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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: celebrating a small personal achievement

    Javier Fixes His First Phone

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Javier works at a tech repair counter in a busy shop. He fixes phones, tablets, and laptops every day. He has worked there for six months. His manager is a woman named Sara. Sara is very good at fixing things. Javier watches her and learns a lot. Every morning, Javier arrives early and cleans his tools. He puts them in a neat line on the counter. He likes to be ready before the first customer comes in. The shop opens at nine o'clock. Javier always feels a little nervous when customers bring in broken things. He wants to do a good job. He checks each device carefully. He writes notes about every problem he sees. One day, a man brings in an old phone. The screen is cracked and the phone will not turn on. Sara is busy with another customer.

    Javier looks at the phone. He feels nervous, but he takes a deep breath. He opens the back of the phone with a small tool. He sees the battery is loose. He fixes the battery carefully. Then he checks the screen. The screen needs a new part. Javier finds the right part in a small box. He fits the new screen slowly and carefully. He presses the power button. The phone turns on! Javier smiles. "It works!" he says quietly. He cleans the phone with a soft cloth. He puts it in a small bag for the customer. The man comes back in the afternoon to collect his phone. Javier gives it to him.

    "Thank you so much!" the man says. He looks very happy. "You fixed it perfectly!" Javier feels very proud. His face goes a little red. "I am glad I could help," he says. Sara hears this. She walks over to the counter. "Good work, Javier," she says with a smile. "You did that all by yourself!" Javier looks at his tools on the counter. He thinks about the first day he came to work. He was so scared then. Now he feels different. He stands up straight. He takes a slow, happy breath. It is a small thing, but it feels very big to him. He cannot wait to fix the next phone.

    Key vocabulary

    counter (noun)a long, flat surface in a shop where work is done or customers are served“Javier puts his tools on the counter every morning.”
    cracked (adjective)broken with lines on the surface but not completely apart“The phone screen was cracked and hard to see.”
    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or a little scared about something“Javier felt nervous when he looked at the broken phone.”
    battery (noun)the part inside a device that gives it power“The battery was loose, so the phone would not turn on.”
    loose (adjective)not fixed tightly in place; able to move“He saw that the battery was loose inside the phone.”
    proud (adjective)feeling very happy about something good you have done“Javier felt proud when the customer said thank you.”
    perfectly (adverb)in a way that is completely right and has no mistakes“"You fixed it perfectly!" the man said happily.”
    collect (verb)to go and pick up something that is ready for you“The man came back to collect his phone in the afternoon.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to help yourself feel calm“Javier felt nervous, so he took a deep breath before starting.”
    • turn on — to start a device so it works“He pressed the button and the phone turned on.”
    • good work — something you say to praise someone for doing something well“Sara said "Good work, Javier" when she heard the customer.”
    • all by yourself — without any help from other people“Sara was happy that Javier fixed the phone all by himself.”
    • I am glad I could help — a polite way to say you are happy you did something useful for someone“"I am glad I could help," Javier said to the customer.”
    • cannot wait — to feel very excited about something that will happen“Javier could not wait to fix the next phone.”
    • fits in — to place a part correctly into its position“He fits the new screen into the phone carefully.”
    • stand up straight — to hold your body tall and upright, often showing confidence“After Sara praised him, Javier stood up straight and smiled.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJK
    1FNRLMSYZCSH
    2DDEOORSRHTN
    3UGZREOALDCI
    4OSFTVCSYHEE
    5RXTNKOUEBLT
    6PARETNUOCLU
    7BUDFQHQSKOO
    8YLTCEFREPCZ
    9QHAKODDINNQ
    10CPIHHXWCBON
    11QFDPTGIUQME

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where does Javier work?

      • A) At a school
      • B) At a tech repair counter
      • C) At a phone shop online
      • D) At a restaurant
    2. What does Javier do every morning before the shop opens?

      • A) He reads a book
      • B) He calls his manager
      • C) He drinks coffee
      • D) He cleans his tools and puts them in a line
    3. What is wrong with the phone the man brings in?

