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a. Caleb: Absolutely! Mr. 'Slowpoke' Johnson was my favourite.

b. Oliver: Mine was definitely 'Chatterbox' Smith! We were so naughty.

c. Oliver: Remember all the silly nicknames we had for our teachers?

a. Jasper: Wow, that sounds like a big adventure! I've only travelled with my family.

b. Jasper: Have you ever travelled abroad by yourself?

c. Harper: Yes, I went backpacking in Thailand last year. It was a bit scary but amazing.

a. Clara: There's this athlete I really admire, the marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge.

b. Clara: Exactly! He pushes himself to the limit and achieves amazing things.

c. Scarlett: Oh, I know him! He's so disciplined and determined.

a. Aurora: Sometimes I don't agree with my mum's opinions on things.

b. Lillian: Yeah, that can be difficult. It's hard when you see things differently.

c. Aurora: But we usually manage to find a compromise in the end.

a. Riley: It really is. It shows that you can overcome big challenges.

b. Morgan: Yes! But now he's back on stage. That's incredible resilience.

c. Riley: Remember that actor who had a serious accident? He couldn't walk for a long time.

a. Avery: Oh yes! The one with the colourful flowers? It looked fantastic.

b. Taylor: You know, I was really proud when I finished that big painting. It took ages!

c. Taylor: Thanks! I was so happy with how it turned out.

a. Skyler: Did you hear about Mark? He travelled around the world last year.

b. Skyler: I can imagine. Seeing so many different cultures must be amazing.

c. Jordan: Yes! He said it completely changed his perspective on everything.

a. Amelia: Mine was really friendly and helpful. She taught me a lot.

b. Eliza: That's good. A good boss makes a big difference in your first job.

c. Eliza: Was your first boss nice? Mine was quite strict but fair.

a. Elijah: Mostly nature at the moment, but I want to try portraits too.

b. Elijah: I joined a photography club. I'm learning how to take better pictures.

c. Leo: Oh, that sounds interesting! Do you take photos of nature or people?

a. Miles: Oh no! Which subject was causing you problems?

b. Caleb: My professor offered extra help, and I decided to try harder. I'm glad I did.

c. Caleb: There was a time I almost quit university. I was really struggling with one subject.

d. Caleb: It was advanced maths. I thought I just wasn't good enough.

e. Miles: So what made you stay?

a. Amelia: It was. It felt like they really saw what I was trying to create.

b. Harper: That must have been encouraging.

c. Harper: Oh, how did it go? Were you nervous?

d. Amelia: So nervous! But the leader pointed out specific things they really liked about my characters.

e. Amelia: I finally showed my short story to that writing group I joined.

a. Aurora: Sometimes I secretly hope that I can become really good at playing the piano.

b. Hazel: That would be a great feeling. Is it a secret ambition?

c. Aurora: I know, but I imagine playing in front of people without being nervous.

d. Hazel: You've been practicing a lot! You're already quite good.

e. Aurora: Kind of. It feels a bit scary to say out loud.

a. Grandma: Oh, the one you were working so hard on? You were so excited.

b. Grandma: You seem a little down today, dear. What's on your mind?

c. Nora: Yeah, and now it's over. I wasn't ready for it to end.

d. Grandma: I understand that feeling. Sometimes good things finish too soon.

e. Nora: It's just that the school play finished last week. I really enjoyed being part of it.

a. Dad: Oh, yes! You'd always say, "The doctor will fix it," and picture a man in a white coat.

b. Dad: Absolutely. Experience teaches you that skills and knowledge don't depend on gender.

c. Rowan: Yeah, I learned that one pretty quickly as I grew up.

d. Rowan: Dad, remember when I was little, I thought all doctors were men?

e. Rowan: It's funny now. So many of the best doctors I know are women.

a. Reese: You know what my biggest risk was? Moving to this new city without a job.

b. Lillian: Wow, that's brave! You didn't know anyone here, did you?

c. Reese: It did. Sometimes you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

d. Reese: Nope. Just a suitcase and a little bit of hope. It was quite risky.

e. Lillian: And now you have a good job and a nice apartment. It worked out well.

