A Simple Story: Tom’s Foreign Visitor

This is a story. This is a story about Tom. Tom was not an English speaker. Tom was not an English conversation school student. Tom is an office worker in Amagasaki City in Hyogo. He has a wife and 2 kids and a house in the suburbs. One day, Tom was at his desk. His boss was also at Tom’s desk. His boss had a special assignment for Tom. His assignment was to host a foreign business colleague from a subsidiary company in Canada, and to take him for a factory tour at their factory in Shiga prefecture. Tom had a problem. Tom had no confidence in his English speaking ability. Tom had many English textbooks. Tom had many English drill books. Tom was a good self-studier. Tom is good at reading and writing in English but he does not have any chance to speak English in his daily life. He is worried about the upcoming visitor and his role in hosting him.

Tom is clever and he is keen. He doesn’t despair. He does not wait. He has to do something. He decides to go to an English conversation school. He looks online, he calls a school, he books a trial lesson. Tom is ready for his trial. He is nervous but the trial is fun and he is able to feel comfortable. The teacher at the school is kind and professional. Now, Tom is an English conversation school student. He is more confident. His job as host is successful. The factory tour is successful. Tom is proud of the job he has done. He is proud of his hard word and his improvement. Tom’s boss is also happy with the job he has done. In the future, Tom will receive other similar assignments. Tom is a dependable and resourceful worker.

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This story was written to teach students how to use some key English expressions: is, was, will, has, had, does, did. This story contains very few verbs. Was this story easy to read? Did you learn something? Do you relate to Tom’s work or life?

This story was inspired by the following Johann Wolfgang von Goethe quote:
“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow”
Whatever your goals are, why not start working on them today?

Edward, Smith’s School of English Otsu