Hello and welcome to the English Like a Native podcast.
My name is Anna and you're listening to week 41, day one of Your English Fiber Day, the second season.
Stick with me and step by step, we're going to build your vocabulary.
We're going to improve your listening skills, your general comprehension, and I'm going to help you to feel more comfortable and more confident when using English.
We're going to build ownership of this language together.
All you have to do is tune in on a regular basis.
Make this podcast, make my dulcet tones, a part of your every day.
All right, together, let's begin this week and this episode with a snapshot of what's to come.
They say a dog is man's best friend.
And Craig couldn't agree more as he clipped the lead onto Buster's collar.
It was a crisp morning and the path snaked through the woods quietly. except for their footsteps.
Buster walked proudly by his side, ever protective, ready to face whatever the day might bring.
Alright, let's begin diving into the vocabulary starting with the phrase, man's best friend.
Man's best friend.
Three words, man's, M-A-N, apostrophe S, best, B-E-S-T, friend. friend, f-r-i-e-n-d.
This is a noun phrase.
Man's best friend is a phrase that we use to describe dogs.
It's emphasising their loyalty and affection and the close relationship that they have with humans.
So if anyone talks about man's best friend, they're talking about a dog.
Here is an example sentence.
Dogs have been called man's best friend because of their loyalty, companionship and unconditional love.
Next, we have the adjective protective, protective.
We spell this P-R-O-T-E-C-T-I-V-E, protective, protective.
If someone or something is described as protective, then it keeps a person or a thing safe from harm or danger.
You need to wear protective clothing if you do jobs that put you in a dangerous situation, like working with heat or extreme cold, working with chemicals or toxins.
Maybe just working in a dirty environment.
People can be protective.
Parents are protective of their children.
And dogs are protective of their owners.
Most dogs are, anyway, unless they're wimps.
Here is an example sentence.
A mother bear is extremely protective of her cubs and will attack if she feels they're threatened.
Now have you noticed that I'm saying protective of, and then the thing that's being protected, protective of the thing.
So just keep that in mind when using this adjective.
Next, we have the noun lead.
Lead.
We spell this L-E-A-D.
A lead is a long strap or chain that's attached to a dog's collar and it's used for walking or controlling them.
A lead.
Remember last week we had the noun phrase on a lead.
So this is simply looking at the noun on its own.
Here's an example sentence.
Craig put Buster's lead on before heading out for their morning walk.
Next, we have the adjective crisp.
Crisp.
C-R-I-S-P.
Crisp.
When using crisp to describe the weather, it suggests that the air and the weather in general is cool and fresh and invigorating.
If you've gone through a hot spell, if you've had a heat wave and you've been dealing with intense heat for a while or high humidity, then waking up to a crisp, cool morning is fantastic.
It's such a relief.
It makes you feel fresh and it can invigorate you.
You take in a lung full of crisp, cool air.
As you breathe out, you see the mist in front of your face.
Fantastic.
So here's an example sentence.
It was a crisp autumn morning.
Perfect for a brisk walk.
Last, we have the verb snake.
To snake.
We spell this S-N-A-K-E.
Snake.
Snake.
To snake is to move in a twisting or winding path in the kind of pattern that you would expect to see a snake move.
They don't move in a straight line.
They wind side to side, twisting along.
So to snake is to move in that way, in a twisty way.
Here's an example sentence.
The trail snaked between farms and clusters of pine trees.
Alright, nice and easy today.
Let's do a quick recap.
We started with the noun phrase man's best friend, that phrase that's used to describe dogs, specifically highlighting their loyalty and affection towards humans.
Man's best friend.
We had the adjective protective, which is wanting to keep someone or something safe from harm or danger.
To be protective.
We have the noun LEAD, the long strap or chain that's attached to a dog's collar, used for walking or controlling the animal.
We have the adjective CRISP, which is describing weather or air that is cool, fresh and invigorating crisp.
And we had the verb snake, which is to move in a twisting or winding path.
Like a snake.
To snake.
Alright, it's time for you to raise your voice now.
Please repeat out loud after me.
Man's best friend.
Man's best friend.
Protective Protective Lead Lead Crisp Crisp Snake Snake.
