SPEAKER_01 0:06

Hello and welcome back to your English Five a Day, the English Like a Native podcast. This is your short daily podcast that will help you to increase your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and feel a bit more confident with the English language. My name is Anna, and today we are on week twelve, day three of our journey following Gabriel as he journeys across the UK. Yesterday, Gabriel was reflecting on his journey when everything changed. Today we follow him as he rushes to the hospital, facing a situation that feels overwhelming, uncertain, and deeply emotional. Supporting materials for this season are available at www.joineelan.com forward slash plus. There you'll find free grammar guides that help you dive a little deeper into the technical language, as well as options to continue your learning with the full book available in digital or print, and a guided study pack with comprehension questions and writing tasks. If you've been enjoying the story and you want to take your English further, then everything is there for you. Now, let's begin, as we always do, with a snapshot of what's to come. As Gabriel processes the news, the situation feels nightmarish and deeply devastating. He becomes emotionally numb, struggling to react while imagining how shattering this must be for Sophie. The scale of the moment feels almost monumental, far beyond anything he has experienced before. Okay, it's time for the vocabulary breakdown. We start with the word nightmarish nightmarish N I G H T M A R I S Hightmarish. If something is described as nightmarish, then it's extremely frightening or distressing. For example, it felt like a nightmarish situation. Next we have devastating devastating DE VAS T A T I N G devastating. If something is devastating then it's causing great shock, sadness or destruction. For example, the news was devastating. Next we have numb. Yes, it has a silent B at the end. Numb If you are numb, then you are unable to feel emotions because of shock. For example, he felt numb after hearing what had happened. Next we have shattering shattering S H A T T E R I N G Shattering. If something is shattering, it's emotionally overwhelming or deeply upsetting. For example, it was a shattering experience. Finally, monumental monumental M O N U M E N T A L Monumental If something is monumental then it's extremely large or important in scale. For example, it felt like a monumental moment in his life. Were any of those items new to you? Well, listen out for them as they will appear naturally in today's story. In a way, Gabriel felt that it was like being in Liverpool for the first time. The situation was overwhelming and it was hard to take it all in. But this time it was on a monumental scale. He didn't have any idea how serious Sophie's parents' condition was. He hadn't asked when Sophie called, only wanting to reassure her that he would be there for her and not wanting to hold her up. It was a nightmarish scenario. Luckily, if that was the right word, Gabriel was still nearby, and so it was easy for him to get to the hospital. On the train from Bath Spa Station he just felt numb. He wasn't close family, so he wouldn't be allowed to see Sophie's parents. He hadn't even met them before, in fact. But he had to do something to try to counter the devastating news with some positive energy. He took out the stones that he had bought in Glastonbury Red Jasper for courage, blue lapis lazuli for wisdom, yellow citrine for hope, pink rose quartz for emotional comfort, green cornish serpentine for grounding, orange calcite for optimism, and purple amethyst for healing. He massaged them into his palm, squeezing them tightly from time to time, feeling their edges pressing into his skin. Maybe they were just ordinary stones, but perhaps he had them for a reason. It must have been shattering for Sophie to hear the news. And now another vibration on his mobile. Was it Sophie again? He squeezed the stones tight and checked. A call from an unknown number. He had to answer. He swiped the green icon, and an unfamiliar, strange sounding voice greeted him.

SPEAKER_00 6:59

Am I speaking to Gabriel Morel?

SPEAKER_01 7:02

The voice asked. Yes. Who is this? Gabriel replied.

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Hello, Gabriel. My name is Val. I'm calling from Legacy Lens in New Zealand.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

New Zealand? Gabriel asked in disbelief.

SPEAKER_00 7:15

That's right. We're a Kiwi startup going online in a couple of months and we'd like to talk to you about a travel writing position. Is now a good time to talk.

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Alright, let's pause the story there and bring today's language back into focus. I'm going to give you each target item twice with a little space in between for you to repeat out loud after me. Try to mimic my pronunciation and remember the silent bee. Here we go. Nightmarish. Nightmarish. This adjective describes something extremely frightening or distressing. Next, repeat after me, devastating. Devastating. This is something that causes great shock, sadness, or destruction. Next, numb. Numb. If you're emotionally numb, you are unable to feel any emotions because you're in shock. Next, repeat after me, shattering. Shattering. This is something that's emotionally overwhelming or deeply upsetting. Next, repeat after me, monumental. Monumental. This describes something extremely large or important in scale. Fantastic. Now these words are really powerful for describing intense emotional experiences, especially in difficult or shocking situations. And just as Gabriel is trying to process everything, something unexpected appears. Tomorrow, Gabriel arrives at the hospital and begins to confront a situation that feels completely beyond his control. That's all from me for today. If you are enjoying the story, then please take a second to leave a like, a rating, or a view, and be sure to come back again tomorrow. Until then, take care and goodbye.