language reflects the short, personal messages people often send when they are still learning about someone new.
Through this exchange, you can practise B1 English for introducing yourself, explaining your job and ambitions, and describing feelings without overcomplicating them. You will also notice travel-planning phrases in a later, clearly separate section, including cheaper than and instead of. Start the lesson by reading along with the first messages, then repeat the key phrases and try your own short reply to a new match.
What you'll learn
- Open a dating-app chat after a match with a natural greeting and follow-up question
- Explain your workplace and one career goal using simple present and want to
- Describe a past lonely feeling and one personal dream in clear B1 sentences
- Use instead of, cheaper than, take care of and every hour in a short travel-planning exchange
Language focus
- Dating-app greetings and getting-to-know-you questions
- Work and ambition language with simple present and want to
- Feelings vocabulary for loneliness and emotional experience
- Personal dreams with open a small cafe and be a manager one day
- Travel-planning phrases as a secondary focus: instead of, cheaper than, take care of
English transcript
Music 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 Michael and Sarah on a dating app.
They are getting to know each other and planning to meet at a cafe called The Blue Cup near the park on Saturday at 11.
Listen carefully and repeat after me.
Our first sentence, Hi Sarah, I am so glad we finally matched on the app.
Repeat.
Hi Sarah, I am so glad we finally matched on the app.
The useful phrase is matched on the app.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
We matched on the app last month.
Example 2.
They matched on the app after just one swipe.
Example 3.
I matched on the app with an old friend.
Example 4.
She matched on the app with a guy from her city.
Example 5.
He matched on the app and sent a funny message.
He matched on the app and sent a funny message.
I understand.
It means we found each other on a dating app.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I work in a hotel downtown.
Repeat.
I work in a hotel downtown.
The useful word is downtown.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
I work downtown near the train station.
I work downtown near the train station.
Example 2.
She lives downtown with her sister.
Example 3.
We met downtown for lunch yesterday.
Example 4.
The blue cup is downtown by the park.
The blue cup is downtown by the park.
Example 5.
He walks downtown every morning.
He walks downtown every morning.
I understand.
Downtown means in the center of the city.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
The stories are full of drama and crazy emperors.
Repeat.
The stories are full of drama and crazy emperors.
The useful phrase is full of drama.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
The office is full of drama today.
Her family dinner was full of drama.
That movie is full of drama and surprises.
That movie is full of drama and surprises.
The game was full of drama until the end.
The game was full of drama until the end.
His week has been full of drama.
His week has been full of drama.
I understand.
Full of drama means very exciting or emotional.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I was working too much and felt lonely.
Repeat.
I was working too much and felt lonely.
The useful phrase is felt lonely.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
I felt lonely on my first night in a new city.
He felt lonely after his friends moved away.
She felt lonely during the long winter.
She felt lonely during the long winter.
We felt lonely without our dog at home.
We felt lonely without our dog at home.
They felt lonely after the party ended.
They felt lonely after the party ended.
I understand.
Felt lonely means sad because you were alone.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I want to open a small cafe with books on the walls.
Repeat.
I want to open a small cafe with books on the walls.
The useful phrase is open a small cafe.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
They want to open a small cafe near the river.
They want to open a small cafe near the river.
I hope to open a small cafe one day.
I hope to open a small cafe one day She plans to open a small cafe with her brother We will open a small cafe after we save money.
He opened a small cafe in his hometown.
I understand.
Open a small cafe means start a small coffee shop.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I work in a hotel and I want to be a manager one day.
Repeat.
I work in a hotel and I want to be a manager one day.
The useful word is manager.
Here are five examples.
Example one.
I want to be a manager at that hotel.
I want to be a manager at that hotel.
She is the manager of a busy restaurant.
He became a manager after two years.
The manager helped us find our room.
My manager gave me good advice.
I understand.
a manager is the person in charge at work.
Exactly.
Today we practiced matched on the app, downtown, full of drama, felt lonely, open a small cafe, and manager.
These are useful words and phrases for talking about dating, feelings, work, and dreams.
Keep practicing them naturally.
Thank you.
I will practice these words and remember Michael and Sarah's plan for Saturday at 11.
Follow Sarah and Michael's journey.
It is a beautiful story, not without its drama.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.
Good morning and welcome to today's English practice.
Today we will work with a conversation between Michael and Sarah as they plan a summer holiday together.
Listen carefully and repeat after me.
Our first sentence, Did you look at the places I sent you?
Good.
Let's practice the phrase, look at.
Here are five examples.
Example 1.
Please look at the map before we leave.
Example 2.
I will look at the prices tonight.
I will look at the prices tonight.
Example 3.
She looked at the photos and smiled.
She looked at the photos and smiled.
Example 4.
Can you look at my email quickly?
Can you look at my email quickly?
Example 5.
We looked at three apartments yesterday.
We looked at three apartments yesterday.
I understand.
Look at means to direct your eyes or attention to something.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I checked the prices and it is quite expensive in July.
I checked the prices and it is quite expensive in July.
Let's practice the word expensive.
Example 1.
This hotel is too expensive for us.
This hotel is too expensive for us.
Example 2.
The train was less expensive The train was less expensive than the plane.
Example 3.
Everything in that shop is very expensive.
Example 4.
Is it expensive to eat in that restaurant?
Example 5.
The tickets were expensive, but we enjoyed the show.
The tickets were expensive, but we enjoyed the show.
I understand.
Expensive describes something that costs a lot of money.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
Maybe we can go in June instead of July.
Maybe we can go in June instead of July.
Let's practice the phrase instead of.
Example 1.
Let's take the train instead of the plane.
Let's take the train instead of the plane.