Fantastic.
Nice and easy today.
Alright, we'll revisit the snapshot and then we'll move on to our big story.
They say a dog is man's best friend.
And Craig couldn't agree more as he clipped the lead onto Buster's collar.
It was a crisp morning, and the path snaked through the woods, quiet except for their footsteps.
Buster walked proudly by his side, ever protective, ready to face whatever the day might bring.
Okay, strap in and listen out for today's vocabulary as we head into our big story.
Emma pulled her scarf tighter as Daisy gave an eager tug on the lead.
All right, all right, I'm coming, she said, laughing under her breath.
Daisy, golden fur gleaming in the early light, was man's best friend in every sense.
Loyal, joyful and, at times, a little too enthusiastic.
They set off at a brisk pace along the path that snaked through the park.
The air was crisp, the kind that wakes you up better than any coffee could.
Emma loved mornings like this.
Quiet, bright and full of promise.
It was her moment of peace before the chaos of emails, deadlines and endless phone calls.
She smiled as Daisy trotted ahead, nose twitching, tail swishing.
A jogger passed by and Daisy turned her head sharply, ever protective, watching until the stranger was safely gone.
Good girl, Emma murmured, giving the lead a gentle tug.
Then, without warning, Daisy froze.
Her ears pricked forward.
Her whole body stiffened.
Emma followed her gaze just in time to see a tall man being dragged by a very energetic Dalmatian.
Spots flashing like confetti.
Daisy, no, wait.
Too late.
Daisy lunged.
The lead slipped from Emma's hand and within seconds, chaos.
Two dogs collided joyfully, tangling themselves into one wriggling, barking knot of fur and spots.
Emma darted forward and straight into the man.
Hot coffee splashed.
A startled yelp and then laughter.
I'm so sorry, she said, mortified, pulling tissues from her pocket.
It's fine, the man chuckled, dabbing at his coat.
Honestly, I think I was destined to wear my coffee this morning.
Emma looked up, relieved to see he wasn't angry.
He had kind eyes and a slightly crooked smile that made her cheeks warm.
Their dogs, still rolling about, didn't seem the least bit sorry.
He offered his hand.
Tom.
Emma, she said, shaking it.
And this is Daisy, the world's worst guard dog, though she's very protective when she wants to be.
I can see that, he said with a grin.
Mine's Pongo, also known as Trouble on Four Legs.
They stood watching as the dogs finally untangled themselves and trotted side by side as if they'd known each other for years.
Well, Tom said, glancing at Emma.
Since they seem to have a plan, perhaps we should follow their lead.
Emma laughed, falling into step beside him.
The path stank to head, golden leaves crunching underfoot and Daisy kept glancing back, tail wagging as if to say You're welcome.
So, Tom said, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.
Do you come here often or are you new to the neighbourhood?
Every morning, if I can drag myself out of bed, it's my quiet time before the day begins.
Same here, he said.
Well, except for the quiet part.
Pongo has two modes, asleep or chaos.
Emma laughed.
Daisy's the same.
She once stole an entire sandwich from a picnic blanket.
I had to buy the poor couple new ones.
Bold move, Tom said.
Pongo once ran off with a stranger's glove.
We spent 20 minutes chasing him around the park.
I thought I'd have to put an apology notice on a tree.
They both laughed, and for a few minutes the world shrank to that simple sound.
Their laughter, their footsteps and the jingling of collars.
When they reached the pond, the surface shimmered like glass.
Ducks bobbed gently on the water and the air still felt crisp, but softer, now alive with possibility.
Daisy and Pongo trotted to the edge and sat side by side, their reflections rippling in the water.
Tom turned to Emma.
"'Same time tomorrow?'
Emma hesitated just long enough to feel her heart flutter.
Sure, she said, smiling.
Though next time I'll bring the coffee.
Deal.
They lingered for a moment longer, both pretending to fuss with the dogs, not quite ready to say goodbye.
Eventually, Emma gave Daisy's lead a gentle tug.
Come on, you little matchmaker, she whispered.
And that brings us to the end of today's episode.
I do hope you enjoyed it.
And of course, that you found it useful.
Until tomorrow, take very good care of yourself.
And goodbye.
