Helping a Friend Improve Their English: A Short Story 🤝

Intermediate Level | September 26, 2025

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A Frustrated Friend

One evening after work, Sarah noticed her friend Daniel looked frustrated. When she asked him why, he admitted, “I really want to improve my English, but I don’t know how to practice outside of class.” Sarah smiled and said, “Let’s work on it together. We can make it simple.” This was her first step in helping a friend improve their English.

Practicing at the Café

The next day, Sarah suggested they meet at a café. Instead of chatting in their native language, they agreed to speak only in English. At first, it felt strange. Daniel was nervous, but Sarah encouraged him: “Don’t worry about mistakes. Just speak.” This made him feel more comfortable.

Learning Through Small Talk

They started with small talk. Sarah asked, “How was your day?” Daniel answered, “It was good. I finish… I mean, I finished a project today.” Sarah gently corrected him, and Daniel repeated the sentence correctly. That little moment gave him confidence.

Using the AAA Rule to Keep Talking

To keep things interesting, Sarah introduced the AAA Rule—Answer, Add, Ask. When Daniel said, “I went shopping,” she encouraged him to add more details: “I went shopping for shoes because mine are old. What about you?” Soon, the conversation felt natural, and Daniel began speaking longer sentences without fear. This was another clear example of helping a friend improve their English with a simple tool.

A Week of Progress

After a week of café practice, Daniel noticed a big change. He felt more confident in meetings at work and less afraid of talking to his foreign colleagues. Sarah also learned something—helping a friend improve English can make both people better communicators.

Vocabulary List

Frustrated (adjective) — Feeling upset or annoyed when something is difficult.
Example: He was frustrated because he couldn’t solve the problem.
Encourage (verb) — To give support or confidence to someone.
Example: She encouraged him to try speaking in English.
Correct (verb) — To fix a mistake or error.
Example: The teacher corrected the student’s sentence.
Confidence (noun) — Belief in your own abilities.
Example: He spoke with confidence after practicing.
Nervous (adjective) — Worried or anxious about something.
Example: She felt nervous before giving her speech.
Practice (verb) — To do something repeatedly to improve.
Example: He practiced English by speaking every day.
Mistake (noun) — Something done incorrectly.
Example: Everyone makes mistakes when learning a language.
Comfortable (adjective) — Feeling relaxed and at ease.
Example: He felt comfortable speaking with his friend.
Conversation (noun) — A talk between two or more people.
Example: They had a friendly conversation at the café.
Improve (verb) — To get better at something.
Example: Her English improved after daily practice.

5 Questions About the Article

Why was Daniel frustrated?
Where did Sarah and Daniel practice English together?
What rule did Sarah teach Daniel to keep the conversation going?
How did Daniel feel after a week of practice?
What did Sarah learn from helping her friend?

5 Open-Ended Discussion Questions

How can friends help each other practice English in daily life?
Have you ever practiced a skill with a friend? How did it go?
What makes it easier to practice English outside of class?
Why do people sometimes feel nervous when speaking English?
How can small daily habits improve language learning?

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