872. The Birthday Party (Learn English with a Short Story)

[@LukesEnglishPodcast]

Hello! It's interesting to read the different interpretations you have of this story. 💔❤ I assumed that the wife is the victim here, but some of you have a different perspective. What did he say to her? After at least 10 years of marriage, wouldn't she know that he doesn't like surprises like this? What is the significance of the pink candle? In any case, it is a sad story and we just want them to be happy together!

[@NicaVero_]

They should go to couples therapy🙂

[@Yegane.F]

I think that not all people like to be surprised, especially introverted individuals. They often dislike being the center of attention. The husband appears to be introverted and is upset that his wife didn't realize this after spending these years together as a couple! By the way, once I was people- watching, and some guys misunderstood me and sent me a kiss in the air, which embarrassed me!

[@olenamazur2548]

I guess every couple should go to the therapist 😅

[@NicaVero_]

@@olenamazur2548 Probably, except Luke, I'd rather see him as the therapist😉

[@olenamazur2548]

@@NicaVero_ that's true .He seems peaceful and balanced. 🤗

[@user-Tutorial-coach41]

Happy Ramadan for all Muslims are used to watching this show ....Ramadan Mubarak

[@unrvu]

🤍🤍

[@khaled_ahmed998]

❤❤❤

[@benelmouazkhaled1970]

Thank you

[@gulsezimmussabayeva6684]

🤲🤲🤲 Amin

[@makmak7552]

Ramadan sucks like you

[@abe-brown]

Excellent story! Also, Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims who are watching this show...

[@mohamedsuudi4631]

Ramadan Mubarik Sir.

[@денислюбченко-н9щ]

​@@mohamedsuudi4631oh shit... These Muslims are everywhere... 🤦🤦🫣🫣

[@Akrij666]

Hello Luke, I’ve been listening your podcast over month now and my english is getting better each day. I wish you all the best - you deserve it! Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. You’ve got the power to make other people feel happy! Thanks a lot.

[@maxiivgg]

Yes, I don't know why, but I'm felling like you.

[@rosalindasoler3958]

Hola, estoy aprendiendo el ingles americano, confirmame si ese acepto es britanico? ó no importa?

[@لاالهالاالله-ت8ك]

​@@rosalindasoler3958it doesn't matter now just learn English

[@faboc]

Thank you and happy Easter for all Catholics in World

[@discovertheplayer1757]

Hi I'm Muslim I like to ask you to learn about Islam ❤

[@jasmine_264]

😂😂😂😂​@@discovertheplayer1757

[@barbaragala1015]

Thank you Luke for another episode. I love listening to you, it means a lot to me. I repeat your comments, this is how I learn phrases and words😊 Cool ! Barbara

[@pepejuan6897]

I LOVE WHEN YOU TELL SHORT STORIES, these are my favourite videos. Thanks you for everything.

[@ninanajah976]

Thank you very much, Luke, for your interesting podcast. I enjoy all your episodes, but I particularly prefer the short stories. Please prepare more episodes of short stories.

[@АринаКодина-л1у]

Luke, thank You so much for this episode! Brilliant work! You're not only taught us the vocabulary, but also had provided a good lesson of fine literature and life itself.

[@olgaliviercamachozamorano7148]

Thank you so much Luke I really appreciate your class

[@MayraHernandez-ns2hm]

This is my first time that I listened your podcast, and I realized that was a great work. Thank you very much from El Salvador

[@aidasokhansanj6533]

Excellent as always ✨ With your brilliant accent and wonderful explanations 👉we visualized all the characters and scenes !!! 👉you are an amazing English teacher ✨📚💯🎧🎤🎼👏

[@deboradevecchi1464]

You are not only a brilliant English master, you teaching us how to think properly and express our thoghts! I really apreciate your skills! Thank you! From Brasil, DF.🇧🇷🙏🏻

[@GringoGringo-q1y]

Sou Bahia tbm tou nessa aprendendo inglês 😂

[@lucas11587]

I’m from DF too, omggg

[@gracielalilianazara4333]

Thanks, teacher Luke. The story itself is plenty of adjectives, adverbs and phrases to describe personality, feelings and human condition despite it is sad too because of the husband reaction. Very useful, indeed! Have a nice week!

[@IrinaKlep]

As for the end of this story it is obviously clear that this couple has been suffering for many years(((nothing will change till the moment one of them will split up such a sad marriage...unfortunately it's a reality,and while they are together they don't have a chance to be satisfied ,calm and happy.....

