is the lesson where I ask a lot of funny, easy and stupid questions and answer them. You are listening and answering the questions when you are ready. Are you ready? Are you ready? Let’s rock it! It means let’s do it, but do it with energy and enthusiasm.
One early morning, a farmer heard a knock on the door. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that the story is going to be in the past tense. Okay, let’s start it again.
One early morning, a farmer heard a knock on the door. When he answered the door, he saw all of his animals standing on their heads on the porch. The farmer immediately understood that something had happened.
How did the farmer understand that something had happened? Come on, you know the story so you can answer it. I know.
Because the animals were standing on their heads and they were looking unhappy, upset and even angry.
“What’s happened?” the farmer asked. Right?
Yes, exactly. That was what the farmer asked them. “What’s happened?”
One of the oldest and the wisest donkeys said, “On behalf of the animals, I want to say that there is a big problem, Tatsuki.” By the way, the farmer’s name was Tatsuki.
“A big problem? What’s the problem? Tatsuki wondered.
What was the problem?
The problem was that the animals did not know English.
“Tatsuki, you understand English. You read in English and speak English, but not we. We do not understand English. We do not speak English. We need to know English. Do you think it is fair?” the donkey said.
It means that the animals believe that it is not right, not good or not just for them not to speak English.
“Why do you need English?” Tatsuki asked.
And what did the animals say? Right. “You don’t understand, Tatsuki. We need English to watch YouTube videos, to read American and English books and, of course, to talk with other animals from different countries”.
Why did the animals need English?
They needed English to watch YouTube videos, to read books in English and, of course, to talk with other animals from different countries in the world.
Did the farmer agree with the animals?
Yes, he did. He said, “Okay. Fair enough! (It means I agree.) I know English, but I can’t teach you English. So I can’t help you”.
Did Tatsuki know English?
Yes, he did. Tatsuki the farmer knew English very well. He could understand English. He could speak English. English was not a problem for him.
What was the problem for Tatsuki?
The problem was that he couldn’t teach English. Yes, he knew English, but he couldn’t teach his animals English.
That’s why he said, “Sorry, I can’t help you.” Right?
Yes, that’s right. He was sorry for not being able to help his animals.
Did his animals give up?
No, of course, not. They asked, “Maybe you know someone who can?”
Did the farmer know anyone who could help the animals?
Well, first he said, “Search me!”
He said that?
Yes, he said, “Search me!”
What does it mean “Search me!”?
It means “I do not know”. When someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer to the question, you say “search me!” Wow! Interesting! I love it. Search me! I don’t know. That’s cool. English is really full of surprises.
Okay. Getting back to the story. But then Tatsuki remembered Alex, the English teacher.
Oh, that’s great! What did he say?
And he went, “Wait, wait, I know. If there is anyone who can help you, it is Alex. Alex can teach you to understand to read and to speak true, real and excellent English.”
Were the animals happy with Tatsuki’s answer?
Happy? Happy is not the word. All the animals were elated.
“But”, said the farmer.
“But?” asked the animals. My God! There is always a “but”.
“But I have lost his telephone number somewhere. So I can’t call him. Sorry, guys.”
What did the farmer do with Alex’s telephone number?
He lost it. The farmer lost the telephone number somewhere.
Whose telephone number did the farmer lose?
Alex’s. The farmer lost Alex’s telephone number.
Did the farmer know where he had lost Alex’s telephone number?
No, he didn’t know that. He didn’t know where he had lost his telephone number.
The farmer said that he had lost Alex’s telephone number somewhere.
What happened then?
Immediately, the wisest donkey came up with an idea! “We must find it. How about doing a big search on the farm? I am sure, we will find it.”
“That’s a great idea!” Tatsuki says. Remember?
What did the wisest donkey come up with?
An idea. The wisest donkey came up with an idea.
Did the wisest donkey suggest an idea?
Yes, exactly. He suggested an idea.
Did the wisest donkey produce an idea?
Yes, he did. An idea came to his head and he produced an idea. He came up with an idea.
Who came up with an idea?
The wisest donkey did. The wisest donkey came up with an idea.
What idea did he come up with?
He came up with an idea of doing a big search on the farm.
What exactly did the wisest donkey say?
He said, “We must find it. How about doing a big search on the farm? I am sure we will find it.”
Did the wisest donkey say, “How about forgetting his idea of finding Alex’s telephone number?”
No, he didn’t say that. On the contrary, he asked “How about looking for Alex’s telephone number?” “How about doing a big reach?” In other words, let’s go and look for the telephone number everywhere.
I see. Did the animals do what the wisest donkey suggested they do?
Yes, they did. And not only the animals. For three days and three nights, the farmer and the animals searched everywhere. And finally, a young pig found a small, dirty and crumpled piece of paper with Alex’s telephone number on it.
For how long did the farmer and the animals search everywhere?
For three days and three nights they searched everywhere.
Who searched everywhere for three days and three nights?
Right! The farmer and the animals did. They all searched everywhere.
Did they finally find what they were searching for?
Yes, they