Show Notes
A slow English story about Halfway through 2026 already, looking back at the year's goals and the one unexpected win. 15 simple sentences. Word by word. About 17 minutes. 📝 Today's sentences ① Someone left a comment on my latest podcast episode today. ② She wrote, "Wow, half of 2026 is already gone, just like that." ③ Quick note for the folks using my app: I also have a podcast. ④ It's called TingMate too, on the Xiaoyuzhou app and the Apple Podcasts app. ⑤ Long story short, that comment really made me stop and think. ⑥ Time flies, so I looked back at my goals for this year. ⑦ Land an offer from a dream company? I actually got it. Nice! ⑧ Work out twice a week, sleep before midnight? Almost never. ⑨ Read a book a month, take a trip abroad? Nope, neither. ⑩ And honestly, a bunch of other plans never happened either. ⑪ But there was one surprise win: my TingMate app and podcast. ⑫ And that one win honestly makes up for all the misses. ⑬ Thanks for all your support. It really means a lot to me. ⑭ I know I'm pretty good at complimenting myself! Hope you are too. ⑮ I've still got half the year to catch up. I'm a driven person, after all. 🔑 Vocabulary • episode /ˈepɪˌsoʊd/ • left a comment /left ə ˈkɑːment/ • long story short /ˌlɔːŋ ˈstɔːri ʃɔːrt/ • stop and think /stɑːp ən θɪŋk/ • makes up for /meɪks ʌp fɔːr/ • means a lot /miːnz ə ˈlɑːt/ • complimenting myself /ˈkɑːmplɪmentɪŋ maɪˈself/ • catch up /kætʃ ʌp/ 🎧 New episode every weekday Subscribe so you don't miss the next sentence.
More from TingMate · English Learning
📝 Today's sentences ① I went to Costco again. ② And I bought a huge box of strawberries. ③ It looked like such a good deal. ④ But it's just the two of us. ⑤ There's no way we can finish it. ⑥ Half of it went bad in the fridge. ⑦ I do this every single time. ⑧ I know it's a trap, but I can't help it. ⑨ The big packs are always cheaper per unit. ⑩ It feels like I'm losing money if I don't. ⑪ But I always end up wasting more. ⑫ And I'll do the exact same thing next time. ⑬ I guess I just never learn.
📝 Today's sentences ① My hair is getting long again. ② But I keep avoiding the haircut. ③ Getting one here is expensive. ④ It's like sixty or seventy bucks, before tip. ⑤ And it's kind of a gamble. ⑥ They don't always know how to cut Asian hair. ⑦ Last time, I came home and fixed it myself. ⑧ So I'd rather just wait. ⑨ And get it all done back home. ⑩ It's cheaper there, and they do it right. ⑪ But you know how I am. ⑫ Some things I just save for home. ⑬ So now I've got one more excuse to fly home.
📝 Today's sentences ① I was at the store today, using self-checkout. ② I scanned a few things and bagged them. ③ Then the machine started beeping at me. ④ It kept saying, unexpected item in the bagging area. ⑤ But I didn't do anything wrong. ⑥ I took it out and put it back. ⑦ It still wouldn't work. ⑧ The line behind me kept getting longer. ⑨ I felt like everyone was staring at me. ⑩ I was so embarrassed. ⑪ Finally, I had to wave down an employee. ⑫ She tapped one button, and it was fine. ⑬ Next time, I'm just going with a real cashier.
📝 Today's sentences ① I've been back in Austin for a few days now. ② And I finally figured out what I miss most. ③ It's not the California sunshine. ④ It's the little café right by my old place. ⑤ Back there, it was within walking distance. ⑥ I could just shuffle over in my slippers. ⑦ Here, everything is a drive. ⑧ If I want a coffee, I have to get on the road. ⑨ That's a half hour round trip. ⑩ So now I just make it at home. ⑪ But it's not the same. ⑫ Maybe it's not really about the coffee. ⑬ It's the whole way of life that came with it.
📝 Today's sentences ① I just landed back in Austin. ② The heat hit me the second I stepped outside. ③ It's like walking straight into a wall. ④ Three weeks of Bay Area weather, gone just like that. ⑤ And I already miss it. ⑥ I got in my car and cranked up the AC all the way. ⑦ On the drive home, I kept asking myself why. ⑧ Why do I keep doing this to myself? ⑨ But deep down, I already know the answer. ⑩ There's no state income tax in Texas. ⑪ And my rent here is about half the Bay Area price. ⑫ So I wiped the sweat off and reminded myself. ⑬ This is what I signed up for. ⑭ Maybe I'll get used to it in a few days. ⑮ I'm here now, but my heart hasn't caught up yet.