TingMate · English Learning

longcheng Ni

Slow English stories for intermediate learners. One short story, told gently — then taken apart, piece by piece, until every word makes sense. Quiet listening practice for anyone learning English.

  1. Day 40–44 · Current Week Review

    15h ago

    Day 40–44 · Current Week Review

    Day 40 · Champions Tonight could be the night. Game 5. New York leads the series three to one. None of us got a ticket. They were way too expensive. So we squeeze in front of one screen. For most of the game, New York is down. At one point, down by sixteen. It looks over. Then Brunson takes over! Thirteen points in a row! We can't believe it! We are all on the edge of our seats. The final minute. New York is ahead. Nobody says a word. The buzzer sounds! Ninety-four to ninety! The Knicks win! They did it! The Knicks are champions! Their first title in fifty-three years! We jump up and start yelling! The whole room goes crazy! Outside, car horns everywhere. People pour into the streets. And tonight, the whole city says it together. Congratulations. The Knicks! You are the champions! Brunson, MVP! The king of New York! Day 41 · Tasting It Online My friends, I have a question for you. Is it crawfish season back in China right now? I've been in Austin, Texas lately. The most famous local supermarket here is H-E-B. There's one almost every two miles. And in summer, crawfish is their thing. They set up a little stall out front. Selling crawfish for a limited time. I parked my car, and the smell hit me right away. I really wanted some. But I wasn't sure how clean they were. So I made a deal with myself. If they're still here when I come out. I'll get some. I went in and grabbed milk, bread, steak, and some fruit. When I came out, they were already sold out. I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time. Back home, I scrolled through tons of crawfish videos. So many flavors, from Changsha to Suzhou. I told myself I'd pretty much tasted every flavor already. Then I saw someone drop instant noodles right into the crawfish sauce. So I dug into my own instant noodles. And honestly, it tasted pretty good too. Day 42 · Don't Suffer Alone I got home around 6:30 today. And man, it was hot. The house hit 84 degrees Fahrenheit. So I turned on the AC right away. I grabbed a drink from the fridge and sank into my rocking chair. But five minutes later, I was still sweating. That's when it hit me. The AC wasn't cooling at all. Now I wasn't just hot. I was getting cranky. I walked to the leasing office. But they were already closed. I knew I could call maintenance. But it was getting late. And honestly, I hate being a bother. So I got stuck in my own head. So I tried asking the neighbor group. My AC doesn't seem to be cooling. Anyone have any advice? And boom. So many people jumped in. Mine too! Mine too! So one neighbor stepped up. He gathered everyone's unit numbers. Then he sent in one maintenance request for all of us. Half an hour later, someone showed up. Turns out the condensation had backed up. Fixed in a minute. And we made a deal in the group. Next time, we tell each other right away. Day 43 · 618 Mid-Year Sale? Hey, do you guys know what day it is? Today's the last day of the 618 mid-year sale. I just paid the balance on my pre-order. And honestly, I was scared I'd messed up the math. These days, you just can't figure out the discount rules. I checked it three times. And I'm good with numbers, especially money. But I still feel like I didn't get every discount. Honestly, what was wrong with the old fifty percent off? You buy one thing, and they throw in a pile of free gifts. But here's the thing. I'm a minimalist. I really don't like hoarding stuff. And yet, I still want to save a little money. So here I am, staring at my cart, kind of stuck. Did I actually save anything? Honestly, I have no idea.

