Emma Finally Found Her Dream Home | English Listening Practice for Beginners (Slow English)

Imagine this. It's seven in the morning. You're tired. You're standing on a busy train again. The ride is long. You're thinking, I wish I lived closer to work. Yeah, me too. Hi, my friends. I'm Emma. And in this story, I'm looking for a new apartment. Not just any place, but a home that feels right. Comfortable. Calm. Mine. And while I'm on this journey, you'll hear real conversations. The kind people actually use when they're looking for a place to live. I'll speak slowly. No stress. No pressure. This is real English. Real life. So just relax, take a breath, and listen with me. All right, let's start. Hey, Emma. You look tired. Everything okay? Yeah, just another long train ride. Over an hour again this morning. That's rough. Still thinking about moving? Definitely. I just, I can't keep doing this every day. You know what? Let me help you with this. I can search for apartments online for you. Really? That would be amazing. So what kind of place are you looking for? Well, I want something closer to work, first of all. It takes so long to get there now. Of course. Shorter commute. Yeah. I mean, even 30 minutes would feel amazing. Right now, it's almost two hours door to door. Wow. Yeah, that's way too long. Okay, so closer to work. What else? I think a one-bedroom. A studio is a bit too small for me. I need a little space to relax after work. Somewhere I can read, maybe cook something simple. Sounds nice. So a one-bedroom apartment. And you like to cook? A little. I don't need a big kitchen, but some counter space would help. Noted. What about light? Noise? Oh, yes. I'd love a place with good light, big windows, and somewhere quiet, not too noisy. Quiet is important, especially after a long day. Exactly. And maybe a small balcony? That would be really nice. Not a must, but it would be lovely. A balcony. That's a great idea. You could have plants, drink coffee in the morning. That sounds perfect. Oh, and I'd like a washing machine in the apartment, not outside if possible. In-unit laundry. Got it. That saves a lot of time. Yeah. I just want it to feel comfortable, you know? Not fancy, just calm. I get it. Home should feel like home. I think that's everything. All right. Let's take a look. One bedroom. Close to your office. Quiet area. Hmm. This one looks nice. And here's another one with big windows. Oh, and this one has a small balcony. Can I see? Of course. Hmm. I really like the third one. The one with the balcony and big windows. It feels...right. Yeah, it does look cozy. Would you like to see it in person? Yes, definitely. Great. I'll arrange a viewing. How about tomorrow afternoon? That works for me. Thank you so much, Jack. Anytime. I hope this is the one. All right, my friends. Let's stop for a moment and review some useful phrases from my conversation with Jack. I want something closer to work, first of all. This means the most important thing is distance. First of all means number one priority. Shorter commute. A commute is the trip from home to work. Shorter commute means less time traveling, more time for you. It's almost two hours door to door. This means the total travel time from your front door to your office door. A studio is a bit too small for me. A studio apartment is one open space. A bit too small means small but not terrible, just not enough. A one-bedroom apartment. This means the bedroom is a separate room. Living room here, bedroom there. In-unit laundry. This means the washing machine is inside your apartment. Very convenient, very helpful. Home should feel like home. This means your place should feel safe, calm, and comfortable. Not perfect, just right for you. Would you like to see it in person? This means do you want to visit the place and look at it with your own eyes? I'll arrange a viewing. This means I will organize the visit. Choosing the time. Contacting the landlord. Great job. You did really well. Now, let's move on to the next part of our story. Let's go view the apartment together. Hi. You must be Emma, right? Yes. Hi. Nice to meet you. Come on in. This is the apartment. Thank you. It looks nice. Um, is it okay if I ask a few questions? Of course. Go ahead. Okay. Um, are the utilities included in the rent? Good question. Water is included, but electricity and internet are separate. Ah, okay. Got it. So, I pay for power and internet. That's right. And, um, what about heating? It has gas heating. You pay for that too, but it's efficient. All right. That's helpful. Is there air conditioning? Yes. There's one unit in the living room. It works well. I see the kitchen has a stove and a fridge. Are those included? Yes. They stay here. You also have a small dishwasher under the counter. Oh, that's nice. And is there a microwave? Yes. Right above the stove. And is there a washing machine? Yes. Right here in this closet. Perfect. That's important for me. I really don't like going to laundromats. I understand. And there's a dryer too. Right next to it. Oh, even better. Um, is parking included? Yes. There's one parking spot. It's right behind the building. That's good to know. I don't drive every day, but it's nice to have a space. Exactly. And it's a quiet area too. That's great. What about pets? I have a quiet cat. Cats are fine. No big dogs though. That works for me. And, um, is the neighborhood quiet at night? Yes. It's