Hello and welcome back to your English Five a Day on the English Like a Native podcast. This is your quick daily dunk into the English language so that in a fun way you can expand your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and feel more confident in English. How do we do this? Well, I tell you stories. My name is Anna, and today we're on week 12, day two of our story following Gabriel as he journeys across the UK. But we are not far off the end of his journey, so if you're just discovering this podcast now, I recommend that you go back to the first week of this season, season three. But if you decide to stay, then that's okay because every episode is useful in its own right. Yesterday Gabriel found a rare moment of peace in the Roman baths before everything suddenly changed. Today we step into reflection as Gabriel looks back over his journey, trying to make sense of everything he's experienced. Supporting materials for season three are available at www.joinelan.com forward slash plus. There you'll find free grammar guides that help you to go a little deeper into the technical language used each week, as well as options to continue your learning with the full book available in digital or print and a guided study pack with comprehensive questions and writing tasks. If you've been enjoying the story and want to take your English further, then everything is there for you. Now let's begin today's episode with a snapshot of what's to come. As Gabriel begins to look back on his journey, he tries to sum up everything he's experienced. He starts to realize what truly mattered, learning to appreciate the people and moments along the way, and wondering what he will carry forward into the next chapter of his life. Wonderful. Now, let's break down that vocabulary. We have the phrase or verb look back to look back. L O O K B A C K look back. This is to think about the past. For example, he looked back on his journey with pride. Next we have another phrase or verb sum up to sum up S U M U P. To sum up is to express the main idea briefly. For example, that moment summed up the whole experience. Next we have the verb realize realize R E A L I S E. To realize something is to become aware of that thing. For example, she realized how important that moment was. Next we have the verb appreciate appreciate A P P R E C I A T E appreciate. To appreciate something is to recognise the value of it. For example, he appreciated the kindness of the people he met. And finally, carry forward to carry forward C A R R Y carry forward F O R W A R D. This means to take something into the future and continue it. For example, he wanted to carry forward what he had learned. Wonderful. Now keep that target vocabulary in mind and listen out for it during today's story. At the spa Gabriel had been looking back over his entire journey. What had been his highlights? He'd been on the Beatles Trail in Liverpool and had a wild night out in Manchester. He remembered his embarrassment at believing the Roman ghosts in York were real, and also nearly losing his suitcase in Edinburgh. But the spirit of that city had moved him to write a poem that had got him noticed by a wider audience than just his family, friends, and acquaintances. It was something that could carry him forward in his life and adventures. He truly appreciated how warmly the people of Glasgow had welcomed him, and the highlands were absolutely breathtaking. Oh and how could he have forgotten coming down a mountain in the peak district, his boot tied on with a scarf? Now he had come to the West Country on the last leg of his trip, and he realized that he had hardly made any effort to find out what people thought about Brexit. It hadn't been at the forefront of his mind at all. That really summed up his whole experience. You don't get to know a place by talking, reading and hearing about it from a distance. You do it by actually being there and being part of it. The guys from Manchester had taken it well when he said he would support England in the football matches until they played France. In Glasgow he had joined a club where they watched French films and talked about them in French. No one had even mentioned the European Union, apart from Gabriel himself. Then Sophie, Stonehenge, Longleat, and the breakdown. Sophie's parents' car But she'd fixed the problem, hadn't she? My parents have been in a car accident Life changing words. Sophie managed to tell Gabriel that her parents were at the Bristol Royal Infirmary before she had to dash off to the train station. All Gabriel could do was promise her that he would be at the hospital when she arrived. Okay, let's pause the story there and bring today's vocabulary back into focus. I'll repeat each item twice, leaving a space for you to say each one out loud, mimicking my pronunciation, and then I'll remind you of the definition. Here goes. Repeat after me. Look back. Look back. This means to think about the past. Next, we have sum up. Sum up. This is to express the main idea briefly. Next, repeat after me. Realize. Realize. This means to become aware of something. Next, appreciate. Appreciate. This means to recognize the value of something. And finally, carry forward. Carry forward. This means to take something into the future and continue it. Wonderful. Now these phrases are useful for when you're talking about experiences, personal growth, and reflection. Now, just as Gabriel begins to understand his journey, reality interrupts. Tomorrow Gabriel faces a situation that feels overwhelming and uncertain as he rushes to the hospital, unsure of what he will find. That's all from me for today. I do hope that you found today useful and that you'll come back again tomorrow to find out what happens next. Until then, take care and goodbye.