Stories of Relationships
Listen to four people describe relationships, friendships, unexpected meetings, and difficult emotions. Practise understanding natural speech and using expressions about relationships.
In this lesson: Listening · Vocabulary · Comprehension · Speaking · Pronunciation
Lesson objectives
Identify the main idea and key details in four personal stories.
Understand expressions used to describe relationships and emotions.
Use relationship vocabulary to describe experiences and opinions.
Notice natural connected speech and expressions for past experiences.
01 · VIDEO LISTENING
Watch the video once without reading the transcript. Focus on the speakers’ experiences and identify the main point of each story. Then replay the relevant sections using the LISTEN buttons in the transcript.
02 · TRANSCRIPT AND PHRASE LISTENING
Use each LISTEN button to replay a complete section. Read along, listen carefully, and repeat useful expressions aloud.
I used to share an apartment with three other people. We started sharing the place when we were university students and became best friends. When we all finished our studies and started to work, we continued living together because we got along very well, and it was difficult to afford an apartment on your own in the city. On a night out, one of my flatmates introduced me to one of his friends, Sarah, and there was an immediate spark there. I asked her out, and we started dating. The connection between us was unbelievable. Now, she’s my best friend, and she’s the first person I ever went out with — and, hopefully, she’ll be the last, because we got married last year.
I married my high school sweetheart when I was just 22. John was my first and only relationship. We met when we were 16, and we started dating at 17. Unfortunately, after 23 years, our marriage wasn’t working any longer, and we decided to part ways after a lifetime together. When we separated, I formed a close bond with a colleague at work. She became my confidant and best friend. One day, she excitedly suggested that she knew the perfect man for me and practically set up a blind date. Despite my hesitations, she insisted so much that I finally agreed. We decided on a familiar restaurant for the meeting, a place that felt safe and neutral. I was quite nervous because I had never dated anyone other than John. When I walked through the door, I couldn’t believe my eyes — it was John! When he saw me, we both started laughing. What are the odds?
When I first started at my current job, I didn’t know anyone there. However, I soon got to know Arthur, one of my colleagues. We had a lot in common, and before long, we became pretty close. Our conversations weren’t just about work; they extended to our personal lives, hobbies, and families. One weekend, he invited me and my wife to a barbecue at his house. It was there that he introduced us to his partner. During the barbecue, my wife and his partner really hit it off, finding they shared many interests. They became friends quickly. Unfortunately, over time, my relationship with Arthur started to get worse because of some disagreements at work. Eventually, we fell out, and our relationship went back to being just professional. It was awkward because my wife and Arthur’s partner had become close, but such is life.
Back in college, there was this girl I had a huge crush on. We weren’t close, just acquaintances, really, but I thought about her in secret all the time. We had common friends and often met here and there on nights out, but I never had the courage to ask her out. Fast forward a few years, a very close friend of mine introduced me to his new girlfriend and, to my dismay, it was the same girl I’d been silently admiring from afar. It crushed me a little bit, to be honest, but I tried to be happy for my friend. Time went by, and I received a wedding invitation. Standing there at their wedding, watching my crush becoming my friend’s wife, was bittersweet. I was invited to share in their joy, and that’s what I decided to focus on.
Portuguese translation
Portuguese translation
Oscar: Eu costumava dividir um apartamento com outras três pessoas. Começamos a dividir o lugar quando éramos universitários e nos tornamos melhores amigos. Quando terminamos os estudos e começamos a trabalhar, continuamos morando juntos porque nos dávamos muito bem e era difícil pagar um apartamento sozinho na cidade. Em uma saída à noite, um dos meus colegas de apartamento me apresentou a uma amiga dele, Sarah, e houve uma atração imediata. Eu a convidei para sair e começamos a namorar. A conexão entre nós era incrível. Agora ela é minha melhor amiga e a primeira pessoa com quem namorei — e, espero, será a última, porque nos casamos no ano passado.
Melissa: Casei-me com meu amor do ensino médio quando tinha apenas 22 anos. John foi meu primeiro e único relacionamento. Nós nos conhecemos aos 16 anos e começamos a namorar aos 17. Infelizmente, depois de 23 anos, nosso casamento já não estava funcionando, e decidimos nos separar depois de uma vida inteira juntos. Quando nos separamos, criei um vínculo próximo com uma colega de trabalho. Ela se tornou minha confidente e melhor amiga. Um dia, sugeriu animadamente que conhecia o homem perfeito para mim e praticamente organizou um encontro às cegas. Apesar das minhas hesitações, ela insistiu tanto que finalmente concordei. Escolhemos um restaurante conhecido, um lugar que parecia seguro e neutro. Eu estava nervosa porque nunca havia namorado ninguém além de John. Quando entrei, não pude acreditar nos meus olhos: era John! Quando ele me viu, nós dois começamos a rir. Quais são as chances?
