داستان کوتاه

Lost His Voice – Mini-Story Lesson

Hi, I’m Joe Weiss, and I’m one of the teachers and directors of Learn Real English, and I’d like to welcome you to this mini-story lesson. Okay, I’m going to start this lesson by telling you about some of the idioms that you will hear me use in the story. So let’s start there.

Okay, first is to “lose your voice.” So if you lose your voice, it means that when you speak people are unable to hear anything. Okay, so you speak but no sound comes out of your mouth. Okay, and you could say the same about singing. You try to sing but no one can hear what’s coming from your mouth, okay? Because your voice is lost is what they say. You lost your voice. Let me give you an example that’ll help you understand this even better. I went to the baseball game with my brother Bill and during the game he was yelling and screaming a lot so after the game he lost his voice. Okay, so what I’m saying is I went to the baseball game with my brother Bill and he was yelling and screaming a lot while at the game so after the game when he spoke no sound could be heard from his mouth, okay? People were unable to hear him when he spoke. He lost his voice.

Okay, so next is a “gig.” So a gig is just basically a performance, okay? Now sometimes people refer to their job as a gig. So, y’know, you might hear that, too. But most of the time a gig refers to some sort of performance, okay? Maybe a musical performance would be a good example. Let me give you an example here that’ll help you understand it even better. Even though Bruce was a rock and roll star, he still lived in New Jersey and he loved doing gigs there. Okay, so what I’m saying is even though Bruce was a rock and roll star, he still lived in New Jersey and he loved to perform there. Okay, he loved to do gigs there. He loved to perform there.

Okay, so next is to “do a shot of something.” And what I mean is some sort of alcohol, some sort of liquor, really. Okay, so if you do a shot of a liquor, it means that you drink a very small glass of that liquor, alright? Here’s an example for you. After Vladimir’s team won the championship, he did a shot of vodka to celebrate. Okay, so what I’m saying is after Vladimir’s team won the championship, he drank a small glass of vodka to celebrate. Okay, he did a shot of vodka. He drank a small glass of vodka.

Okay, so next is a “lightweight.” And what I mean is a lightweight when it comes to drinking alcohol. So if you’re a lightweight, it means that you get drunk very easily, okay? You just need to drink a little bit of alcohol and you get drunk. Here’s an example for you. Maria was only 82 pounds so she never drove her car whenever she had anything to drink because she was a lightweight. Okay, so what I’m saying was Maria was only 82 pounds and whenever she drove her car, she made sure she hadn’t drank even the littlest amount of alcohol because she got drunk very easily. She was a lightweight, okay?

Alright, so I have one more for you and this one is one that I like a lot. It’s to “bring down the house.” So if you are performing and you bring down the house it means that the audience responds to your performance by making a lot of noise, y’know, clapping very loud or yelling very loud. And they do this because they really enjoyed your performance. Okay, and once again, that’s bringing down the house, to bring down the house. Here’s an example for you. Whenever Bruce plays a gig in New Jersey, he brings down the house. Okay, so what I’m saying is whenever Bruce plays a gig or performs in New Jersey, the crowd responds by making a lot of noise, by clapping very loudly or by screaming because they really enjoy his performance. Okay, he brings down the house.

Okay, so now I’m going to tell you a story but I’m also going to ask you a lot of questions as I tell you the story. So, when I ask you a question, I just want you to answer that question quickly, okay? Just tell me the first answer that you think of and don’t worry about making mistakes, okay? If you make a mistake when you say an answer, just make sure that you learn from it. Try not to make the same mistake the next time you listen to this lesson. And I want you to speak loudly and confidently as you answer these questions. Alright, well, it’s time for our story then. So let’s begin.

There was a tiger and his name was Michael. And Michael was a singer. But unfortunately, Michael had a problem. You see, Michael lost his voice. Yes, he lost his voice because he smoked too many cigarettes.

Okay, time for some questions. Was there a tiger or was there a turkey?

There was a tiger, of course, there wasn’t a turkey, there was a tiger.

And what was the tiger’s name? Was the tiger’s name Jeffrey?

No, no, the tiger’s name wasn’t Jeffrey.

What was the tiger’s name?

Michael, the tiger’s name was Michael.

And was Michael a lawyer or was he a singer?

He was a singer, Michael was a singer.

Who was a singer? Was Michael a singer or was AJ a singer?

Michael was, Michael was a singer.

And tell me this. Did Michael lose his voice?

He did, yes, Michael lost his voice.

Who lost his voice?

Michael did, Michael lost his voice.

So tell me this. When Michael spoke, were people able to hear what he was saying? Was there any sound that was coming out of his mouth?

