Episode 1: A Storytelling Journey to Better English

Hi there, and welcome to the very first episode of Classes with Cass the Podcast! I’m your host, Cass, and I’m so excited to have you here. This podcast is all about learning English through stories. My goal is to help you practice listening, learn new words, and feel more comfortable speaking everyday English—all while enjoying a good story.

I am an ESL teacher, I have been teaching English for about two years, and teaching English as a second language is one of my greatest passions. My goal is to help you feel more comfortable in your English learning, through storytelling. I don't believe in learning grammar and English from a textbook; I think the best way to learn is through practicing in conversation and listening to English speakers when they speak.

Since this is our first episode, let me tell you a bit about how this podcast will work. In each episode, I’ll tell you a story—sometimes about everyday life, sometimes about fun adventures, and sometimes even stories with a little bit of imagination. As you listen, you’ll hear useful English phrases, learn common expressions, and get used to how English sounds in a natural, real-world way from a native English speaker. I will try to speak more slowly at first, and as we go on with more and more podcasts, I will try to increase my pace so that your ear can naturally adjust to a natural English speaker's pace.

Alright, are you ready? Let’s jump into our first story.

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It’s a sunny morning. The sky is blue, and the air feels fresh. Emma, a young woman, decides to go for a walk in the park. She puts on her favourite sneakers, grabs a bottle of water, and steps outside.

“Good morning!” she says to her neighbour, Mr. Lee, who is watering his garden.

“Good morning, Emma!” he replies with a smile. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is! Have a great day!” Emma waves and continues on her way.

At the park, Emma sees children playing on the swings, people walking their dogs, and an old couple sitting on a bench, enjoying the sunshine. She takes a deep breath and smiles.

As she walks along the path, Emma hears a friendly voice.

“Hi there! Do you mind if I join you?” It’s her friend, Sarah.

“Of course! It’s nice to see you, Sarah. How are you?”

“I’m great, thanks! How about you?”

“I’m good! Just enjoying the fresh air,” Emma says.

The two friends walk and talk. They share stories about their week, laugh at funny moments, and plan to have a coffee together later.

When it’s time to go, Emma waves goodbye.

“See you soon, Sarah!”

“See you, Emma! Have a great day!”

Emma heads back home, feeling happy and relaxed. It’s amazing how a simple walk and a nice chat with a friend can make your day better.

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So, what did you think of Emma’s day? In this story, you heard a lot of simple greetings and ways to say goodbye. Phrases like:

• "Good morning!"

• "How are you?"

• "I’m good!"

• "See you soon!"

These are everyday expressions that you can use when speaking English. They’re perfect for starting conversations, being friendly, and making connections with others. For example, when I see my friends, I can say: "goodmorning, how are you?" they would respond saying: "I'm good!", and when we say goodbye to eachother, we can say: "see you soon!".

Here’s a little challenge for you: Think about your own day. What would you say if you met a neighbour or a friend at the park? Practice saying a few greetings and respond out loud. You could say:

• "Hey / Hi! How’s it going?"

• "Good afternoon!/ Good evening! How are you?"

You can even try writing a short story like Emma’s, using simple greetings in English. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just have fun with it!

Thank you so much for joining me on this first episode of Classes with Cass the Podcast. I hope you enjoyed today’s story and learned something new. If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a story. And if you want to practice more, you can always listen to this episode again and repeat the phrases out loud.

I can’t wait to share more stories with you. Until next time, keep practicing, keep smiling, and have a wonderful day. See you soon!