    6 min
  2. Day 42 · Don't Suffer Alone

    3d ago

    Day 42 · Don't Suffer Alone

    A slow English story about My AC stopped cooling at night, and the neighbor group chat fixed it together. 14 simple sentences. Word by word. About 16 minutes. 📝 Today's sentences ① I got home around 6:30 today. And man, it was hot. ② The house hit 84 degrees Fahrenheit. So I turned on the AC right away. ③ I grabbed a drink from the fridge and sank into my rocking chair. ④ But five minutes later, I was still sweating. ⑤ That's when it hit me. The AC wasn't cooling at all. ⑥ Now I wasn't just hot. I was getting cranky. ⑦ I walked to the leasing office. But they were already closed. ⑧ I knew I could call maintenance. But it was getting late. ⑨ And honestly, I hate being a bother. So I got stuck in my own head. ⑩ So I tried asking the neighbor group. My AC doesn't seem to be cooling. Anyone have any advice? ⑪ And boom. So many people jumped in. Mine too! Mine too! ⑫ So one neighbor stepped up. He gathered everyone's unit numbers. Then he sent in one maintenance request for all of us. ⑬ Half an hour later, someone showed up. Turns out the condensation had backed up. Fixed in a minute. ⑭ And we made a deal in the group. Next time, we tell each other right away. 🔑 Vocabulary • degrees Fahrenheit /dɪˈɡriːz ˈfærənhaɪt/ • cranky /ˈkræŋki/ • being a bother /ˈbiːɪŋ ə ˈbɑːðər/ • leasing office /ˈliːsɪŋ ˈɔːfɪs/ • maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/ • got stuck in my own head /ɡɑːt stʌk ɪn maɪ oʊn hed/ • jumped in /dʒʌmpt ɪn/ • stepped up /stept ʌp/ • backed up /bækt ʌp/ • turned on /tɜːrnd ɑːn/ • neighbor /ˈneɪbər/ • sweating /ˈswetɪŋ/ • gathered /ˈɡæðərd/ • condensation /ˌkɑːndenˈseɪʃən/ • showed up /ʃoʊd ʌp/ • rocking chair /ˈrɑːkɪŋ tʃer/ 🎧 New episode every weekday Subscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

    16 min
  3. Day 41 · Tasting It Online

    4d ago

    Day 41 · Tasting It Online

    A slow English story about Craving crawfish at the supermarket, I made a deal with myself — and ended up eating it online. 13 simple sentences. Word by word. About ? minutes. 📝 Today's sentences ① My friends, I have a question for you. Is it crawfish season back in China right now? ② I've been in Austin, Texas lately. The most famous local supermarket here is H-E-B. ③ There's one almost every two miles. And in summer, crawfish is their thing. ④ They set up a little stall out front. Selling crawfish for a limited time. ⑤ I parked my car, and the smell hit me right away. ⑥ I really wanted some. But I wasn't sure how clean they were. ⑦ So I made a deal with myself. If they're still here when I come out. I'll get some. ⑧ I went in and grabbed milk, bread, steak, and some fruit. ⑨ When I came out, they were already sold out. ⑩ I felt disappointed and relieved at the same time. ⑪ Back home, I scrolled through tons of crawfish videos. So many flavors, from Changsha to Suzhou. ⑫ I told myself I'd pretty much tasted every flavor already. Then I saw someone drop instant noodles right into the crawfish sauce. ⑬ So I dug into my own instant noodles. And honestly, it tasted pretty good too. 🔑 Vocabulary • crawfish season /ˈkrɔːfɪʃ ˈsiːzən/ • a little stall /ə ˈlɪtl stɔːl/ • limited time /ˈlɪmɪtɪd taɪm/ • made a deal /meɪd ə diːl/ • relieved /rɪˈliːvd/ • instant noodles /ˈɪnstənt ˈnuːdlz/ • dug into /dʌɡ ˈɪntuː/ • famous /ˈfeɪməs/ • miles /maɪlz/ • smell /smel/ • grabbed /ɡræbd/ • sold out /soʊld aʊt/ • scrolled /skroʊld/ • flavors /ˈfleɪvərz/ • sauce /sɔːs/ 🎧 New episode every weekday Subscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

