Standard English (SE)

Book One

Short conversations for natural English learning.

Read. Listen. Understand.

Do not translate.

Lesson One — A New Neighbor

It is morning.

Tom opens his door.

A man stands outside.

He smiles.

“Good morning,” the man says.

“Good morning,” Tom answers.

“I am David. I am your new neighbor.”

Tom smiles.

“I am Tom. Welcome.”

David looks around.

“This is a nice place.”

“Yes,” Tom says. “I like it here.”

A dog runs to David.

“Oh! Your dog?”

“Yes,” Tom laughs. “His name is Max.”

Max jumps happily.

David laughs too.

“I think we will be good neighbors.”

“I think so,” Tom says.

They shake hands.

Read the lesson aloud.

Lesson Two — At the Coffee Shop

Tom walks into a coffee shop.

David is sitting by the window.

He waves.

“Tom! Over here!”

Tom walks to the table.

“Good morning,” Tom says.

“Good morning,” David answers.

A woman walks in.

David stands up.

“Tom, this is Ms. Kelly Huang.”

Kelly smiles.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Tom says.

Kelly sits down.

“Do you come here often?” Tom asks.

“Yes,” Kelly says. “I work nearby.”

A waitress comes to the table.

“Good morning. What would you like?”

Tom looks at the menu.

“I would like a coffee, please.”

“And you?” she asks.

“Coffee for me,” David says.

“Tea, please,” Kelly says.

The waitress smiles.

“One tea and two coffees.”

She leaves.

Tom looks at Kelly.

“Do you like this area?”

“Yes,” Kelly says. “It is lively.”

David laughs.

“And the coffee is good.”

The waitress returns.

“Here you are.”

“Thank you,” they say together.

They drink, talk, and laugh.

Read the lesson aloud.

Lesson Three — After Coffee

Tom finishes his coffee.

David checks his watch.

“Oh, I must go soon,” David says.

“Work?” Tom asks.

“Yes,” David says. “I have a meeting.”

Kelly stands up.

“I work nearby too.”

Tom smiles.

“Do you walk to work?”

“Yes,” Kelly says. “It is only five minutes.”

David puts on his coat.

“Tom, do you work today?”

“Yes,” Tom says. “I work from home.”

“Lucky you,” Kelly laughs.

They walk to the door together.

Outside, the street is busy.

Cars pass.

People hurry by.

David looks at Tom.

“Are you free this evening?”

“Yes,” Tom says.

“Let’s have dinner,” David says.

“That sounds good,” Tom answers.

Kelly smiles.

“I know a nice restaurant.”

“Perfect,” David says.

They say goodbye.

They walk in different directions.

Read the lesson aloud.

Lesson Four — The Self-Service Laundry

Tom carries a bag of clothes.

He walks into a self-service laundry.

Many machines are running.

The room is warm.

David is there.

He is reading a book.

“David?” Tom says.

David looks up.

“Tom! You wash clothes here too?”

“Yes,” Tom says. “My washing machine is broken.”

Kelly walks in.

She carries two large bags.

“You too?” Tom laughs.

Kelly smiles.

“My apartment is small.”

She puts clothes into a machine.

David watches carefully.

“I always forget which button to press,” he says.

Kelly points.

“Press this one.”

The machine starts.

Water begins to move.

Tom sits down.

People are waiting quietly.

A man drinks coffee.

A woman works on her laptop.

A child sleeps on a chair.

Tom looks around.

“People do many things while washing clothes.”

David laughs.

“It is like a small world.”

Kelly checks her phone.

“My clothes finish in twenty minutes.”

Tom smiles.

“Then we have time to talk.”

They sit together and wait.

Read the lesson aloud.

Lesson Five — The Garage Sale

It is Saturday morning.

Tom walks outside.

Many tables stand on the street.

People look at old things.

David waves to Tom.

“Good morning!”

“What is happening?” Tom asks.

“It’s a garage sale,” David says.

Kelly is standing behind a table.

Books, cups, and lamps are on it.

Kelly smiles.

“Welcome! Everything is for sale.”

Tom looks surprised.

“You sell your own things?”

“Yes,” Kelly says. “I don’t need them anymore.”

A man picks up a chair.

“How much is this?”

“Five dollars,” Kelly says.

He smiles and pays.

Tom looks around.

People talk to strangers.

A woman buys old toys.

A boy buys a guitar.

David holds up a hat.

“How do I look?”

Kelly laughs.

“Very different.”

Tom finds a small clock.

“It still works,” he says.

“Two dollars,” Kelly says.

Tom gives her money.

She puts it in a box.

A neighbor brings coffee for everyone.

People stand and talk.

Cars pass slowly.

Tom smiles.

“This feels friendly.”

David nods.

“It happens every year.”

Kelly looks at the empty table.

“I sold almost everything.”

They laugh together.

Read the lesson aloud.

End of Lessons 1–5