You’ll practise listening comprehension today and learn some new vocabulary with Jose’s possibly true story. Welcome to Aprender Inglés with Reza and Craig

Voice message from Gabby who has passed CAE
– Get better soon – I’m sure you are by now and we’re sorry it took so long for us to include your message.
“Cheer me up”
Whatsoever (adverb) – used for emphasis – I have no doubt whatsoever that Gabi will be up and about very soon.
“Did you have any idea that Gabi passed her CAE exam?” – “None whatsoever.”

Jose’s true story (maybe…you decide) Jose’s first true story was in https://inglespodcast.com/171

How to tell a story in English: https://inglespodcast.com/137

Vocabulary
To lick – lamer
Rope – cuerda
To wag its tail – menear la cola
To hide – hid
To tie (up) – tied – to untie (atar/desatar)
To ring the bell – tocar el timbre

Questions

1. What was Jose going to buy when he found the dog?
2. Was Captain a purebred?
3. What did the dog do when Jose untied him?
4. What did José find in the cap
5. How long did the dog live with Jose and his family?
6. Why do you think Jose’s parents let Captain stay with them?

Jose’s true story….or is it?

CAPTAIN  
I’m going to read you a story that happened to me in 1965 when I was 12 years old.
I’m not going to tell you if this story is true or not. You will judge at the end. Please, forgive my mistakes. I’m still learning English.
Well, there I go. (Here I go)
This story is about my dog. His name was Captain. I’m going to use the pronoun “he” instead of “it”, for referring to Captain. He wasn’t a purebred dog but he was the most lovely dog in the world.

I found Captain when I was twelve. I was living in the apartment at the beach, called El Saler, in Valencia, in summer time with my parents and brothers.

One day I was walking from the apartment to the only grocery store nearby to buy a loaf of bread when I saw him. The dog was tied (to) a tree with a rope around his neck, laid down on the floor sad and bored, almost slept (asleep) . There also was a blue cap, like sailors usually wear, hanged (hanging) on the log of the tree where the dog was tied.

I stopped for a while looking for (at) him and suddenly the dog stood up and started wagging his tail, raised its ears and stuck its tongue out. It seemed that he liked me. I would have liked to take the dog as a pet but I knew that my parents didn’t like pets in the apartment nor (at) home, so I continued on my way turning around my head continuously for looking (to look – infinitive of purpose) at the dog while I was getting away. The dog was also looking at me until I disappeared behind a curve of the path.

When I was coming back to the apartment I hid behind the trees to observe the dog. He was as before, tied, laid (lying) down, sad and bored. However, the dog didn’t stand up nor showed any joy with anybody who passed or stopped for looking (to look) at him as he did with me before.

Then I decided to leave my hiding place and keep walking the path to the apartment. When I was passing at the dog sight (within sight of the dog) he stood up quickly and started to wag his tail again showing me even more joy than before. It seemed that the dog loved me in a special way.

I couldn’t help to approach (approaching) him and I touched his head. The dog licked my bare legs with its (his?) tongue continuously. I decided to untie him just to release him. When the dog felt free he started to run around me jumping happily. I felt happier and happier.

Then I took the blue cap and tried to put it on his head just for playing (to play) with him. Then I realized that inside of the cap, there was a small piece of paper handwritten that said something like this: “If you have decided to release the dog it’s because you like him. Please take care of him. His name is Captain and he is four months old. You won’t regret (it).”
Then I decided to take the dog and ask permission to my parents once more for having (to have) a dog as a pet.
We both arrived to (at) the apartment. I was ready to take NO for an answer.

Captain and I were stood in front of the door. At (In) the end I encouraged myself and rang the bell. Five seconds later my father opened the door and saw me with a dog. He was in silence. I was quiet and scared. I had my eyes completely opened and my mouth was closed strongly (firmly).

My father was (got) angrier and angrier. I could see his face. He was looking at me without saying a word. Then my mom appeared and saw the complete picture and could imagine quickly what was happening there.

We four were looking at each other in silence. The dog started to lick my feet. My parents observed the dog surprisingly. Then I said to them: ”His name is Captain and he is four months old”. My father asked: “and?”
I said: “we would like to be together” and I added: “If you agree, of course”.

My parents looked at each other again and then both looked at the dog who was likewise looking at them as if he was understanding every word that we were saying.

Captain was so lovely that my parents couldn’t say No. Thus (-too formal. So), the dog lived with my family for 15 years until he died.

Well, that’s all. I hope you like it.
Bye bye.

Answers
1. What was Jose going to buy when he found the dog? – a loaf of bread
2. Was Captain a purebred? – No, a mongrel.
3. What did the dog do when Jose untied him? – He ran around him jumping happily.
4. What did José find in the cap – a handwritten note
5. How long did the dog live with Jose and his family? – for 15 years
6. Why do you think Jose’s parents let Captain stay with them? – because he was irresistibly sweet and they felt sorry for him?

Infinitive of purpose
However the dog didn’t stand up nor showed any joy with anybody who passed or stopped for looking (to look) at him as he did with me before.

I continued my way turning around my head continuously for looking (to look) at the dog.

Then I took the blue cap and tried to put it on his head just for playing (to play) with him.

my mouth was closed strongly. – my mouth was tightly closed.

You won’t regret (it). – object

…and now it’s your turn to practise your English. Do you have a true story to tell us?
Send us a voice message or an mp3 file by email. https://www.speakpipe.com/inglespodcast
Send us your sound files by email to [email protected] or [email protected].

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On next week’s episode: Phrasal Verbs You Can Separate

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