The moment

Three short exchanges between two friends on one Tuesday: a quick hello at lunch, a short check-in in the afternoon, and a phone call at night after Eric's day goes wrong. Listen for the tense change: "How's it going?" while the day is running, "How was your day?" once it's over. Then play one voice and say the other.

The conversation

MiaEric
  1. Mia
  2. Eric
  3. Mia
  4. Eric
  5. Mia
  6. Eric
  7. Mia
  8. Eric
  9. Mia
  10. Eric
  11. Mia
  12. Eric
  13. Mia

Words to know

"everything is fine up to now"

without a break

a joking check-in with a friend who is very busy

finally, after everything happened

a kind goodbye to someone tired

Check yourself

1Why does Mia say "Still alive over there?"?
2Why does Eric say "Let me see how the day ends"?
3In the phone call, what does "it could be better" tell Mia?

Practice · 3 min

Round one: repeat every line. Round two: mute Eric and answer Mia's questions about your own real day. Round three: mute Mia and ask the questions. Listen for "How's" in the first exchange and "How was" in the last; say both until the difference feels automatic.

  1. MiaHey, Eric. How's your day going?
  2. EricSo far so good. Quiet morning.
  3. MiaLucky. Mine's been nonstop since eight.
  4. EricThen go eat something. It's almost one.
  5. MiaStill alive over there?
  6. EricBarely. My afternoon got really busy.
  7. MiaWant to get dinner later?
  8. EricMaybe. Let me see how the day ends.
  9. MiaHi. So how was your day, in the end?
  10. EricHonestly, it could be better. I lost a file.
  11. MiaOh no. Did you find it?
  12. EricYes, finally, at six. Dinner tomorrow instead?
  13. MiaSure. Get some rest tonight.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.