[@gracielalilianazara4333]

Who knows? It was only a moment of their lives....I do not like watching people while they are sitting at a restaurant having dinner at all. It Is their private lives. I wish them love AND peace!

[@bernadettebernard8200]

You're a really great teacher and I like to study with your short stories. It's a real pleasure. Thank you!

[@summ28]

Absolutely usefull

[@tarekazizbouchareb3819]

Hi how il it going 🎉

[@haibinh_nguyen]

Thank, teacher Luke, for helping me learn English better and easier. Your videos are very helpful, especially for beginners like me. Please try to make more similar videos. Thanks a lot🥰🥰

[@shivin90s]

Dear Luke , you are reading stories to us the way you speak as a native . This is what people want . Read with stories. When you read I can imitate your text along with you .Millions out there expecting you to read out with text .

[@elhamfonooni7346]

Thanks teacher Luke i hope that you know how much you have wonderful impact on all my learning English and make another joyful day god bless you

[@marjetapeterlin]

This is a masterpiece of a short story and what it makes it really sad is your wonderful explanation of line to lline.There are things I would not think of myself but completely agree with you. I really sympafised with the woman and felt sorry for her.Catherine Brush has an exquisite sense of observation catchi g the hidden meanings in people ' s behaviours. Thank you for this story and your comments.

[@LoliS-o7x]

Thank you. It was a heartbreaking story. Sometimes people don't realise that the person the have by themselves is not the right one.

[@RuiferWang]

Finally I found a remarkable English teacher who is not just teaching an English language but also discussing the opinions of life 👍👍👍 Thank you so much🙏🙏🙏

[@ManuelAntonioRodríguez-PinaMer]

By the way thanks a bunch for being as good teacher as you are . I like listening to you as frequent as I can and it has always been really helpful!

[@getpaceai]

Thank you for the great lesson, and for editing the video with text on the screen, Luke! For anyone getting ready for the IELTS writing test, this lesson has a lot of great descriptive vocabulary words for you to learn!

[@Ali49446]

Happy ramadan today for all muslims in world thanks so much mr luke handsome 🎉❤

[@shots33365]

❤

[@AhmedMohammed-yg3cf]

❤❤❤

[@gatinhomiadordamadrugada2348]

🌈👀🙈🙉🙊🤔????

[@KulsumAkter-k8y]

❤❤❤❤

[@IlhamAmir-hr6cm]

❤❤❤

[@joaovictorgaldino7423]

This video was suggested to me by KZbin and I am grateful for this. I'm trying to reach the fluency by myself, and the way you teach gave me courage to study again. A huge hug from Brazil.

[@abdulmajiidahmed2058]

Thank you, teacher Luke. The lesson that i learnt from this emotional story is to know the person you're with. I mean, their behaviours before they beat you with their arrogant.

[@monaelhelw6543]

Why you British people are extremely good at storytelling?? It's amazing ❤

[@valeriigoikhman1650]

Thank you very much, Luke! Your work is important

[@cartorioimoveis9317]

Luke, You’re a great teacher. I wish the best for You.

[@comeasyplz479]

Thank you for this lesson which includes the nice short(important :)) story with the tender and insightful guide of you , and moreover you can help us talk and think about their feelings in ENGLISH. -a lady From Korea.

[@pathopewell1814]

These comments sum up the purpose of reading a passage of a story. As readers we all rewrite our own version of events as described by the characters. This for me personally is the beauty of reading.

[@EnglishStoryShared]

Thanks a lot, Luke, for your captivating podcast. I thoroughly enjoy every episode you release. 0:00: 🎉 A short story about a birthday party with a twist. 5:52: 💔 A heartbreaking story of a couple at a birthday party, revealing their strained relationship through subtle interactions. 10:59: 💔 Heartbreak and hidden unhappiness in a seemingly glamorous marriage. 17:06: 👫 Insight into a couple's relationship dynamics based on unmistakable behavior indicating marriage. 21:25: 💔 Fading beauty and sadness in a relationship affecting a woman's appearance. 26:58: 🎂 Embarrassment over a simple birthday cake reflects the husband's arrogance and lack of appreciation. 32:21: 📖 Revelation of the wife needing help discreetly, husband's embarrassment highlighted through language use. 37:37: 💔 Difficulty facing a distressing situation, leading to avoiding eye contact and waiting in discomfort. 43:14: 🎩 A woman in a carefree and happy mood cries under the big brim of her hat at a party.

[@xxxxneoxxxx]

This story was heartbreaking. Also, you can really relate because all of us have either seen or probably even experienced something like this. Apart from good listening practice, it's a great writing model, too!