    16 min
  4. Day 40 · Champions

    6d ago

    Day 40 · Champions

    A slow English story about We couldn't afford a ticket, so we crowded around one screen — and watched the Knicks win it all. 11 simple sentences. Word by word. About ? minutes. 📝 Today's sentences ① Tonight could be the night. Game 5. New York leads the series three to one. ② None of us got a ticket. They were way too expensive. So we squeeze in front of one screen. ③ For most of the game, New York is down. At one point, down by sixteen. It looks over. ④ Then Brunson takes over! Thirteen points in a row! We can't believe it! ⑤ We are all on the edge of our seats. ⑥ The final minute. New York is ahead. Nobody says a word. ⑦ The buzzer sounds! Ninety-four to ninety! The Knicks win! ⑧ They did it! The Knicks are champions! Their first title in fifty-three years! ⑨ We jump up and start yelling! The whole room goes crazy! ⑩ Outside, car horns everywhere. People pour into the streets. ⑪ And tonight, the whole city says it together. Congratulations. The Knicks! You are the champions! Brunson, MVP! The king of New York! 🔑 Vocabulary • way too expensive /weɪ tuː ɪkˈspensɪv/ • take over /teɪk ˈoʊvər/ • in a row /ɪn ə roʊ/ • on the edge of our seats /ɑːn ðə edʒ əv aʊr siːts/ • pour into /pɔːr ˈɪntuː/ • champions /ˈtʃæmpiənz/ • Game 5 /ɡeɪm faɪv/ • squeeze /skwiːz/ • down by sixteen /daʊn baɪ sɪksˈtiːn/ • buzzer /ˈbʌzər/ • car horns /kɑːr hɔːrnz/ • Finals MVP /ˈfaɪnəlz em viː piː/ • king of New York /kɪŋ əv nuː jɔːrk/ 🎧 New episode every weekday Subscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.

    15 min
  5. Day 30–34 · Last Week Review

    6d ago

    Day 30–34 · Last Week Review

    Day 30 · Cheers to Right Now This weekend, I went to my friend's housewarming party. Here's the thing. She didn't buy the place. She rented it. But it's still a big deal. Ten years in the US. This is her first time living in a house. Honestly, international student life isn't all that fancy. You're moving abroad, learning English, finding a job, then the H1B lottery. She kept going year after year. Reapplying, waiting, refusing to quit. This year, she finally got picked. The H1B came through. She said she's safe for three years now. She really deserves this moment. Honestly, anyone who keeps going knows this feeling. So I made this episode for her. We raised our glasses. Cheers to right now. Day 31 · Beta is Here Hey, are you guys ready? And I've got some good news for you today. First of all, you guys are crazy. I mean, I never expected this many people to love TingMate. So I started working on the app launch. But honestly, the process is slower than I thought. So in the meantime, I built something for you. Yeah! I built a beta version of TingMate. There's a web version, an iOS test app, and an Android install file. I only have limited spots for beta testing. I'd love to hear what you think. Your feedback will literally shape the real launch. So if you want to give it a try, check today's cover. Add me on WeChat. The ID's already on the cover and show notes. Thank you for being here for each other. Day 32 · That "Morning" Monday morning, and I slept in. I drank way too much at the housewarming last night. I can't really drink much, but I just love a good drink. I threw on some clothes and rushed out the door. Just my luck, the elevator was slow. I snuck into the office, hoping no one would notice. Then I saw him. My boss was right by the door. He looked up and said, "Morning!" Real chill. I forced a smile and said, "Morning!" back. Just as chill. I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop. My heart was still racing. He glanced at the clock. Then he looked back at me, still smiling. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to. I got the message. Loud and clear. I started typing twice as fast. Day 33 · What a Morning Listen, I'm not kidding. This just happened this morning. I woke up pretty early. So I planned to walk my dog for a bit longer. We were on the lakeside path around the apartment. All of a sudden, I saw a snake right on the path. My neighbors actually keep talking about snakes in the group chat. But I didn't really take it seriously. That snake was about five feet long. My dog and the snake just froze. I stood there watching them. Dead silent. I even thought about calling 911. Then the snake stuck its tongue out at me. Oh my gosh, what do I do? Is it venomous? But then she just slithered away. What a way to start the day. Day 34 · What a Way to End the Night Listen, I'm so done with this. So I just got pulled over on my way home. I was driving back from dinner at my friend's place. I came up to this stop sign at the corner. And I stopped. I swear, I stopped. But the cop said I didn't come to a full stop. I've been in the States for three years now. And this is the third time. Like, the third! Every single time, it's the middle of the night. There's literally no other car on the road. I mean, you'd see the headlights from a mile away. Are these cops just trying to hit their quota or what? And now I owe, like, three hundred bucks. And to make matters worse, my insurance is gonna go up. And the cop even said, "Drive safe, have a good night." Honestly, what a way to end the night.