      • A) The phone is wet
      • B) The screen is cracked and the phone will not turn on
      • C) The phone is too old to fix
      • D) The battery is missing
    4. Why does the phone not turn on?

      • A) The screen is broken
      • B) The battery is loose
      • C) There is no power in the shop
      • D) The phone is too old
    5. What does Javier say when the phone turns on?

      • A) "It works!"
      • B) "Good work!"
      • C) "Thank you so much!"
      • D) "I am glad!"
    6. What does the word 'nervous' mean in this story?

      • A) Feeling angry about a problem
      • B) Feeling worried or a little scared
      • C) Feeling tired after work
      • D) Feeling happy and excited
    7. What does Sara say to Javier after the customer leaves?

      • A) "That was an easy fix."
      • B) "You need more practice."
      • C) "Good work, Javier. You did that all by yourself!"
      • D) "Please ask me next time."
    8. Javier has worked at the shop for one year.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. What does 'collect' mean in the sentence: 'The man comes back to collect his phone'?

      • A) To go and pick up something that is ready
      • B) To leave something behind
      • C) To buy something new
      • D) To look at something
    10. How does Javier feel at the end of the story?

      • A) Worried that he made a mistake
      • B) Angry because it was difficult
      • C) Proud and happy, and excited to fix more things
      • D) Tired and ready to go home

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. B 2. D 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. B 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. C

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    battery: A7 ↗ · collect: J8 ↑ · counter: I6 ← · cracked: I1 ↙ · loose: D1 ↘ · nervous: B1 ↘ · perfectly: I8 ← · proud: A6 ↑

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: celebrating a small personal achievement

    A Small Victory at the Repair Counter

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Javier had been working at the tech repair counter for six months, but he still felt like the newest person in the room. His supervisor, Sara, handled every complicated job with calm confidence, and Javier often found himself watching her hands move over circuit boards and cracked screens, trying to absorb what she knew. He had managed small repairs before, replacing charging ports and cleaning out dusty fans, but nothing that truly tested him. Each morning he laid his tools out in a precise row, partly out of habit and partly because it gave him a sense of control before the unpredictable stream of customers began. He was good at being prepared, even when he was not yet sure he was good at the work itself. Everything changed one Tuesday afternoon when a man placed a badly damaged phone on the counter and Sara was occupied with a complex motherboard repair across the room. Javier examined the device carefully, noting the shattered screen and the fact that it failed to power on at all.

    "I can take a look at this for you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. Working methodically, he opened the casing, identified a dislodged battery connector, and reseated it with a fine pair of tweezers. Then, after sourcing a compatible replacement screen from the parts drawer, he fitted it with slow, deliberate movements. When he pressed the power button and the display lit up cleanly, he allowed himself a single quiet breath of relief. When the customer returned to collect his phone, his reaction was immediate and warm. "You've done a brilliant job," the man said, turning the device over in his hands with clear satisfaction. "I honestly didn't think it could be saved." Javier thanked him and smiled, feeling a gentle wave of pride that he hadn't quite expected.

    Sara, who had overheard the exchange, paused her own work and looked across the counter. "That was a solid repair, Javier," she said simply, and went back to what she was doing. It was not a long compliment, but it landed with real weight. Standing at the counter after the customer had gone, Javier realized that the achievement wasn't really about the phone at all. It was about proving something small but important to himself, and knowing that next time, he would feel a little less unsure.

    Key vocabulary

    methodically (adverb)in a careful, ordered, and systematic way“Javier worked methodically, checking each part of the phone in order.”
    dislodged (adjective)moved or forced out of its correct or usual position“He found a dislodged battery connector inside the phone.”
    deliberate (adjective)done slowly and carefully, with full attention and intention“He fitted the new screen with slow, deliberate movements.”
    compliment (noun)a remark that expresses praise or admiration for someone“Sara's compliment was short, but it meant a great deal to Javier.”
    occupied (adjective)busy doing something else; not available“Sara was occupied with a motherboard repair when the man arrived.”
    compatible (adjective)able to be used together with a particular device or system“Javier found a compatible replacement screen in the parts drawer.”
    precise (adjective)exact, accurate, and carefully done“He laid his tools out in a precise row each morning.”
    absorb (verb)to take in information or skills gradually and thoroughly“Javier watched Sara work, trying to absorb her knowledge and technique.”