No, no, Michael lost his voice so that means that when he was saying something, no one could hear him, or you could even say when he was singing, no one could hear him sing. He lost his voice, okay?

Michael lost his voice. When he spoke or when he sang, no sound came out of his mouth.

Well, Michael needed to get his voice back and he needed to do it quickly. He needed to get his voice back quickly because he had a gig that night. And unfortunately, though, Michael didn’t know what he needed to do to get his voice back. But I have some information for you about Michael’s family. Michael’s mother was also a singer. So Michael decided to ask his mother for advice.

Okay, time for some more questions. Did Michael have a gig that night?

He did, yes, Michael had a gig that night.

Who had a gig that night?

Michael did, Michael had a gig that night.

And did AJ have a gig that night?

No, no, AJ didn’t have a gig, Michael did.

So tell me this. When did Michael have a gig?

That night, Michael had a gig that night.

And did Michael have a performance to do that night?

Yes, yes, he did, Michael had a gig that night so that means he had a performance to do that night. He had a gig that night. He had a performance to do that night.

Okay, so tell me this. Why did Michael need to get his voice back so quickly?

Well, he needed to get his voice back so quickly because he had a gig that night.

So tell me this. Was Michael’s mother a singer?

Yes, yes, she was, Michael’s mother was a singer.

Who was a singer?

Michael’s mother was, Michael’s mother was a singer.

And was Michael’s mother a lawyer?

No, no, of course not, Michael’s mother was a singer, she wasn’t a lawyer.

So did Michael decide to ask his mother for advice?

Yes, he did, Michael decided to ask his mother for advice.

Who decided to ask his mother for advice?

Michael did, right? Michael asked his mother for advice.

And tell me this. Did Michael ask his brother for advice?

No, no, he didn’t ask his brother for advice.

Who did Michael ask for advice?

Well, his mother, he asked his mother for advice.

So one more question before we continue. Did Michael ask his mother for a ride to church or did he ask her for advice?

He asked her for advice, he did not ask her for a ride to church, he asked her for advice.

Well, Michael called his mother and he explained to her that he had lost his voice because he had smoked too many cigarettes. And Michael’s mother told Michael that she knew what Michael needed to do to get his voice back. Yes, she told Michael that to get his voice back, he needed to do a shot of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig. Well, Michael rarely drank alcohol but he was desperate to get his voice back so he agreed to follow his mother’s instructions.

Okay, so tell me this. Did Michael call his brother or his mother.

He called his mother, yes, Michael called his mother.

And tell me this. Who called his mother?

Well, Michael did, right? Michael called his mother.

And did Michael’s mother tell Michael that she knew what he needed to do to get his voice back?

Yes, yes, she did, she told Michael that she knew what to do in order for Michael to get his voice back.

So tell me this. Did Michael’s mother tell Michael to do a shot of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig?

Yes, yes, she did, Michael’s mother told Michael to do a short of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig.

Who told Michael to do a shot of whiskey every hour?

His mother did, Michael’s mother told Michael to do a shot of whiskey every hour.

And tell me this. What did she tell him to do a shot of? Did she tell him to do a shot of orange juice?

No, no, she didn’t tell him to do a shot of orange juice.

What did she tell him to do a shot of?

Whiskey, she told him to do a shot of whiskey.

And tell me this now. How often did she tell him to do a shot of whiskey?

Every hour, she told him to do a shot of whiskey every hour.

So did Michael’s mother tell Michael to drink a small glass of whiskey every hour?

Yes, yes, she did, she told him to do a shot of whiskey every hour so that means she told him to drink a small glass of whiskey every hour, a very small glass of whiskey, and she told him to do it every hour.

Okay, so tell me this. Did Michael rarely drink alcohol?

Yes, yes, he rarely drank alcohol.

Who rarely drank alcohol? Michael or Michael’s mother?

Michael did, Michael rarely drank alcohol.

And what did Michael do rarely?

Well, he drank alcohol rarely which means he did not do it very often, he did it infrequently, okay? He drank alcohol rarely.

So tell me this. Did Michael agree to follow his mother’s advice because he was desperate to get his voice back?

Yes, he did, Michael agreed to follow his mother’s advice because he was desperate to get his voice back.

Who agreed to follow his mother’s advice?

Michael did, Michael agreed to follow his mother’s advice.

And tell me this. Why did he do that? Why did he agree to follow his mother’s advice?

Well, he agreed to follow his mother’s advice because he was desperate to get his voice back.

Well, Michael followed his mother’s advice. He took a shot of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig. And after just one shot of whiskey, he was drunk. Yes, he was drunk after just one shot of whiskey because he was a lightweight. But I have some good news. Just 10 minutes before the start of his gig, Michael got his voice back. And that night at the gig, Michael brought the house down.

