Watch, click, listen and repeat. This episode helps you understand useful phrases about contractors, staying somewhere, lies, family conversations and relationship conflict — without typing anything.
Audio note: the Play and Slow buttons are set to American English and prioritize natural US voices when available on your device/browser.
1 · WatchOpen the episode or use the scene shortcuts.
2 · ClickDo the story questions and vocabulary support.
3 · NoticePay attention to repeated chunks and collocations.
4 · RepeatUse Play / Slow / Pause to practice pronunciation.
I opened the episode.
I checked the story.
I practiced the chunks.
I repeated the phrases.
1. Episode 3 · quick recall
Click the ideas from Episode 3. More than one answer is correct.
Quick story reminder
The bathroom is being remodeled, so Derek needs a place to shower and stay. Mia goes to her parents’ house but lies to Derek about their answer. Later, she meets Chad from high school, and the situation becomes more complicated.
2. Watch again · scene shortcuts
Use the shortcuts to review the story in small parts.
Tip: Watch one scene, come back here, then click the exercises. Small pieces are easier to remember.
3. Preview vocabulary · tap if you need help
Before the quiz, check the story words from the episode. Open only the cards you need.
general contractor / contractor
A contractor is a person/company hired to do building, repair or renovation work.
The contractors are working on the bathroom.
remodel the bathroom
Remodel = renovate or change a room to make it new/better.
They are remodeling the bathroom.
What’s going on?
What’s going on? = What is happening?
You should know what’s going on.
take someone in
Take someone in = allow someone to stay in your home, usually because they need help.
If they don’t take me in, I’ll stay in a hotel.
stay at someone’s place
Stay at someone’s place = sleep or spend time in that person’s home.
Can I stay at your place?
divorce someone
Divorce someone = legally end a marriage.
I think I will divorce him.
high school sweetheart
A high school sweetheart is someone you dated or loved when you were in high school.
You were my high school sweetheart.
cheat on someone
Cheat on someone = be romantically/sexually involved with another person while you are in a relationship.
Are you cheating on Derek?
blackmail someone
Blackmail someone = threaten to show private information unless the person gives you money or does what you want.
Chad tries to blackmail Mia.
that’s weird / that’s strange
Weird and strange mean unusual or not normal.
Really? That’s weird. That’s strange.
far away from
Far away from = not close to a place.
Your house is far away from the office.
pregnant / the father
Pregnant = expecting a baby. The father = the baby’s dad.
I’m pregnant. My husband is the father.
Mini tip: You do not need to memorize all of these. Open the cards only when a word blocks your understanding.
4. Story quiz · click the best answer
Choose the answer that matches the episode.
1. Why can’t Derek shower at home?
2. Where is Mia going to stay?
3. What does Mia’s mother suggest?
4. Does Mia’s mother allow Derek to come?
5. What does Mia tell Derek?
6. Who is Chad?
7. What does Chad want from Mia?
8. What does Mia’s mother ask at the end?
5. Chunk Bingo · what did you hear?
Click only the phrases from Episode 3.
6. Collocation Builder · choose the natural phrase
Click the option that sounds natural in English.
1. Contractors are...
2. Derek needs...
3. Mia will...
4. Her parents can...
5. Mia meets...
6. Mia’s mom asks if she is...
7. Character opinions · click the best reaction
Practice understanding the characters’ actions and useful opinion language.
Mia’s mother says Derek can come, but Mia tells Derek they said no.
Chad threatens to show pictures unless Mia gives him money.
Derek asks Mia if he can go with her because he has nowhere else to go.
Mia’s mother asks, “Are you cheating on Derek?”
Useful opinion sentence: “I see your point, but I think she is being dishonest.”
8. Useful language · natural English upgrade
Click the better sentence.
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9. Pronunciation Arcade · Play / Slow / Pause
Listen and repeat. Focus on rhythm, not perfection.
The contractors are working on the bathroom.CON-tractors · working on
You should know what’s going on.what’s going on = what is happening
Are you for real?natural reaction phrase
Can I stay at your place?stay at + place
I’ll let you know.very common chunk
That’s weird. That’s strange.reaction to surprising information
You can ask them yourself.yourself = personally
Are you cheating on your husband?cheat on + person
10. Final review · choose the useful sentence
Choose the sentence that sounds more natural.
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Note: Number 3 has the same text intentionally: it is already natural. Click the second option as the confirmation.
11. Scene guide · key lines
This is a short scene guide with important lines from the episode. Use it to review vocabulary without reading a long transcript.
Scene 1 · Contractors
Derek: “The general contractors are here. They are working on the bathroom.”
Mia: “You should know what’s going on.”
Derek needs to shower before work.
Scene 2 · Derek needs help
Derek asks if he can go with Mia.
Mia says she will ask her parents.
Derek may need to stay in a hotel.
Scene 3 · At work
Robert notices Derek didn’t shower.
Derek asks if he can stay at Robert’s place to shower.
Robert jokes about Derek’s marriage.
Scene 4 · Mia and her mother
Mia says Derek is not a very good husband.
Her mother suggests she should help him or get a job.
Her mother says Derek can come to the house.
Scene 5 · Mia lies
Mia tells Derek her parents said he cannot stay.
Derek says that is weird because her parents like him.
Mia says he can ask them himself.
Scene 6 · Chad
Mia meets Chad, her high school sweetheart.
Chad wants Mia to be with him.
Then he threatens her and asks for money.
Scene 7 · Back home
Mia tells her mother she met Gabrielle, not Chad.
She says Derek is staying with a friend.
Her mother asks if she is cheating on Derek.
Answer key
Open only after trying the activities
Quick recall: contractors; Derek needs a shower; Mia’s mother says Derek can come; Mia lies; Mia meets Chad; Mia’s mother suspects cheating.
Story quiz: 1 contractors; 2 parents; 3 get a job/help Derek; 4 yes; 5 parents said no; 6 high school sweetheart; 7 blackmail/money; 8 cheating question.
Chunk Bingo: What’s going on?; Are you for real?; I’ll let you know; Can I stay at your place?; That’s weird/strange; You can ask them yourself; I’m a married woman now; I don’t want anything serious; I’m not a toy.
Collocations: work on the bathroom; a place to shower; let him know; take him in; friend from high school; cheat on Derek.