    Useful phrases

    • take a look at — to examine or inspect something“"I can take a look at this for you," Javier told the customer.”
    • power on — to start up an electronic device“The phone had failed to power on before Javier repaired it.”
    • landed with real weight — had a strong and meaningful impact“Sara's brief compliment landed with real weight for Javier.”
    • a wave of pride — a sudden, strong feeling of pride“Javier felt a gentle wave of pride when the customer praised his work.”
    • proving something to yourself — showing yourself that you are capable of something“The repair was about proving something important to himself.”
    • keep your voice steady — to speak calmly without showing nervousness“Javier tried to keep his voice steady when he spoke to the customer.”
    • a sense of control — a feeling that you are managing a situation well“Organizing his tools gave Javier a sense of control before work began.”
    • overheard the exchange — accidentally or casually listened to a conversation between others“Sara overheard the exchange between Javier and the customer.”

    Word search

    Find all 8 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1FLYLAIKGYCMYCQ
    2WDHFCFZSZZANMN
    3BEPGAOCCUPIEDO
    4NGGNWGVQLMTEUN
    5YDNDJQEFXHDTYT
    6EOENBXLVOHNABN
    7GLAMGTBDSODROE
    8RSPRECISEJOEOM
    9HIVKKCTLKSVBOI
    10PDQCAVANBWKINL
    11PDYLXEPARDVLUP
    12GQLSGBMJOYUELM
    13MYCRIAOXFTBDDO
    14JTLOTVCPTOIEBC

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Why does Javier lay his tools out in a precise row each morning?

      • A) Because it helps him work faster
      • B) Because it gives him a sense of control
      • C) Because the shop has a strict rule about it
      • D) Because Sara tells him to
    2. What is Sara doing when the man brings in his damaged phone?

      • A) She is training a new member of staff
      • B) She is working on a complex motherboard repair
      • C) She is helping another customer at the counter
      • D) She is on a break
    3. What was the first problem Javier identified inside the phone?

      • A) A damaged motherboard
      • B) A broken charging port
      • C) A dislodged battery connector
      • D) A cracked internal screen
    4. What does the word 'methodically' mean in this story?

      • A) Loudly and with great confidence
      • B) In a careful and ordered way
      • C) In a nervous and unsure way
      • D) Quickly and without thinking
    5. What does the customer say when he collects his phone?

      • A) "I knew you could do it."
      • B) "It works perfectly now."
      • C) "Thank you so much!"
      • D) "You've done a brilliant job."
    6. How does Sara respond when she hears the customer's praise?

      • A) She asks Javier to explain how he fixed it
      • B) She gives Javier a long and detailed compliment
      • C) She tells Javier he still needs more practice
      • D) She says "That was a solid repair" and returns to her work
    7. Javier had never done any repairs before the man brought in his phone.

      • A) False
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True
    8. What does 'compatible' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Expensive and hard to find
      • B) Able to work correctly with a particular device
      • C) Made from high-quality materials
      • D) Designed to last a long time
    9. What does Javier realize at the end of the story?

      • A) That he is now better than Sara at repairs
      • B) That he should ask for help more often
      • C) That the achievement was really about proving something to himself
      • D) That he wants to find a different job
    10. Sara gave Javier a long, detailed compliment at the end of the story.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) Not stated
      • D) True

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. B 2. B 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. D 7. A 8. B 9. C 10. B

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    absorb: H11 ↗ · compatible: G14 ↑ · compliment: N14 ↑ · deliberate: L13 ↑ · dislodged: B10 ↑ · methodically: M2 ↙ · occupied: F3 → · precise: C8 →

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/javier-fixes-his-first-phone-2026-09-08