a quiet street. Not a lot of traffic. Most people here are working professionals. That's exactly what I was hoping for. It feels very calm in here too. I'm glad to hear that. Thank you for showing me everything. It really helps to see the space and ask questions. No problem at all. Take your time. Let me know if you have more questions later. I will. Thanks again. Okay, that was a lot of information. So let's slow down a little and go over just a few phrases I used. First, I asked, are the utilities included in the rent? Now, utilities means things like water, electricity, gas, and internet. So, everyday services. Sometimes they're included, and sometimes they're not. Then I said, what about heating? This is a very nice, very simple way to ask about something. You can say, what about air conditioning? What about parking? It's short, it's polite, and it sounds very natural. I also asked, are those included? I said this when I saw the stove and the fridge. You can use this anytime you're not sure. For example, are the appliances included? Is parking included? Easy and very useful. And remember this one. I don't drive every day, but it's nice to have. This is a soft way to say what's important to you, but not a big problem if it's missing. Very polite. Very calm. One more phrase. It feels calm in here. Ah, this is a lovely thing to say when a place feels peaceful and comfortable. You're doing really well, really. So just keep listening and keep repeating. No pressure. Take your time. You've got this. Hi, this is Emma calling. We met earlier today about the apartment. Oh, hi, Emma. Yes, of course. Nice to hear from you. I just wanted to follow up after seeing the apartment. No problem at all. I'm glad you called. How can I help? Well, I really like the apartment. Um, can we talk about the rent? Sure. The rent is $1,200 per month. Okay. And how long is the lease? It's a one-year lease. After that, it goes month to month. Ah, okay. One year sounds fine. So I stay for 12 months and then it can be flexible? Exactly. After one year, you can stay or leave any time with 30 days notice. That's good to know. Is a deposit needed? Yes, one month's rent for the deposit. So $1,200. Got it. So first month's rent plus the deposit? Exactly. That's $2,400 before moving in. Okay. And when is rent due every month? Rent is due on the first day of each month. All right. And, um, how do I pay? Bank transfer? Bank transfer is fine. You can also use a payment app if you prefer. That's helpful. I usually pay online, so that works for me. Great. Whatever is easiest for you. Are there any other fees I should know about? No extra fees. Just rent and your own utilities like internet, gas, and electricity. That's clear. And if I want to leave before the year ends? You'd need to give 30 days notice. There might be a small early exit fee, usually one extra month of rent. All right, I understand. I hope to stay the full year, but it's good to know. It's always good to ask. I'm glad you're asking all the right questions. Do you need references? Yes, just one reference from a previous landlord or an employer. It helps us know you're a good tenant. That's no problem. I can give both. I've rented before. Perfect. After that, I'll send you the application. Sounds good. I'll read everything carefully. Take your time. Let me know if you have questions. Thank you. I really appreciate how clear you are. It helps a lot. Of course. It's important that you feel comfortable. I do. This is starting to feel like the right place. I'm happy to hear that. Okay, now let's go over some important phrases I used when we talked about rent. First, I asked, How long is the lease? This helps you know how long you'll stay. Six months, one year, or month to month. So, it's a very smart question. Then I asked, Is a deposit needed? A deposit is money you pay before moving in. It's usually about one month's rent. Then I said, So, first month's rent plus deposit? That means you pay both before you move in. So, first month and deposit, together. Here's another helpful one. When is rent due? This means, what day do I pay every month? For example, the first, the fifth, or the tenth. And this one, How do I pay? You can say this when you're asking about payment options. Bank transfer, a payment app, or sometimes cash. I also asked, Are there any other fees? This checks if there are any surprise costs, like a cleaning fee, a parking fee, or something extra. So, yes, it's a very important question. One more phrase. I'll read everything carefully. This is a polite way to show you are responsible and you respect the agreement. It sounds calm and very professional. Now, take your time. You can pause, you can rewind, and you can listen again. And hey, you're doing great. Just keep going. All right. Thanks so much for joining me today. We talked about a lot, from dreaming about a new home, to asking clear questions, to understanding rent and the lease. So if you made it this far, hey, I'm really, really proud of you. And guess what? There's more to the story. In part two, we'll talk about things like how to negotiate politely, how to apply for the apartment, and how to handle small problems calmly. Real English. Real conversations. No pressure. If you liked this video, let us know, and we'll make part two for you. Until then, keep listening, keep practicing, and remember, you're doing great. See you soon.