[@microetattoopormairaadabo7716]

I am not used to listen british english! But I just loved to hear your class, your english. And I am very happy that I understood everything! Thankyou Maíra from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@deborahqin3900]

read it with you, really can get the great of how this short story delivered. The loneliness, hopelessness in marriage is expressed unmistakably without even a single word to say it

[@sebastiannoejovich3747]

Hi Luke, thank you very much for your last episode. Your reading was impeccable as usual, and all the comments were pertinent. Listening to you explaining not only the meaning but also the valour of the phrase “fadingly pretty” it occurred to me that literature shows us a wider use of language and let us see not only its practical utility in terms of communication but also its beauty (its increasingly beauty). Thank you again and cheerful greetings from Argentina! Sebastián (the regretful ninja)

[@yoosefi12]

One of those lovely, relaxing and perfect episodes, you would listen to more than once ❤

[@fabionogarebarranzuela1108]

What a heartbreaking story... I could imagine the hole episode as I would be there... And I enjoyed very much your explanation of this little "tragedy". Thank you!

[@mohamedthuvan8083]

What a Great-Man, you're for diving in the English language to avail everyone a booty of the language to build-up the language skills, itself. Thanks, Luke,..

[@oksanatym2984]

Luke, thanks a lot for this story and your deep rereading of it! This almost forgotten feeling of diving into lines and internal conversation with the writer!

[@АктолкынБакытжановна]

I love the moment that you are going through everything which is happening in the story.Thank you for your doing great.

[@leewu4961]

Teacher Luke! Thank you for your teaching intensive reading comprehension!!!!

[@aleksandrdanilov4889]

Hello, Luke! Thank you very much for your videos and podcasts! Episodes about real life thought-provoking stories like this are so compelling!

[@mariesajjadi2198]

It has been a long time that I was looking for a perfect method to learn English. Appreciation is in order for your unique method and all your efforts.

[@wkjperera3548]

This I find a pretty good ladder for anybody interested in improving English. Personally, I value this a lot and find it really useful. Thank you.

[@IsmailIye]

Unmistakably you are a good British teacher thank you for your nice short story

[@RospudaLife]

I appreciate your emotional intelligence. The text you chose, your comment and the way you read it. Regards.

[@MdArafat-n6m7h]

You are a unmistakably great teacher

[@smrithy3912]

Though the story is simple and brief, it is very sentimental and thought provoking, what i feel is the couple lacks mutual understanding and love which is inevitable for a warm relationship... Thanks a lot Mr. Luke the great teacher❤❤ wishes from God's own country...

[@hiennguyen2992]

Be excited in the way you interpret the story! Thank you so much!

[@MHZ-gc2bw]

Yes Luke is a great teacher!

[@hasanurrahman4386]

Dear Luke, I rejoined your class after a pretty long time. Today's lesson was so nice and powerful, I enjoyed and learned many things out of it. I hope that I will continue to participate in your classes. Thank you so much for your time and efforts for us. I want to learn how to speak in English and want to increase fluency. I also hope that I shall be able to achieve it no time. Thank you.

[@sienicampos]

Beautifully sad story, and you're so expressive! Thank you Luke.

[@yvsnbs]

Its beautiful and fascinating how we all have memories of people in our past who shared these love songs with us, and now the most fascinating thing is that others will also come after and remember us for the same music when we are long gone...this melodies are very contagious

[@kamalahasanmoorthy2066]

"*God Bless Everyone Take Care All Long Lives 100 years and above all*"

[@svitlanaradzevych1153]

The story really touched my heart. It’s about English couple in an enough old time, but such things may happen and happens everywhere. But thank you, Luke, for the nice lesson!

[@afroozm9413]

Thank you Luke for trying to teaching. I like your way of teaching.

[@pooonni]

Thank you for creating this story. I have just come across your channel and wondering how I never knew this gem of a channel. Really appreciate what you do! I hear it with my eyes closed on my daily commute to work and feel so refreshed by the time I finish my journey. This is so much better than what I am used to. Thank you so very much again!

[@andrewb1570]

You make me love the English with your own storytelling style.

[@cathyblazquez]

Luke, I love it when you use onomatopoeias and make sounds to explain the meaning of words, besides giving clear synonyms of the vocabulary an intermediate student would probably not understand. Your voice is lovely, you never show impatience or tiredness, you are a great teacher. Thank you! As regards an experience at a restaurant, café, park, etc you reminded me of an occasion in which I went to a coffee bar to reread a story I had to teach later in the evening, but there was a Muslim praying aloud, quite loudly really. I can't remember for how long, so I started reading my English story aloud. Obviously, I have other simple anecdotes to tell, but my comment would be too long. Today is May 25th, 2024 in Argentina and we are celebrating Revolution Day. 🎉

[@francescochiaromonte2654]

Hi Teacher Luke, I always really enjoy your episodes because they are so attractive as well as your way to analyse them. My heartiest congratulations and kudos on your amazing performances and your professional skills.

