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Lesson 179 of 240

New here? This is lesson 179 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Listening to a friend in English

The diner is closed. Tasha sits in a booth after a long bakery week. She is tired, and she does not want a plan.

Ana stays. She does not try to fix the week. She sits with her friend and listens.

By the end, you'll say you are there, that their feeling makes sense, and that they do not have to go through it alone.

These lines help a friend feel heard.

By the end of this lesson

Say you're there for a friend, and that their feeling makes sense.

  • I'm here if you want to talk.I will stay with you if you want to tell me.
  • It makes sense that you feel that way.Your feeling is understandable.
  • That sounds like a lot to deal with.That sounds hard to handle.
  • Take your time.You can go slowly. There is no rush.
  • I can see why you're upset.I understand the reason you are upset.
  • You don't have to go through this alone.I will support you. You are not by yourself.

Scene — after closing

It is late on Larch Street. The Blue Plate is closed. Dee locked the door, but she left the lamps on in one booth.

Tasha sits across from Ana. Her green jacket is still on. The pie case is dark. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Murray is at the counter with a coffee he has not finished.

The closed diner holds a quiet pool of light around Tasha and Ana while Dee finishes locking the door.

Learn — stay and listen

Six lines help you sit with a friend and listen.

You will not try to fix the day. You will stay and hear them.

  1. Ana listens as Tasha leans forward and shares how exhausting the bakery week has been.

    I'm here if you want to talk.

    I will stay with you if you want to tell me.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend may want to tell you something.

    People will say wanna, but you still say want to.

    Say it: Stress here, and to can sound like tuh.

  2. Tasha pauses with a reflective expression as she takes in Ana's understanding.

    It makes sense that you feel that way.

    Your feeling is understandable.

    When to use it: Say this after a friend names a hard feeling.

    Makes sense means the feeling is easy to understand.

  3. Murray remains at the counter with his unfinished coffee while Tasha and Ana talk in the lit booth behind him.

    That sounds like a lot to deal with.

    That sounds hard to handle.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend's situation sounds hard to handle.

    Deal with means handle a hard thing.

  4. Ana gives Tasha room to pause while Tasha considers where to begin.

    Take your time.

    You can go slowly. There is no rush.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend is rushing a hard story.

    Learn it as one piece that means there is no rush.

  5. Ana stays calm and present as Tasha gathers herself to explain what felt hardest.

    I can see why you're upset.

    I understand the reason you are upset.

    When to use it: Say this when you understand why a friend is upset.

    You're is a contraction of you are.

    Say it: Can is weak here, not like can't.

  6. Tasha reaches toward Ana as Ana offers steady support and company.

    You don't have to go through this alone.

    I will support you. You are not by yourself.

    When to use it: Say this so a friend knows you will stay with them.

    Go through means live this hard time.

    Say it: Don't has a clear n sound.

Story — the bakery week

Watch Ana stay after closing. Tasha talks about the bakery week.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The lamps stay on in one booth. Dee hangs her keys.
  2. DeeHave a seat, hon. I'll leave these lamps on.She asks Tasha to sit and keeps the lights on.
  3. Tasha slides into the booth. She keeps her jacket on.
  4. TashaThis week at the bakery wore me out.The bakery week made her very tired.
  5. AnaThat sounds like a lot to deal with.That sounds hard to handle.
  6. TashaYeah. I kept thinking I should just fix it.She thought she had to solve the week by herself.
  7. AnaIt makes sense that you feel that way.Your feeling is understandable.
  8. Ana does not offer a plan. She waits.
  9. TashaI don't even know where to start, you know?She does not know the first step.
  10. AnaTake your time.You can go slowly. There is no rush.
  11. TashaThe late nights, the huge order. I'm upset.The nights and the big order made her unhappy.
  12. AnaI can see why you're upset.I understand the reason you are upset.
  13. TashaThursday's order was the worst part.The Thursday order was the hardest piece.
  14. AnaHow did you feel about it?What was your feeling then?
  15. TashaTired. And a little alone, if I'm honest.She felt tired, and a bit by herself.
  16. AnaI'm here if you want to talk.I will stay with you if you want to tell me.
  17. TashaI do. I just needed someone to sit here.She wants to talk. She needed a person to stay.
  18. AnaYou don't have to go through this alone.I will support you. You are not by yourself.
  19. Murray stays at the counter with his unfinished coffee.
  20. TashaThat makes sense. Thanks for staying, Ana.She understands, and she thanks Ana for staying.

Practice — sit with a friend

Eleven short exercises wait here. You will listen, pick, build, and fill a gap.

They stay small, so you can practice sitting with a friend.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    I'm here if you want to talk.Drop the Simple English here
    It makes sense that you feel that way.Drop the Simple English here
    That sounds like a lot to deal with.Drop the Simple English here
    Take your time.Drop the Simple English here
    You don't have to go through this alone.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Your friend starts talking very fast about a hard week. You want her to slow down.

  4. What does it mean?

    That sounds like a lot to deal with.

  5. Fill the gap

    I will support you. You are not by yourself.

    You don't have to go through this ____.

  6. Build the line

    I understand the reason you are upset.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    Which line means "Your feeling is understandable?"

  8. Swap the word

    Your friend describes a hard situation. You want the line that it sounds hard to handle.

    That sounds like a lot to ____ with.

  9. Fill the gap

    I understand and I accept that idea.

    That makes ____.

  10. True or false?

    This line tells a tired friend to leave the diner.

  11. What do you say?

    Your friend names a hard Thursday. You want her to name her feeling then.

Say it — say you're there

Now you're Ana in the booth after closing. Sit with Tasha and listen.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. TashaThis week at the bakery wore me out.The bakery week made her very tired.
  2. Ana (you)That sounds hard to handle.

    That sounds like a lot to deal with.

    That sounds hard to handle.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'm here if you want to talk.I will stay with you if you want to tell me.
It makes sense that you feel that way.Your feeling is understandable.
That sounds like a lot to deal with.That sounds hard to handle.
Take your time.You can go slowly. There is no rush.
I can see why you're upset.I understand the reason you are upset.
You don't have to go through this alone.I will support you. You are not by yourself.
Next: lesson 180It's not your fault

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these listening lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps these lines ready for a tired friend.

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