Okay, so tell me this. Did Michael follow his mother’s advice?

Yes, he did, Michael followed his mother’s advice.

And who followed his mother’s advice? AJ or Michael?

Michael did, Michael followed his mother’s advice.

And tell me this. Whose advice did Michael follow?

His mother’s, yeah, he followed his mother’s advice.

So did Michael take a shot of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig?

Yes, yes, he did, he took a shot of whiskey every hour until the time of his gig.

Who took a shot of whiskey every hour?

Michael did, Michael took a shot of whiskey every hour.

And did Michael take a shot of vodka every hour?

No, no, he didn’t take a shot of vodka every hour, he took a shot of whiskey every hour.

Okay, so tell me this. How often did he take a shot of whiskey?

Every hour, Michael took a shot of whiskey every hour.

So did Michael drink a big glass of whiskey every hour?

No, no, Michael drank a small glass of whiskey every hour, he did a shot of whiskey every hour and when you do a shot of something it means you drink a very small glass of it. So Michael drank a very small glass of whiskey every hour.

Well, tell me this. Was Michael drunk after drinking just one shot?

Yes, Michael was drunk after drinking just one shot, or you could say Michael was drunk after doing just one shot, one shot of whiskey, that is.

So was Michael drunk after drinking one small glass of whiskey?

He was, yes, he was drunk after doing one shot of whiskey so that means he was drunk after drinking one small glass of whiskey.

So tell me this. Why was Michael drunk after only drinking one shot? Why was he drunk after doing only one shot of whiskey? Was it because Michael was a lightweight?

Yes, yes, that’s why, he was a lightweight and that’s why he was drunk after doing only one shot of whiskey.

Who was a lightweight?

Michael was, Michael was a lightweight.

Was Michael’s mother a lightweight?

No, no, Michael’s mother wasn’t a lightweight, Michael was a lightweight.

So did Michael get drunk very easily? Did he get drunk after drinking just a little bit of alcohol?

Yes, yes, he did, Michael was a lightweight so that means he got drunk very easily or we could say that Michael got drunk after drinking just a very little bit of alcohol. Michael was a lightweight.

Okay, so tell me this. Did Michael get his voice back just 10 minutes before the start of his gig?

He did, yes, Michael got his voice back just 10 minutes before the start of his gig.

Who got his voice back?

Michael did, Michael got his voice back.

So when Michael spoke were people able to hear what he said?

Yes, yes, Michael got his voice back so that means when he spoke people could hear what he said, or when he sang people could hear what he was singing. He got his voice back. His voice was no longer lost.

So tell me this now. When did Michael get his voice back?

10 minutes before the start of his gig, Michael got his voice back just 10 minutes before the start of his gig.

Tell me this. Did Michael get his voice back 10 minutes before or 10 minutes after the start of his gig?

Before, he got his voice back 10 minutes before the start of his gig.

So did Michael bring the house down at his gig that night?

He did, yes, Michael brought the house down at his gig that night.

Who brought the house down? Michael or Michael’s mother?

Michael did, Michael brought the house down.

And where did he bring the house down?

At his gig that night, Michael brought the house down at his gig that night or you could say at his performance that night.

And tell me this. When did Michael bring the house down? Did he bring the house down one week later?

No, no, he didn’t bring the house down one week later.

When did Michael bring the house down?

That night, Michael brought the house down that night.

So did the people in the audience make a lot of noise after Michael performed? Did they clap very loudly and scream a lot because they really enjoyed his performance?

Yes, yes, they did, Michael brought the house down so that means the people in the audience made a lot of noise to show him that they really enjoyed the concert. Maybe they clapped very loudly or they screamed because they enjoyed it so much. He brought the house down.

Well, that night Michael was very happy because he had brought the house down at his gig. But the next morning when Michael woke up, he felt terrible. Yes, Michael was very sick the next morning. He was so sick that he never wanted to drink alcohol every again. So he promised never to smoke another cigarette because he never, ever wanted to lose his voice again.

Okay, well, that’s the end of this mini-story lesson. We’re at the end of the story so now I want you to tell the story, okay? I want you to tell the story to someone who you know. It can be anyone who you know.

And if you really don’t have someone to tell the story to, please just say the story to yourself out loud.

Okay, I don’t want you to just think about it. I want you to practice speaking. So please say the story out loud, whether you’re telling that story to someone else or whether you’re telling it to yourself.

And I want you to have a lot of repetition with this lesson so I want you to listen to this lesson every day for at least one week.

Alright then. That’s all for this mini-story lesson. I’ll see you next time.