Lesson 8 – Step 1 – Reading

Goal

Let’s start the lesson with some reading. You can read it on your own or play the audio and follow along.

Once you have finished, you can go to the next step.

Good advice from a friend

Mathew: Hey Ryan, are you OK? You didn’t seem very motivated at today’s football game.

Ryan: Well, Megan and I have had many arguments lately. It’s like I never know what’s the right thing to do or say. I only make things worse.

Mathew: Ok, let’s have a coffee together and chat…

10 minutes later…

Ryan: I want her to be happy. If I had known that our first date was so important to her, I would have paid for the dinner, but I thought we were just hanging out like always.

Mathew: Mmmm, did you try speaking to her? 

Ryan: No, I didn’t need to, she told me how bad I was on our date as soon as we walked out of the restaurant. She also mentioned I had spent all night on my phone… My mother was ill and I had to text my sister about her, but I didn’t spend all night texting…

Mathew: Let me tell you mate, if I hadn’t listened carefully to my wife and admitted my mistakes, our relationship wouldn’t have been so strong. Solving problems and learning from them is all part of being a strong couple together.

Ryan: I guess I do need to listen more carefully… And I suppose the next time my mother is ill, I can tell Jane before we go out.

Mathew: Hey, cheer up! We have all made many mistakes before. Remember that time I started playing football with Jane’s little brother at her parent’s house?

Ryan: Yes, I remember! You ruined her father’s painting!

Mathew: If I had paid attention to her advice, that wouldn’t have happened. But now I’ve learned to listen to her more often.

Ryan: I see your point. Thanks Matt, that’s really good advice.

Reflection

What do the phrases in blue have in common?

What do the phrases in green have in common?

The answers are in step 3.

Conclusion

Have you finished? Then you can move on to step 2.