#222 Going to the gym in the summer

Today’s episode is going to be a little different than usual. In the first part, you will improve your grammar with a point-of-view story based on actual events. And in the second part, you'll practice your English speaking with a mini-story.

Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks.

Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.

Ok, let's get started!

How was your summer vacation? Mine was quite uneventful, and since it was hot, I didn't travel anywhere. I just wanted to stay at home, chilling by the AC (air conditioner).

As I was saying, this episode will be a bit different. I'll start with a point of view based on actual facts. I'll talk about Jim, who wants to join the gym in the summer.

Ok. Let’s start!

POV-Story

 (Learn grammar in context)

I'll tell you a short story more than one time. Every time, I'll change a grammar point. I can change the tense or the person. This way, you'll notice the changes in context.

First, I will tell the story from my point of view:

After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, Jim finally dragged his feet and walked into the gym building to sign up.

The clerk handed him the sign-up form.

With tears in his eyes, Jim filled out the registration form and paid the first installment.

"Now I have no excuses!" said Jim. So, the next day, he packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel.

By the way, Jim always eats diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that you eat less quantity.

On the first day at the gym, he took it very easy.

But even so, he felt stiff for the next two days; he could barely move.

After a few sessions and several boxes of doughnuts, Jim began feeling better about exercising.

However, one day, after finishing his workout at the gym, he felt a little under the weather.

It turns out that Jim came down with a cold, so he had to rest for the next few days.

Jim also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, he took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym.

Finally, after recovering, Jim tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, he ended up going to the beach.

Now, I will tell the same story from Jim's point of view:

After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, I finally dragged my feet and walked into the gym building to sign up.

The clerk handed me the sign-up form.

With tears in my eyes, I filled out the registration form and paid the first installment.

"Now I have no excuses!" I said to myself. So, the next day, I packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel.

By the way, I always eat diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that I eat less quantity.

On the first day at the gym, I took it very easy.

But even so, I felt stiff for the next two days; I could barely move.

After a few sessions and several boxes of doughnuts, I began feeling better about exercising.

However, one day, after finishing my workout at the gym, I felt a little under the weather.

It turns out that I came down with a cold, so I had to rest for the next few days.

Strangely enough, I also developed back pain during those days of rest. So I took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym.

Finally, after recovering, I tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, I ended up going to the beach.

Ok! That's the end of this short exercise. Notice that the changes between grammar points are subtle but important.

My suggestion is that you avoid memorizing grammar rules. It's better to see the changes in the proper context.  And with a story, it is much easier to remember all this.

If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course, so you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all! And it's completely free.