[@joya3515]

Love the podcast, love the way you read the story, how you explained it, the presentation and your clear pronunciation, loved it all. You gained a new subscriber and I hope you do audiobooks because whatever that book is I’m going to listen to. My interpretation is that the husband is an ungrateful narcissist self centred man and the woman is painfully trying her best.

[@nyafcanyafca]

Thank you! It was incredibly interesting to hear your explanations about the use of words to create a dramatic story.

[@doratoth278]

Luke! I' ve just found you on the youtube, and I'm so grateful for that! I usually listen the little stories that you read . It's awesome to know that, there is a big hope for me improving my english skills. I was so sad in my country (Hungary), because I've not met my British friends so long time...... I couldn't hear english from native speakers. And you are as a tourch, lightning in the darkness could show me-NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Thank you so much for your work!! God bless you man! Now I'm sending my best wishes to you from Hungary!!!!

[@KonstantinEgorovSpb]

Awesome work! It made me think it could be turned into a nice class activity) Sort of " finish-the-story" or "what-do-you-think-might-have-happened". Thanks a lot, Luke!

[@KarinaRodriguez-rj6zs]

It was so Deep and move story. The way she chose every adjective to describe the scene , the author made It easier to understand feelings and drawing a clear picture in my mind. a simple story became a sublime one .

[@yukunLi-se8lg]

Hello, Luke, I checked many videos for English study, and definitely yours are my favorite. I got a lot of benefits from you. Thank you so much!

[@mukenanadhifa]

The explanation is very clear and easy to understand. Thanks for this lesson. As a non native speaker, this kind of podcast helps us for our English listening skills...

[@doinabanu9860]

I think this moment 47:28 at the restaurant concentrates the whole life as a wife of that woman. It was a life made up of numerous disappointments and delicate fillings that only met rudeness and indifference . In my opinion this is the motif of her fainted prettiness, the life with a self-satisfied and gross man. I imagine her eyes being often brimmed with tears. Thank you so much for reading and explaining this short story.

[@chen3612]

I really believe teacher luke's english teaching method with story telling ,which use line to line to bteak down them ,and point it out the useful phrases is only narual and effective way for non- english as mother tougue person leanring .

[@ibraheemal-ibraheem9204]

You are amazing Mr. Luke's

[@Rita-bw3wh]

Hi Luke, a short, good story. A snapshot of the feelings in a relationship. Well explained by you and good for reading and practising speaking.Thanks for that.

[@TV-xr9jv]

감사합니다 Thank you^^

[@gozdecankaraca106]

This is perfect episode. I searched and watched lots of video but I couldn't find one that good and helpful. Your explanations are really impressive. Thank you!!

[@copinthearea]

You are the best, Thank you so much! I am from Brazil.

[@NorolAmin-l3t]

oh good

[@tsul-trimshima8710]

Luke, you are a great teacher, as a beginner it's really useful to learn English by watching your short story footage. This makes it easier for me to memorize the vocabulary and the content. You are so considerate of beginner learners like us. Thank you very much indeed. After reading this sad story, my point of view is, that the wife should divorce her stupid husband immediately and set herself free from this arrogant man, don't waste her time anymore while she still can enjoy the beautiful time for the rest of her life. Have a nice day.

[@najatjask3384]

Thank you for your video, it is very interesing

[@clar6814]

Dear Luke, this is the first time I've discovered your YT channel! I've just finished listening to your story Your reading, the story itself, your comments and your kind advice are motivating and useful I really like the way you build your lesson. Thank you very much.❤

[@NoorAbdulBadi]

Thanks @Luke for narrating story! These types of insult the lady Never forgets, very unfortunate for the couple to not even having some patience and appreciation of each other. amazing story by Katherine Brush!

[@rajibhossainid23m26]

Happy Ramadan 🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@SarahSarah336-ur4jt]

❤❤❤❤❤same to you bro

[@michaelabengs7710]

Happy Easter

[@ekaterinalazareva2922]

Through such stories you teach us not only English but good manners and behaviour)👍

[@KK-pe5sd]

This man doesn’t only love her,but also is cheating.