a. Nolan: Exactly. Now they're gone, and I have so many things I wish I knew.

b. Henry: It's tough when that happens. It makes you think about the present.

c. Nolan: I regret not asking more questions when my grandparents told stories about their lives.

d. Henry: That's understandable. Sometimes you don't realize how important those stories are.

e. Nolan: It does. I try to listen more carefully now.

a. Harper: Yes! I didn't have one, and she just offered to share hers, even though it was small.

b. Aurora: Oh, when it suddenly started pouring?

c. Harper: I would have been! It was a small thing, but so kind.

d. Aurora: That was thoughtful. You must have been soaked without it.

e. Harper: I'll never forget when that girl shared her umbrella with me in the rain.

a. Skyler: It's always like that with good holidays, isn't it?

b. Riley: I was so sad when our holiday in Italy came to an end. It went by so fast.

c. Riley: It was! I felt like I could have stayed there for another month.

d. Riley: Definitely. I just wasn't ready to come back home.

e. Skyler: Oh, I remember you talking about that trip! It sounded amazing.

Fill in the blanks to complete the conversation.

A. Did you say or do anything embarrassing?

B. But hey, at least we tried something new, right?

C. It's like your body and mind are saying, "What are you doing?!"

D. Everyone was dressed so elegantly, and I felt a bit… plain.

E. But I was so aware of everything I was doing. I couldn't really relax.

F. But I was so scared of falling, and everyone else seemed so experienced.

________

Toan: Hey Kien, you seem a bit quiet today. Anything on your mind?

Kien: Yeah, I was just thinking about that time I went to that really fancy restaurant with my aunt and uncle.

Toan: Oh, the one with the super strict dress code?

Kien: Exactly! I felt so out of my comfort zone.

Toan: I can see that. Sometimes those kinds of places can feel a bit intimidating.

Kien: It wasn't just the clothes. The way they talked, the way they used their cutlery… I felt like I didn't know any of the rules.

Toan:

Kien: Luckily, no major disasters!

Toan: I know that feeling. I felt completely out of my comfort zone when I tried rock climbing for the first time.

Kien: Rock climbing? Really? That sounds adventurous!

Toan: It was! My muscles were shaking the whole time.

Kien: So, even doing something fun can feel uncomfortable at first.

Toan: Absolutely.

Kien: Right! I just wanted to be back in my usual jeans and eating noodles.

Toan: I get it. Sometimes the familiar is just easier.

Kien: Even if it was a bit awkward.

Toan: Exactly. You never know what you might discover you like if you don't step out of that zone sometimes.

Kien: True. Maybe my next fancy dinner will be less stressful!

Fill in the blanks to complete the conversation.

A. It felt wild and natural. It's a feeling I've never forgotten.

B. I remember the first time I ever saw the sea. We went on a family trip.

C. The water was cold but so refreshing. I remember feeling so free, just floating there.

D. Life is full of new experiences waiting for you. Just keep your eyes open.

E. They teach you something new about the world and yourself.

F. When we finally arrived, I saw that huge blue water… It was amazing.

_________

Lucy: Grandma, you always tell such interesting stories. What's one thing you did when you were younger that you'll never forget?

Grandma: Hmm, let me think.

Lucy: You hadn't seen the sea before?

Grandma: No, we lived quite far inland.

Lucy: Wow! What did it feel like?

Grandma: It felt so vast and powerful, Lucy. The smell of salt and the sound of the waves… I was speechless.

Lucy: That sounds incredible. Did you go swimming?

Grandma: Of course!

Lucy: That sounds so different from our swimming pool.

Grandma: It was.

Lucy: Have you been back to the sea many times since then?

Grandma: Yes, a few times. But that first time was special. It opened my eyes to a whole new world.

Lucy: It's amazing how one experience can stay with you.

Grandma: It is, dear. Those first times often do.

Lucy: I hope I have a moment like that soon.

Grandma: You will, Lucy.

Lucy: I will, Grandma. Thanks for sharing your memory.

Grandma: You're welcome, my dear. It's nice to remember those special moments.