Robert: Quando comecei no meu emprego atual, não conhecia ninguém. Porém, logo conheci Arthur, um dos meus colegas. Tínhamos muito em comum e, em pouco tempo, ficamos bem próximos. Nossas conversas não eram apenas sobre trabalho; também falávamos de nossas vidas pessoais, hobbies e famílias. Um fim de semana, ele convidou a mim e à minha esposa para um churrasco em sua casa. Lá, ele nos apresentou ao companheiro dele. Durante o churrasco, minha esposa e o companheiro de Arthur se deram muito bem, pois descobriram que tinham muitos interesses em comum. Tornaram-se amigos rapidamente. Infelizmente, com o tempo, minha relação com Arthur começou a piorar por causa de divergências no trabalho. Por fim, brigamos e nossa relação voltou a ser apenas profissional. Foi estranho porque minha esposa e o companheiro de Arthur haviam se aproximado, mas a vida é assim.
Andrew: Na época da faculdade, havia uma garota por quem eu era muito apaixonado. Não éramos próximos, apenas conhecidos, mas eu pensava nela em segredo o tempo todo. Tínhamos amigos em comum e nos encontrávamos de vez em quando em saídas à noite, mas nunca tive coragem de convidá-la para sair. Alguns anos depois, um amigo muito próximo me apresentou à nova namorada dele e, para minha decepção, era a mesma garota que eu admirava em silêncio, de longe. Para ser sincero, isso me magoou um pouco, mas tentei ficar feliz pelo meu amigo. O tempo passou e recebi um convite de casamento. Estar no casamento deles e ver a garota por quem eu era apaixonado se tornar a esposa do meu amigo foi uma mistura de felicidade e tristeza. Fui convidado a compartilhar a alegria deles, e foi nisso que decidi me concentrar.
03 · VOCABULARY BUILDER
Review these expressions in context. Try to create one new sentence with each expression.
Used to + base verb: “I used to share an apartment.”
Past perfect: “I’d been silently admiring her.”
Get / become + adjective: “We became pretty close.”
Fall out is a phrasal verb meaning to have an argument and stop being friendly.
04 · USEFUL LANGUAGE AND DISCUSSION STRATEGIES
Useful expressions from the stories
- We got along very well. — describes a positive relationship.
- There was an immediate spark. — describes an instant attraction or connection.
- We decided to part ways. — describes people ending a relationship or going in different directions.
- We have a lot in common. — describes shared interests or experiences.
- We fell out. — means that people argued and stopped being friendly.
- It was bittersweet. — describes a situation with both happy and sad feelings.
Discussion questions
- What makes two people become close friends?
- Can people remain friends after a disagreement? Why or why not?
- Why might an unexpected meeting with someone from the past feel awkward?
- How can a person manage mixed feelings when something happy also feels sad?
05 · LISTENING COMPREHENSION QUIZ
Choose one answer for each question, then select CHECK ANSWERS. Your selected answers will remain visible while feedback appears.
1. Who is talking about a co-worker?
Select an answer to see feedback.2. Who is talking about an ex?
Select an answer to see feedback.3. Who is talking about an acquaintance?
Select an answer to see feedback.4. Who is talking about his wife?
Select an answer to see feedback.5. Who was surprised to see someone from a previous relationship?
Select an answer to see feedback.6. Who helped a friendship develop?
Select an answer to see feedback.7. Who lived with friends?
Select an answer to see feedback.8. Who wasn’t completely happy for a friend?
Select an answer to see feedback.06 · EXTENDED SPEAKING PRACTICE
Answer the questions aloud in English. Give reasons and examples, and try to use expressions from the lesson.
2. What makes two people hit it off?
3. Have you ever had an unexpected meeting with someone from your past?
4. Can people remain friends after a disagreement? Why or why not?
5. What does the word “bittersweet” mean, and can you think of an example?
Speaking challenge
Choose one story and retell it in 60–90 seconds. Include the people involved, what happened, how they felt, and how the story ended.
07 · PRONUNCIATION AND SHADOWING
Choose a transcript section and repeat immediately after the speaker. Focus on word stress, linking, and natural rhythm.
- get along very well — practise linking the words smoothly.
- have a lot in common — keep the phrase connected rather than separating every word.
- asked her out — notice how the final consonants link into the next word.
- hit it off — practise the short, connected rhythm.
- from afar — keep the stress clear on “far”.
Three-round method
- Listen without speaking.
- Repeat with the recording, matching rhythm and pauses.
- Record yourself and compare clarity, stress, and intonation.
08 · INDEPENDENT STUDY ROUTINE
- Watch the video once without reading the transcript. Write one sentence about each person’s story.
- Replay all four transcript sections using the LISTEN buttons.
- Choose five vocabulary expressions and write an original sentence for each.
- Complete the quiz without looking at the transcript, then review any incorrect answers.
- Give a 60–90 second oral summary of one story, using at least four expressions from the lesson.
- Write a short paragraph about a friendship or relationship that changed over time. Use “used to”, “have a lot in common”, or “part ways” where appropriate.