[@tevfikmutlu]

You are great man Luke, happy Ramadan for all Muslims

[@anhducle8041]

I think the man in the story did not want to recognise his age 😂

[@mm49kali]

😂😂😂

[@margrace3493]

😂😂😂😂good comment😂😂😂

[@ahmedjohnny7229]

why are you here,, to learn english or make fun of him,, 🙄🙄

[@rongjuanqu3886]

Thank you, Luke. I listen to your podcast when I drive every day. I saw you on KZbin for the first time today. Thank you for teaching English in such a humorous and interesting way, so that a person with poor English can fall in love with English learning.

[@scarpinandorandazzo7613]

I just finished to read the story and I thing that we need to read this story with the right perspective, because it was written in 1946. At that time, men were often seen as proud, strong, and virile, and they may not have welcomed surprises like these.

[@ekaterinagarnyk6342]

So this story was written back in 1946? The explanation of the character as arrogant and self-focused makes sense. However it doesn't explain the pink candle. It's still a mistery to me. If it's a gesture of commemoration for their lost child, then it is cruel, or this is an action of a mentally broken individual, which placing this story beyond the common sense. I would better go with the version that she WANTS a child and arranged that little performance to remind her husband, who was obviously against it, how lovely it would be to have a little daughter and selebrate her birthday in such an amusing way. So she was told off for this and he still didn't change his opinion on this matter.

[@DanielSouza-jx2gl]

What a spectacular and enjoyable way to learn English by listening to stories. The content was very enriching, and the vocabulary tips made a lot of sense in some instances, helping me understand the depth of word placements like 'hotly embarrassed' more thoroughly.

[@olgafainchtein581]

I really enjoyed it, not only as a lesson, but as literary experience. It makes may day. Thank you.

[@emriquebaizanfernandez3190]

Despite I am a Spanish and my poor knowledge of the English language, was very easy for me to understand the story and your explanations. Congratulations

[@hassantaal7623]

An excellent critical analysis of today's well-built story!!! Congratulations Mr Luke.

[@AmeraAlawer]

How lucky we are to have you teaching us and sharing your great thoughts and super attractive voice ❤. When I first heard the phrase (they were unmistakably married)and before you had explained its meaning,I thought it means that their marrige was not a mistake but on the contrary it was built on true love.so thank you that you conveyed the very meaning of it. Finally I think that undeserving husband is lacking self confidence otherwise he would act the way he should. Maybe, I do not know.

[@HelgaLuchynets-rf5yx]

You are brilliant, listening to your English like absorbing that native vibes from the heart of England. Forty minutes of the highest pleasant. The warmest greetings from Ukraine.

[@onniechu]

I appreciate the contents. I resumed my English study and used your videos as a podcast to listen to while I worked. I will continue and always be there for you. ❤

[@azucenagranowski683]

I love your stories and more importantly the way you explain them to us. Thank you

[@MHZ-gc2bw]

Your are so right!

[@carolaxis]

I love it ! I love the story, the way your read it, and the analyse. It's all perfect. At the same time it was a pretty nice way to reinforce my English. The story is really touching. I want to know a bit more about this author. I often do the same when I go to a restaurant, I can't avoid imagining other's lives. And for the woman who cried so lonely so sad...oh what a sad and beautiful story. Thanks a lot.

[@F3liperossetto]

Hello teacher, I'm from Brazil and I was researching about best ways to pratice my English and be confident during a conversation, and i wanna praise you because i just became a fan of your work and the way you teach! Yours lessions and tips are being ver helpfull for me!! Usually I'm kinda shy on writing by the others judgment on my mistakes, but your video made me mor confident to write here! hehehehe Thanks!

[@SIlvia-zx3if]

Wow! What a stunming story and the way you read it- i still feel the wives sadness inside my stomach. Wow, thanx for reading and explaining to us in such a great way!

[@ГулбагдаЕлубаева-х9н]

Тhanks Luke!I decide to listen short stories for the first time.I like your explaining of words .

[@АлинаКлишо]

Thank you Luke that you have been running your channel! We are happy to see you!!!! Your channel is super useful entertaining and wonderful!!!!

[@tanpohkian4945]

Hello, it is interesting in listening to the stories you read. Please continue to provide more stories so that we enjoy and learn english at the same time. Thank you so much.

[@ИннаГригорян-ъ9ш]

It’s a really very good story. There are just a few sentences but the story is so thought provoking. I’m impressed

[@Papicova]

Such a nice story! I do love people watching, you can learn a lot from observing! And the pronunciation and vocabulary exercises really useful. Thanks