Example 2.
She drank tea instead of coffee.
She drank tea instead of coffee.
Example 3.
We can cook at home instead of eating out We can cook at home instead of eating out Example 4 I will call him instead of sending a message Example 5.
They went to the mountains instead of the beach.
I understand.
Instead of means in place of something else.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I have to ask my manager, but I think he will say yes.
Let's practice the word manager.
Example 1.
My manager is very friendly.
Example 2.
The manager changed all the schedules.
Example 3.
I need to speak to the manager about my holiday.
I need to speak to the manager about my holiday.
Example 4.
She wants to become a manager next year.
Example 5.
The hotel manager welcomed all the guests.
I understand.
A manager is a person who leads a team or a business.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
The train is cheaper than the plane.
The train is cheaper than the plane.
Let's practice the word cheaper.
Example 1.
This apartment is cheaper in June.
This apartment is cheaper in June.
Example 2.
The bus is cheaper than the taxi.
The bus is cheaper than the taxi.
Example 3.
Food is cheaper at the market.
Food is cheaper at the market.
Example 4.
Can we find a cheaper hotel?
Can we find a cheaper hotel?
Example five, the tickets are cheaper if you book early.
The tickets are cheaper if you book early.
I understand.
Cheaper means costing less money than something else.
Exactly.
Next sentence, maybe your sister can take care of her for the week.
Maybe your sister can take care of her for the week.
Let's practice the phrase take care of.
Example one, can you take care of my cat this weekend?
Can you take care of my cat this weekend?
Example 2.
She takes care of her garden every morning.
Example 3.
He will take care of the tickets tonight.
Example 4.
We take care of our neighbor's dog in summer.
Example 5.
Who will take care of the plants while we are away?
Who will take care of the plants while we are away?
I understand.
Take care of means to look after someone or something.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I can pay about 400 euros for the week.
I can pay about 400 euros for the week.
Let's practice the word pay.
Example 1.
I will pay for the hotel tonight.
I will pay for the hotel tonight.
Example 2.
How much did you pay for the train?
How much did you pay for the train?
Example 3.
We can pay together and share the cost.
We can pay together and share the cost.
Example 4.
She paid for the bread and cheese.
She paid for the bread and cheese.
Example 5.
Can I pay by card at the market?
Can I pay by card at the market?
I understand.
Pay means to give money for something.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
An apartment is a good idea.
Let's practice the word apartment.
Example 1.
The apartment has a small kitchen.
Example 2.
We stayed in an apartment near the lake.
Example 3.
This apartment is cheaper than the hotel.
This apartment is cheaper than the hotel.
Example 4 Is the apartment close to the bus station?
Is the apartment close to the bus station?
Example 5 They rented an apartment for six nights.
They rented an apartment for six nights.
I understand.
An apartment is a place to stay with rooms and often a kitchen.
Exactly!
Next sentence We can arrive on Monday and leave on Sunday.
We can arrive on Monday and leave on Sunday.
Let's practice the word arrive.
Example 1.
We will arrive at the station at 6.
We will arrive at the station at 6.
Example 2 Please call me when you arrive Please call me when you arrive Example 3 The train arrives in the morning The train arrives in the morning Example 4 They arrived at the hotel very late They arrived at the hotel very late.
Example 5.
What time does the bus arrive?
What time does the bus arrive?
I understand.
Arrive means to reach a place.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
There is a bus every hour and it takes about 40 minutes.
There is a bus every hour and it takes about 40 minutes.
Let's practice the phrase every hour.
Example 1.
The bus comes every hour.
The bus comes every hour.
Example 2.
She checks her email every hour.
Example 3.
The train leaves every hour in the morning.
Example 4.
We can go swimming every hour if we want.
We can go swimming every hour if we want.
Example 5.
The market is busy every hour on Saturdays.
The market is busy every hour on Saturdays.
I understand.
Every hour means each hour, again and again.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
Let's plan a picnic on the first day.
Let's plan a picnic on the first day.
Let's practice the word picnic.
Example 1.
We had a picnic near the lake.
Example 2.
Let's buy bread and cheese for the picnic.
Example 3.
The picnic was fun, but it was cold.
Example 4.
Do you want to have a picnic on Sunday?
Do you want to have a picnic on Sunday?
Example 5.
They planned a picnic in the mountains.
They planned a picnic in the mountains.
I understand.
A picnic is a meal you eat outside.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I want to see the castle and the small museum.
I want to see the castle and the small museum.
Let's practice the word castle.
Example 1.
The castle is very old.
Example 2.
We walked to the castle in the morning.
Example 3.
Is the castle open on Mondays?
Example 4.
He read a book about the castle.
He read a book about the castle.
Example 5.
The castle is near the old town.
The castle is near the old town.
I understand.
A castle is a large old building, often with high walls.
Exactly.
Next sentence.
I will send the apartment choices tonight.
I will send the apartment choices tonight.
Let's practice the word choices.
Example 1.
We have three choices for the hotel.
Example 2.
These are good choices for dinner.
Example 3.
The menu has many choices.
Example 4.
I will send you the choices tomorrow.
Example 5.
She made two choices for the trip.
She made two choices for the trip.
I understand.
Choices are the different things you can choose.
Exactly.
Now let's review the most useful words and phrases from today.
We practiced look at, expensive, instead of, manager, cheaper, take care of, pay, apartment, arrive, every hour, picnic, castle, and choices.
These are all helpful when you plan a trip.
You did very well today.
Thank you.
I feel ready to plan my own holiday in English now.
New dialogues and stories every day, available in 21 subtitle languages.
You can practice all these dialogues sentence by sentence using the interactive player on our website.
Link in the description.