    5 min
  6. Day 35–39 · Gaokao Week Review

    Jun 13

    Day 35–39 · Gaokao Week Review

    Day 35 · The Call Before Gaokao Listen, my nephew called me this weekend. He told me his gaokao starts tomorrow morning. And he wanted me to give him a pep talk. Honestly, I was kind of touched. He thought of me at a moment like this. But I didn't really know what to say. I mean, it's the gaokao. I just wanted him to take it easy. So I said, I'm so glad you called me. You've really grown these past three years. I genuinely like who you've become. To me, you already aced your gaokao. Then we started joking about his freshman year. So rebellious. His junior-year crush. His senior-year all-nighter. He laughed. I could feel him relax. We talked a little longer, then hung up. Day 36 · The Gaokao Year This morning, the streets felt unusually quiet. No one was honking. No one rushing. It hit me. Today is the day. I drove past a school on my way to work. Parents were everywhere, holding flowers. And just like that, I was eighteen again. And just like that, I was back in that exam room. My pencil was shaking. My heart was pounding. Part of me just wanted it over. And part of me wished I had more time. Honestly, that was almost twenty years ago. But it still feels so close. Time really does fly. I hope they ace it. Every single one of them. Day 37 · The Class Dinner Night It just turned Wednesday. I'm thinking about them again. Today is their last day of gaokao. Probably their only one ever. Just one more exam. English. They'll walk out of that exam room by five. All over. And just like that, they're free. Free from high school. They'll try to keep their cool. And head home to check their answers. Within an hour, the group chats will blow up. Their last class dinner is tonight. They'll sing their class song first. Then someone will put on a pop song. Some girls crying. Some boys way too loud. They'll pretend to drink like grown-ups. Please. Take a million photos. This is what youth looks like. Day 38 · Just Ask Yesterday was the last day of gaokao. Today, the house is too quiet. He came home past midnight. From the class dinner. With a hangover. It's almost noon. He's still sleeping in. Door closed. There's no rushing this morning. No alarm. No backpack by the door. Mom keeps walking past his door. Listening for any sound. She wants to knock. But doesn't. He wants to ask. But doesn't. It's not the kind of morning you see on TV. No tears. No big hugs. Finally, his door opens. He walks out. His hair is a mess. They eat in silence. Nobody mentions yesterday. Nobody asks the question. Then he says it. Just ask. Probably 420. Enough for a third-tier university. And just like that. Mom and Dad finally let out a breath. Day 39 · Part Time or Travel? My nephew called me Thursday afternoon and said his gaokao went good. He said: I want to do part-time as a delivery guy this summer. Then I can save up for university. Actually, I was so proud, and it reminded me of my own summer long time ago. I was handing out flyers on the street the whole summer. Honestly, I always envied my classmates who got to travel after graduation. So I told him. If you don't mind, I have an offer for you. I can cover 200 yuan a day. You can use it to backpack across China. Only one condition. Study on my TingMate app one hour a day, two whole months. And send me a recording every day. He paused. Then said he never thought about traveling. But it sounds kind of cool. Less than an hour later, I got tons of messages from him. RedNote travel guides. Backpacking routes. He even sent me one. How university students can travel to America. And the most surprising one is his first English recording. I laughed. Haha.

    5 min

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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Slow English stories for intermediate learners. One short story, told gently — then taken apart, piece by piece, until every word makes sense. Quiet listening practice for anyone learning English.

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